Messages of God's Love: 1962

IN THE town of Sidmouth, along the bus route where many people pass daily, is a clock with a striking message (though the clock itself does not strike); it is the text—“IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD.” Hosea 10:12.

These words are inscribed beneath the clock. No matter what the hour or the minute, it is always the time to seek the Lord. Some may look at the clock with seeking hearts, others with a careless glance, soon forgotten. I can also imagine some arguing with themselves, “Well, the words will be there tomorrow just the same, so that will be just as good a time. I don’t want to think of serious things tonight. There is that dance I want to go to. I would like to finish that exciting book—I know it’s not a good book...” Oh, there are lots of excuses for delay. Tomorrow comes, and it is not the same; the good desires have gone quite away, or worse still perhaps there is not a tomorrow.

I want to add another text very much like the one in the clock tower and I want to tell you a little story. A young man was once called upon to preach in place of an older friend who was taken suddenly ill. There was very little time to think about it and the young man felt rather nervous and worried. The older man was experienced and capable, how could he possibly take his place?

But God had called him to do this and that was enough. I am sure there was much prayer and thought, and he chose for his text, “SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.” Isa. 55:6.

In the congregation that night was a man who had, to use his own expression, “come to the end of his rope.” Somehow he had found out that he was a great sinner, and he could go on no longer — something must be done today. That was why he found himself in a very unusual position for him—listening to a gospel sermon.

I know nothing of what the young preacher said, but it must have been just what God had given him for the man’s salvation, that Christ Jesus is the one and only remedy for sin, for he trusted Him and found that all his sins had been laid on Jesus and he was free. He sought the Lord and he found Him. He came in time.

“IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD.”

The time is — NOW. Have you sought the Lord?

ML-01/07/1962

Which Shall We Sell?

A STORY is told of a poor African mother in the days of slavery who was starving with her children. There were five in the family, and she and her husband resolved to sell one of them for a slave. They would buy food with the money they would get for it, and so save the rest. So all the five were placed in a row, and Father and Mother looked at them.

“Well, we can’t sell Sam,” said the father; “he is so strong and active, we couldn’t do without him.”

“Cassy certainly must not go,” said the mother; “she minds the children, and is my greatest comfort.”

“Well, poor Tom shall not be sold; he is so patient and gentle, and could not bear hard treatment,” said the father, “and I am sure I will never part with Chloe, who is the life of us all — she is so merry.”

“And would you have me give up my baby, then?” said the mother.

“No, we cannot spare one of them we had better starve a little longer first.”

These poor African parents had five dear children, and they could not spare one; but God gave His only Son for our sakes. He “spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.” Rom. 8:32.

“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. Do not despise or neglect such wonderful love.

Will you not prove this wonderful love,

That flows from God’s heart so free,

Which led Him to give, that sinners might live,

His Son to be nailed to the tree.

ML-01/07/1962

Converted Through a Lamp

One night many years ago, while alone in her room, a lady’s lamp suddenly went out. Although she was alone, she said aloud, “There is no oil in the lamp!”

The words thus spoken sounded in her ears, but with a new sense. She recalled the parable of the Five Foolish Virgins, who had no oil, and from that moment that word of God rained in her soul, and influenced her to accept Christ. “Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 25:13.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.... And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matt. 25:6, 10.

Memory Verse: “LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS: AND LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM.” Isa. 55:7.

ML-01/07/1962

Faithful Sowing

SHE was a slight little creature with blue eyes and fair hair. When they asked her to teach the worst class in the Sunday School, she did it and won the hearts of those rough boys. It was not done in a week or a month or three months, and it cost her many a hot tear on her knees at home.

But it was love that won those rough boys who had often gone cold and hungry and slept on hard pillows of paving stones, and “moved on” at the order of the policeman. Some had been in jail. They grew interested in the story of the One who came to this world in poverty and fared as the poor fared, and had not where to lay His head.

Lillian told them how much He loved them and what He had done for them. The good seed was sown and took roots and many of those boys grew up to love and serve the Lord Jesus.

Seven years went by, and Lillian Ward was traveling one day by bus. The conductor was a tall kindly looking man who asked her if she were Miss Lillian Ward.

“Yes,” she said, “and now you speak, I remember you. Are you Tom Rogers — of my old class of boys?”

“Tom Rogers it is, and all I am and all I hope to be I owe to you,” he said, “and to what the Lord Jesus has done for me.”

Lillian lifted her heart to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving for ging her some fruit for her labors.

ML-01/07/1962

Bible Questions for January

The Children’s Class

1. Did the Apostle Paul rejoice because of his wisdom in this world, or because of his simplicity?

2. When we are saved, what does the Spirit of the living God write on our hearts?

3. What is the difference between the things which are seen and the things which are not seen?

4. Do godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world work (produce) the same things?

5. Should one give to God grudgingly or as he purposes in his heart?

6. For whose sake can we take pleasure in persecution and infirmities?

7. Can the efforts of man ever avail against the truth of God?

The Young People’s Class

1. To whom did David look for guidance when hearing that some of the Israelites were in adversity? 1 Sam. 23.

2. Do we have a similar resource for our fellow-Christians? Eph. 6.

3. When David’s men were fearful, what did he do “yet again"? 1 Sam.

4. Was David victorious in following the course of action about which he had inquired of the Lord? 1 Sam.

5. Can we be assured that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him? Heb. 11.

6. How did King Saul seek to take advantage of David in this situation? 1 Sam. 23.

7. Who seeks to take advantage, in our lives, of anything done for Christ? 2 Cor. 2.

ML-01/07/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:1-6

THIS chapter opens with the visit of the wise men from the East. They come to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the King of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen His star in the east, and we have come to do Him homage.” J.N.D. Trans. How many there were in their company we are not told, but it is likely there were more than the three usually depicted in pictures.

Their coming was all the more remarkable since at this time the Jews were under the sway of the Roman Empire, and they had a foreign king over them, Herod an Edomite. This fact shows that the Lord had a controversy with His people, for according to law an Edomite could not come into the congregation until the third generation; and here was one who was their king.

Surely God Himself must have moved these eastern men to undertake that long weary journey of perhaps a thousand miles, more or less, for it is likely they traveled on camels over routes beset with many perils. How much spiritual intelligence they had we do not know, but there is no doubt that the word that God had put into the mouth of that wicked prophet Baalam long before, had spread abroad in Gentile lands: “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.... Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion.” Numb. 24:1719. It has been said that many Gentiles in the East had long expected the rise of some great one in the land of Palestine. It may be that the wise men connected this report with the sudden appearance of the star; at any rate they had set out for Jerusalem, the capital of the land of Israel.

Herod and all Jerusalem were greatly troubled to have these representatives of an eastern nation come and inquire after One who had been born as their King. And to think that they in the religious center of that nation knew nothing of His birth! In the Gospel of Luke it tells us that an announcement of this wonderful event had been given by the angels to some poor shepherds watching over their flocks by night in the country near Bethlehem. But the angels had passed Jerusalem by. Their message to the shepherds was announced as “good tidings of great joy,” and the shepherds had received it as such. But what different effects there are produced in souls when Christ is presented. The shepherds praised God, the wise men rejoiced, but Herod “was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” It seems they did not share the desire of the shepherds to go and see. Still the high priests and scribes had the intelligence of the Scriptures and could tell Herod that Bethlehem of Judea was the place where Messiah was to be born, according to the prophet Micah, chapter 5:2. This shows that it is possible to have a certain knowledge of the Scriptures and yet have no love for Him of whom they testify. These men from the East had only a little light, but they acted on what they had, and they got the blessing. So it will ever be for faith.

Bethlehem means “The house of bread,” and Ephratah means “fruitful,” and many precious memories were connected with that place. It was there Rachel died; it was there Ruth first met Boaz; David was born there, and there it was Jesus was born. Those who seek Him find in Him indeed the place of all blessing and fruitfulness.

ML-01/07/1962

Saved Through a Dog: A True Story

AN OLD man who had no heart for the Lord or concern for his own soul’s welfare, had a good Christian wife. For years she had prayed constantly for her husband’s conversion, but it seemed her prayers were never answered. She could not even get her husband to go with her to the church services.

The good lady had an old dog of which she was very fond and whenever she went to church, her pet would always go along with her. He would go in and lie under her seat and remain perfectly quiet all through the service.

In time the old lady died. The old dog seemed heartbroken, as well as her husband, for he could find no consolation anywhere now that his lifelong companion had passed on.

For several Sundays the old man noticed the dog leave the house at a certain hour and then come back at a certain hour. So one Sunday morning he thought he would follow the devoted animal and find out where he went. The old dog seemed delighted to have his only master now go with him, and happily trotted along until they came to the church door. The old man stopped as the dog bounded up the steps, waiting at the top for his master. After standing a few moments, unable to make up his mind what to do, he said to himself, “I’ll go in to please the dog. It won’t do any harm.” So he went in and sitting down, he listened to the preaching. The next Sunday the old man went again to the church with his faithful friend, and Sunday after Sunday found him at church and the old dog under his wife’s accustomed seat.

Then one morning after the service he arose with tears streaming down his face and opened his heart to God. He told the congregation the story of how the faithful dog had been the means of leading him to Christ. So a faithful God answered his devoted wife’s prayers after all.

We can see how our dear Lord is pleased to use many different ways and means to bring us to Himself. It is the writer’s earnest hope that this little story may find its way into some home, that some heart will be brought to rejoice in Christ, to whom be all the praise!

Both the old man and the dog have long gone—the old man’s spirit to join his wife’s before the Saviour in that happy land above, and to await the glorious resurrection morning. But the old dog had no immortal soul; he has just returned to the dust of the earth. But you, dear reader, have a never-dying soul, that will live for all eternity. And WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY? —in heaven or hell? May it be with Jesus in the land that is fairer than day.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

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

ML-01/14/1962

Only a Child

Only a child! but the rosy lips

Have learned to lisp a Saviour’s Name,

And the trustful eyes look up to God,

His loving promises to claim.

Only a child! yet the little hands

Are folded on my mother knee,

And the pleading prayer of childish faith

Brings down God’s blessing on me.

Only a child! yet the tripping feet

Can run on errands of love and peace,

Carrying comfort to saddened hearts,

And bidding their life-long sorrows cease.

Only a child! and the harvest field

Needs strong-armed men to reap the spoil;

Yet little fingers may bind the sheaves,

And share the workers’ earnest toil.

Only a child! yet the gentle words

Have turned the stream of wrath aside,

And peace is reigning where strife once stood,

And joy is smiling where sorrow sighed.

Only a child! yet the Lord is pleased

When His children try His work to do;

He is asking for little workers now:

Will you not try to serve Him too?

Memory Verse: “WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER THEREIN.” Luke 18:17.

ML-01/14/1962

Receiving, or Refusing

There is no middle course,

Nothing between.

No such place is there today,

Never has been;

You must either believe God’s love,

Claim His free grace,

Or spurn His great salvation now,

And never see His face.

J.R.

ML-01/14/1962

Talks on Bible Animals

IN the Bible, animals as well as men are used to teach us some gospel lessons.

THE LION. King of beasts, and monarch of the forest, unfettered and untamed, he roves and roars, ever “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). The Bible tells us that such is “our adversary the devil.” He spares none who come within his grasp. He even attacked the Son of God when in the wilderness, but on Him he left no mark. He tempts, trips, and seeks to get the young into his “snare,” that he may bring them under his “condemnation” (1 Tim. 3:6). The only way to escape his wiles, and to be delivered from his “power” (Col. 1:13) is to be “in Christ.” Safe and secure are all who are “born of God” from his touch (1 John 5:18), but the whole world of the unconverted, he “deceives” (Rev. 20:10).

THE BEAR. Found in the valleys of Judah and the ravines of Galilee, the Syrian bear is a destroyer of the sheep and the lambs of the flock. You remember that while David kept his father’s sheep near Bethlehem, a bear, as well as a lion, seized a lamb of his flock (1 Sam. 17:34) which he delivered from its cruel grasp. The bear hugs its prey to death. In this it is like the world. When the cruel world, and the lusts thereof, get a grip on the young, stepping out into life, very soon the desire for all that is of God, is crushed out. But as David delivered his lamb out of the mouth of the bear, and restored it to the green pastures, so Christ, the Good Shepherd, rescues and brings back to Himself all who trust in Him.

THE LEOPARD. Spotted all over, it cannot change its color (Jer. 13:23) or its nature. In this it is like a sinner, born in sin, with an evil nature, which can neither be renewed nor reformed. This is why it is said, “Ye must be born again.” John 3:7.

THE ASS. The ass, unclean and unbridled, is like the sinner by nature and practice (Job. 11:12; 24:5). Its firstling had either to be redeemed by a lamb, or have its neck broken. So it must be with us redemption or condemnation.

J.R.

ML-01/14/1962

Christ in the Heart

IMPRESSIONS made on the mind-I-in youth are not easily removed. There is a stone in the British Meum in London said to be as hard as any steel, and no impression can be made on it, yet there is an impression on it of a little bird’s foot. There was a time when it was soft and plastic. Youth is the time when impressions are made never to be eradicated.

An aged preacher of the gospel once met a little girl named Christina, to whom he said, “You have Christ in your name; have you got Christ in your heart?” Christina never forgot that. It was not long before Christ had a place in her heart, and she lived to serve Him faithfully for many years.

“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.” Eccles. 12:1.

ML-01/14/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:7-15

HEROD inquired of the wise men how long it was since they had first seen the star. Then he told them to go to Bethlehem and search diligently for the young child, and to come back and tell him. He made it appear that he too would go and worship Him, but we know his real purpose was to destroy Him. Disappointed no doubt at Jerusalem the wise men departed; “and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” Then it says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Well might they rejoice, for they were nearing the Object of their quest at last. With what eager anticipation they must have traversed that last lap of their long journey, for Bethlehem was only about five miles from Jerusalem.

“When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother.” It is instructive to notice that they were not at all taken back to find such a wonderful Person in such humble circumstances. They simply went into the house and when they saw the young child, “they fell down and worshipped Him.” This was a blessed moment in the history of their souls. They bowed in adoration. What a beautiful sight for God the Father and for all heaven to look down upon. “This is My Beloved Son in whom is all My delight.” And all those who bow before Him now as the risen exalted Saviour at God’s right hand, experience this same blessedness yet in a richer measure. “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” — very costly gifts these were, but the best they had were for Jesus.

Perhaps it might be helpful to point out that the visit of the wise men was not at the same time as the birth of the Lord Jesus. We are not told how long after His birth it was, but it must have been some months. In all probability the star first appeared to these men in their own land at the time of His birth. It would then take some time to make preparations for such a long journey which together with the journey itself would occupy some months. Then too they did not go directly to Bethlehem but to Jerusalem, where they inquire, “Where is the King of the Jews that has been born?” J.N.D. Trans. When the shepherds came to Bethlehem, they found “the babe lying in a manger,” but in the case of the wise men, it says, “When they were come into the house, they saw the young child.” Furthermore we read that Herod diligently sought to find out the time when the star first appeared as if it were then that the child was born.

The wise men found that God was watching over the young child they had come to worship, for He warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their own land by another way. After their departure the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told them that Herod would seek to destroy the young child. He was to take the young child and to flee into Egypt and there remain until He brought Him word again. It is nice to see Joseph’s simple faith in his willingness to carry out these instructions. He arose and took the young child and His mother by night and went into Egypt.

ML-01/14/1962

A Shepherd Boy

MARTINKO was a poor orphan boy who lived in the village of Raschowo in northern Hungary years ago. When twelve years old he began helping the village shepherd, and every day in summer they drove the cattle and sheep to feed on the hillsides nearby.

Next year the old shepherd died and Martinko was given the charge of the flocks and an old hut to live in. He liked the animals and kept good watch over them. In his spare time he wove baskets and mats. It was pleasant on fine days to be out under the big trees. Often as he looked off to the blue sky he wondered what heaven was like. He had heard that God was there, but he knew little more of Him. No one had ever taken the time to tell him and he had never been sent to school, or on Sundays to hear the preaching.

One day a stranger came down the hill path, and sat on a rock to rest. He talked with Martinko and showed him a Book which he said was God’s holy Word. The boy begged him to read aloud. This the young man did, but first he told him that all people in the world are sinners, yet that God loves them, so He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to bear the punishment of those sins Himself.

Then he began to read: first how Jesus went into a garden near the city of Jerusalem, and prayed and wept; how the soldiers came and bound Him and took Him to the Jewish rulers, then to Pilate, the Roman judge, who passed the sentence of death, though he could find no fault in Him. Then the soldiers scourged Jesus; spit on Him, put on His head a crown of sharp thorns and led Him away to Calvary’s hill, where they nailed Him through the hands and feet to a heavy cross to slowly die.

A crowd stood by, with the soldiers, watching and mocking Him as He hung there for six hours. Yet He never resisted, and spoke only gentle words, and prayed God to forgive them. The last three hours the sun was hid and all was dark, though yet day.

At last Jesus gave up His own life, saying, “It is finished.” Then a soldier thrust a spear into His side. Men who loved Jesus begged for the body and buried Him, and a stone was rolled against the grave.

All this sad story Martinko had not heard before, and he felt so sad that it was for his sins, as also for all our sins, that God’s holy Son suffered that cruel death. Martinko laid down on the ground crying. To comfort him, the man read more; how on the third day after, God raised Jesus out of the grave; how Jesus talked with the people who believed in Him and loved Him, and told them He was going to heaven but would some day come for them also. Then He was taken up from them, a cloud hiding Him from their sight.

This last reading comforted Martinko very much, and soon the young man went on his way.

The shepherd boy did not forget the words he had heard that day. But he wished he knew how to read and that he had a Bible. This wish came true before long, and it was because he was kind to another poor boy, Joschko, whose mother had died, and took him to live with him. The old hut was damp and cold, so the two boys did not have a good home, and sometimes not enough to eat, but Martinko tried to keep it clean, and they were happy.

In the day time they watched the flocks, in the evenings Joschko read aloud and began to teach Martinko. That winter, for the first time, Martinko went to school. A kind man gave him a New Testament, and soon he could read for himself. They Were very happy and often sang as they tended the flocks when summer time came.

One night a sheep was missing, Martinko saw it at last, caught in some bushes among the steep rocks. In trying to get it, he fell, and lay stunned till aroused by Joschko calling him. He felt stiff and weak but glad to see the sheep safe and with much trouble carried it up the bank. They took the sheep home, and Mainko said, “I was lost, like the poor sheep, and Jesus gave His life to save me.” Poor Martinko was never very well after his fall. There was no one to give him medicine, or warm food. So he grew weaker each day, till soon the young shepherd’s life was ended. Neighbors took care of Joschko and buried Martinko. We know his spirit is with the Lord, as God has promised for all who love Him. When the Lord Jesus comes to take all His redeemed home to heaven, we know Martinko will be among that number. Dear young reader, will you be there too?

These are the verses Martinko liked best: “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 Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” Matt. 18:11.

“They shall see His face.” Rev. 22:4.

“ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY; WE HAVE TURNED EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE IQUITY OF US ALL.” Isa. 53:6.

ML-01/21/1962

Hearing and Believing

On one of the West Indian Islands when the hot tropical sun was at its height, Benjamin rode slowly through a little village tucked away in the mountains. He had never been there before and he hoped to be able to tell the people of the precious Saviour he had trusted.

A man sat drowsily in the doorway of his home. Benjamin looked down with a smile, and the man called out a friendly greeting. On being invited to enter and rest awhile, Benjamin reined in his horse and replied, “Gladly, if I may read a letter I have for you from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The man was quite willing, so Benjamin dismounted and, after the usual salutations, was soon seated in the hut reading the Word of God.

Very soon the man interrupted, “Stop reading, I want to call in my family and neighbors.” He did so sang, “These are good words; I have never heard anything like them bore.”

All the afternoon they stayed, Benjamin reading the sweet story of God’s love to sinners, and of Jesus’ death on the cross that all who believe He died for them might have eternal life. Now and then he would stop to answer their questions, and explain further, and many prayers went up from his heart that God would bless the reading of His Word and open their hearts to receive it.

It was not long before the man who sat in the doorway received the Lord Jesus as His Saviour, and later in the day several others did so too. At length as night closed in, the neighbors reluctantly returned to their homes and the family retired.

Perhaps you have heard the sweet story of God’s love many times, but have you like these people of whom we have been reading, received Him for yourself?

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

ML-01/21/1962

A Changed Boy

MR. WATSON lives in Australia and not long ago he gave copies of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to some boys he knew. Soon after he was visiting the home of one of the boys, whose mother said there had been such a change in Jack she didn’t know what had happened to him! “Once I couldn’t control him,” she said, “but now he reads the book you gave him every night and always does what I tell him.”

What do you think had happened to Jack?

Well, you see, God’s Word is living and powerful and in reading it Jack’s life had been changed. He knew he was a sinner and had accepted Jesus as His Saviour. Now he has a new nature that loves to please God and not self. That is what God’s Word will do for all who believe it. They are “born again” and made children of God, having the same nature as God. This is the way to be truly happy and free.

ML-01/21/1962

God's Boundary

There is a time, we know not when,

A point, we know not where,

That marks the destiny of men

To glory or despair.

There is a line by us unseen

That crosses every path,

The hidden boundary between

God’s patience and His wrath.

How far may’st one go on in sin?

How long will God forbear?

Where does hope end, and where begin

The confines of despair?

An answer from the skies is sent:

“Ye that from God depart,

While it is called today, Repent!

And harden not your heart.”

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

ML-01/21/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:16-3:6

WHEN Herod learned that the wise men had dared to leave the land without first coming back to tell him of the child, he was furious and in his rage he sent and had all the young boys in Bethlehem, from two years old and under, slain. Evidently he assumed that such an age would cover the period from the time the wise men first saw the star until he found they had left the land. This terrible act of Herod was also the sad fulfillment of another prophecy in Jeremiah, “Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”

After the death of Herod Joseph was told by the angel to go into the land of Israel (he did not say Judea nor Galilee, but he uses the name given to His people of old). Accordingly Joseph went back to the land of Israel, but when he heard that Herod’s son reigned in the land, he was afraid to go into Judea, so he turned aside into the land of Galilee, to the city of Nazareth. Here a scripture had to be fulfilled, though it is unlikely that Joseph knew of it. Jesus was to be called a Nazarene. Galilee was despised by the Jews, and Nazareth was a despised city (even by the Galileans themselves) in a despised place.

In chapter 3 we have John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea. The priests and the temple might be in Jerusalem but it only shows what God thought of that whole system of things. His servant was apart from it all and his preaching was with power. “Repent ye,” says John, “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John was as a herald going before the coming of a most wonderful Person and the Spirit of God gives his mission as that foretold by the prophet Isaiah over 700 years before. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” It was not man’s way, but “the way of the Lord,” and there was need for self-judgment. “Make His paths straight.” They needed to repent and prepare their hearts to receive their Messiah; repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus go together.

John’s preaching was not a complete fulfillment of that prophecy spoken by Isaiah, chapter 40:3, because there it goes further and refers to the Lord’s coming in judgment. But here he was coming simply as a man, Jesus, who would show grace to His people before He manifested His judgments.

The term “kingdom of heaven” (or “of the heavens") was something entirely new. The coming of the Messiah called for this change. Men would be called on to own the rule of the heavens, and we shall see as we go on in this book that this period covers the whole time between His first coming and His coming again. The old order was based on the giving of the law through Moses at Mount Sinai, and as it was given it demanded their obedience. But their blessings connected with the kingdom of heaven as proclaimed now, called for repentance and faith in the coming One. But as it is now, so it was then. The vast majority of the people did not see the necessity of repentance. It was no longer a question of claiming Abraham as their father. Perhaps we have had Christian parents, but we cannot claim their faith as our shelter from judgment to come. Each one must know Christ as his own personal Saviour in order to be saved.

ML-01/21/1962

"Out of the Mouth of Babes"

IT WAS not quite train time, and among the waiting passengers a gentleman walked to and fro in the long depot, holding his little daughter’s hand. A commotion near the door attracted general attention, and several officers brought into the room a handcuffed prisoner.

It soon became known that he was a notorious criminal, who was sentenced to the state prison for twenty years. The little child looked at him, first with wonder and horror. Then, as she saw the settled, sullen gloom of his countenance, a tender pity grew on her sweet face, until dropping her father’s hand, she went over to the prisoner, and lifting her eyes to his face, she spoke a few low words.

He glared upon her like a fiend, and she ran back half afraid, to her father’s hand. But a moment after she was at his side again, pressing nearer than before in her self-forgetful earnestness, and this time the prisoner dropped his defiant eyes as he listened, and a slight tremor passed over his hard face. Then her father called, and the little one went slowly away, looking back pityingly. The train came presently, and the prisoner went quietly on board, and during the journey he gave the offers no trouble.

Upon their arrival at the prison his conduct was most excellent, and continued so to be. Inmates of that prison having terms of twenty years and over are allowed a light in the evenings, and it was observed that he spent the time in studying the Bible. At length some one asked how it came that he brought with him such a reputation for willfulness, since he had proved himself quiet and well behaved.

“Well, sir,” said he, “I’ll tell you. It was when I was waiting in the depot, before I came here. A little mite of a girl was there with her father. She wasn’t much more than a baby, and she had long, shiny hair falling over her shoulders, and such great blue eyes as you won’t often see; somehow I couldn’t help looking at her.

“By and by she let go her father’s hand and come over to me, and says she, ‘Man, I am sorry for you'; and you wouldn’t believe it, but there were tears in her eyes! Something appeared to give way inside of me then, but I was proud, and wouldn’t show it; I just scowled at her blacker than ever.

“The poor dear looked kind of scared like, and ran off to her father, but in a minute she was back again, and she came right up to me, and she says, ‘Man, Jesus Christ is sorry for you.’ O sir, that clean broke my heart. Nobody’d spoke to me like that since my good old mother died, years and years ago. I’d hard work to keep the tears back, and all the way down here I was just thinking of Mother, and a great many things she used to teach me, when I was no bigger than that blessed baby—for I’d a good bringing up, though more’s the shame to me. Well, the whole of it is, sir, I made up my mind I would never rest till I found my mother’s God; and, O sir,” he exclaimed, while the tears ran down his face, “O sir, He’s saved me—He’s saved me!”

How true are the words of that little tot. “Man, Jesus Christ is sorry for you.” He proved how deep was the pity and love of His heart for us poor, wretched sinners, by coming down from heavenly bliss to sorrow and shame here below. From the throne to the cross, and there upon that cross He suffered the wrath and judgment of God for us. “Christ died for our sins.” Sinner friend, as you read these words, can you say in simple faith, “Christ died for me?” Death is our due as sinners, for we read in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” But the Saviour in love and wondrous grace drank death’s bitter cup, and there is nothing but the sweetness of His love left for the one who trusts Him. Oh, what a Saviour He is to die for us—His bitter enemies, for such we are by nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10). Does not your heart yield, and break before such love? Will you not take such a Saviour as your own now? What joy and peace will then be yours!

ML-01/28/1962

The Only Way

ON HIS way home from school Jim passed a little building used as a Sunday School. One day he noticed near the door, a poster. A day or so later he stopped to read it, and this is what he read, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Every time he passed he read it over until he knew it by heart, and repeated it to himself many times during the day. He noticed, too, that at the bottom it said “John 14:6.”

Jim didn’t know very much about Jesus — except he had heard He was God’s Son. But now he wanted to find out more about Him, and when he heard the sweet story of Jesus’ love, His death on the cross that He might wash away the sins of each one who would trust in Him, he was touched and immediately accepted Him as his Saviour.

How happy this made him and ever since then his greatest joy has been to tell others of the precious Saviour he had found.

Have you who have perhaps heard the gospel message many times, believed it as Jim did? And those of you who have believed, do you seek to tell others of the good news of Jesus’ love?

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

ML-01/28/1962

The Great Napoleon's End

AND NOW was to be exemplified the vanity of worldly ambition. The mighty monarch’s train was reduced to a few attendants, and his territory to a plot of garden ground.

He, who had made so many widows and orphans, was himself deprived of his wife and son. The schemes to which his active mind turned for recreation proved abortive. “Let us live on the past!” he exclaimed. But the retrospect exhibited only a course of selfish aggrandizement. He sickened and pined for death.

“Why,” he would ask, “did the cannon balls spare me to die in this manner? I am no longer the great Napoleon.” “How fallen I am!” He would at other times exclaim: “I, whose activity was boundless, whose mind never slumbered, am plunged in lethargic stupor, and must make an effort to raise my eyelids. I sometimes dictated upon different subjects to four or five secretaries, who wrote as fast as words could be uttered; but then I was Napoleon. Now I am no longer anything. My strength, my faculties forsake me. I do not live; I merely exist.”

At other times his reflections took a religious turn: “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded His empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die for Him. I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth to become food for the worms. Such is the fate which so soon awaits him who has been called the Great Napoleon. What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, and adored, and which is extending over the whole earth?”

With the failure of his health, his spirits also drooped. Some fishes in a pond in his garden had attracted his notice; a harmful substance happened to mix with the water; they sickened and died. “Everything that I love,” says Napoleon, “everything that belongs to me, is stricken. Heaven and mankind unite to afflict me."...

Soon afterward he died. A narrow grave, overhung by a weeping willow, long marked the spot where the remains of the mighty conqueror rosed.

Such was Napoleon Bonaparte; the possessor of talents of the highest order, of power the most unbounded, of opportunities of usefulness the most varied. Every element of human happiness had been within his reach; but all, without the Divine blessing, had proved unsubstantial as a Mirage.

“What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matt. 14:26.

“Not many wise men... not many mighty... not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things... the weak things... and base things... and things which are despised, hath God chosen,... that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:26-29.

“FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” Mark 8:36.

“SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS, AND SOME IN HORSES: BUT WE WILL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.” Psalm 20:7.

“KNOWING THE TIME, THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: FOR NOW IS OUR SALVATION NEARER THAN WHEN WE BIEVED.” Romans 13:11.

ML-01/28/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 3:7-17

JOHN’S baptism was a baptism of repentance, and many came to him from Jerusalem, from Judea and from the country around about the Jordan. They confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Joan. We learn later that those who accepted John’s message also accepted the message of the Lord Himself; those who refused the testimony of John also refused the testimony of the Lord Jesus.

The Pharisees and Sadducees, who were the religious leaders of the day, also came to hear John, but he called them a generation of vipers and asked, “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” He told them that they would have to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, for every tree not bringing forth good fruit would be cut down and burned up.

John spoke of the One coming after him who was mightier than he, who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit, which was connected with His first coming, and with fire, when He would appear in judgment. He was to gather the wheat into His garner but He would burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The Holy Spirit would be the source of the energy of those who received the Lord Jesus. They would be born again as we learn elsewhere. He was to redeem them by His death on the cross and this was how He would redeem them from their sins.

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” He would take this place among the poor of His people, who came and confessed that there was that which called for repentance not that there was anything in His life which corresponded to that which was in those who were born in trespasses and sins, but He would be identified with those whose hearts were subject to the Word of God. If He did not accept John’s baptism, it would link Him with the mass of the people who did not repent at the preaching of John. So when John remonstrated with Him as to their being no need for Him to be baized, the Lord replied, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” So He allowed John to baptize Him. He came to take the lowest place among those of God’s people, so that He might enter into their sorrows and sufferings and difficulties of the way. He must be a true pattern and a perfect representative of everything which the poor of the flock were called upon to take and to pass through.

As the Lord Jesus came up out of the water something happened which had never before taken place in the history of man upon earth. The heavens opened unto Him, a man, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and lighted upon Him, while the Father’s voice from heaven was heard, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Never before had there been one who by his life could call forth such a wonderful testimony as this from God. There had been men of great faith on earth at various times and God had used them, but it was only through His grace that He could do so, since there was some failure in every one of them. But the Father’s eye could look down in love upon His beloved Son and see nothing but perfection. " (And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” John 1:14.

ML-01/28/1962

Come Just as You Are

FRED and Jane were driving along a busy highway. It was past noon and they were getting hungry. Ahead of them Jane spotted an attractive restaurant.

“How about stopping here, Fred?” she said to her husband.

“We can’t go in there, Jane! Look at us!” he said, and drove on, right past the inviting place.

Jane shrugged her shoulders. “I see what you mean. I’m looking at us,” she replied, “and we are a sight.” But there was disappointment in her voice.

Driving across the country, the young couple had been unable to find a vacancy in a hotel the night before. By afternoon, they were wrinkled and untidy. The travel stains were showing.

“You’re right, Fred,” Jane agreed. “We would have felt kind of ill at ease in that place. But I’m awful hungry — and not just for a hot dog or hamburger. I would like a meal in a nice place.”

They drove on, passing places that didn’t appeal to them — and some that did.

Then, pointing off to the side, Jane cried, “Look, Fred, over there. That big sign. Slow down a minute so I can read it. That’s what I thought it said: ‘Come just as you are.’ Good. That’s for us, even if we did sleep in our clothes last night.”

“It does look nice.” Fred slowed to a stop and pulled up by the red and white painted, old-fashioned shuttered restaurant.

Inside it was all they could have hoped for. How they enjoyed their meal! Refreshed and satisfied by the good food, they went on their way.

It was later the same day that Jane was meditating on the sign, “Come just as you are.”

“Fred,” she said thoughtfully, “isn’t that the very invitation the Lord Jesus gives? ‘Come just as you.’ Isn’t that the only way we can come to Him?”

“You’re right!” Her husband shook his head vigorously. “That is the way we come. Just like our going into that nice restaurant; we were dirty and hot and sticky and —”

Jane interrupted eagerly. “I know a verse that explains that perfectly. God loved us, and washed us. First He invites us to come, then He washes us from our sins. The hymn says:

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth.

“Come and dine!”

You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time.

He who fed the multitude; turned the water into wine;

To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”

“And we don’t have to wait until we are all cleaned up and dressed in our best, either,” Fred added. “As you have said, Jane, He loves us in our sinful condition and when we come to Him, just as we are, He washes us in His precious blood, makes us fresh and pure and clean, and fit for His banqueting house.”

They were silent for a few moments, thinking. Then Jane spoke again.

“Fred, whenever I think of that billboard saying, ‘Come just as you are,’ I’ll be reminded of the hymn we sing so often:

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot.

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come.”

ML-02/04/1962

Daniel

DANIEL worked for a grocer in Mexico. One day as he climbed up on a high ladder, he slipped and fell. He hurt himself so badly that the doctor told him he would never be any better.

While Daniel lay in the hospital, one who loved the Lord Jesus and wanted others to learn of Him too, came through the ward with leaflets and testaments. Daniel received a testament and at once began to read it with great interest. He read of the love of God in sending His Son down into this world to die for sinners. He read of all that Jesus suffered on the cross, and of how He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father.” Rom. 6:4. His heart was touched as he realized that He bore all the judgment, that he, Daniel, might be made fit to dwell with Him in His beautiful home above.

One night when he thought the other patients were asleep he cried aloud to God to pardon him, and to make him one of God’s own children. His prayer was heard and answered. Daniel’s life was changed, and for the two years before he died, he delighted to tell other patients of the precious Saviour he had found.

Daniel’s accident was used of the Lord to bring about the salvation of his precious soul but will you not, my reader, listen to the Good Shepherd’s voice saying, “Come unto Me” — and come? Hear His “still small voice” lest He may have to speak “loudly” as in Daniel’s case.

ML-02/04/1962

A Safe Hiding Place

ONE HOT day when the boys and girls at a school in Burma were busy with their lessons, a strange gentleman entered the room. He told the teacher he would like to give each boy and girl a text card, and she was very pleased for him to do so, for she loved the Lord Jesus and wanted all her pupils to know Him as their Saviour too. So they all went home happily that night with a text.

Several days later one boy came to her and said, “I took home the card and pinned it on our wall, but soon my mother told me to take it down. You see she doesn’t love Jesus, but worships an idol, and she didn’t like my text there. I’ve taken it down, and hidden the card where she can’t find it, but I’ve got the verse in a safe place too, — it’s in my heart.”

“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psa. 119:11.

ML-02/04/1962

What Winnie Thought

“DO YOU suppose,” said Johnnie as his little cousin laid aside her largest and rosiest apple for a little sick girl, “that God cares about such little things as we do? He is too busy taking care of the big folks to notice us much.”

Winnie shook her head and pointed to Mother, who had just lifted baby from his crib.

“Do you think,” said Winnie, “that Mother is so busy with the big folks—helping the girls off to school, and Daddy to his office — that she forgets the little ones? No, she thinks of baby FIRST.”

ML-02/04/1962

Bible Questions for February

The Children’s Class

1. Can anyone be justified by the works of the law?

2. Up to whom does the Apostle say the law brings us that we might be justified by faith?

3. What do we reap when we sow to the flesh?

4. Does the faith which is necessary for our salvation come from ourselves or God?

5. How can we, who sometimes were far off, be made nigh to God?

6. Should we give thanks for all things?

7. What are we to put on, that we may stand against the wiles of the devil?

The Young People’s Class

1. After David had saved the inhabitants of Keilah from the hand of the Philistines, how did he learn that they had no gratitude in their hearts for him? 1 Sam. 23.

2. What act of mercy had the Lord Jesus done that prompted a whole city to ask Him to depart from their midst? Matt. 8

3. Is the heart of man always fully set to do that which is evil? Eccles. 8.

4. Where did David next take up his abode in this time of testing? 1 Sam.

5. Did the Lord Jesus have a time of testing in the wilderness? Luke 4.

6. By what means did God strengthen the hand of David at this time? 1 Sam.

7. Does every Christian have a source of strength during the wilderness journey? Eph. 3.

ML-02/04/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:1-4

THE Lord Jesus had taken His place among men, the heavens had opened upon Him, He had been sealed and anointed with the Holy Ghost, and the Father had owned Him as His beloved Son. How blessed that He should come down here and take our place at the cross in order that through redemption we might have His place. For heaven is now open to the believer, he is owned as a son of God and the Holy Ghost is given to him. He is loved with the same love with which the Father loves the Son.

But grace provokes the enemy. It is when souls are thus blessed that Satan’s temptations are apt to come.

The Lord must now pass through a time of testing, and so He goes forth from that blessed event at the Jordan into a different scene — the wilderness — to be tried by the one who had caused Adam to fall. Satan would find out whether this Man would succumb to his wiles. How different the circumstances in which Jesus was tested to those in which the tempter first found Adam! The Lord was in the wilderness, among the wild beasts (Mark 1:13), but Adam, when in that state of innocency, was in a wonderful garden where everything was provided for his benefit by his Creator. Ever since then Satan has been tempting mankind and over and over again it has been proved that man cannot withstand his wiles.

But what about the One who came to take man’s place and to answer to God for him? Would He be able to stand? Satan stood ready to challenge Him with all that he had learned in dealing with men over the centuries.

“And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered.” It would appear that the temptation was going on all during those forty days, but after they were passed the tempter comes with the challenge: “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” This temptation grew out of the Lord’s circumstances but He was a man who had no other will than His Father’s will and so He answers, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Though hungry He would not act upon Satan’s suggestion to satisfy His hunger, which would take Him out of that place of dependence upon God. He would wait upon Him. He hung upon the Word of God. To Him it was everything. He lived by it. Faith knows that God will take care of one who trusts in Him; it is his business to keep God’s word. God will not fail to watch over and protect him.

It is interesting to notice that the three scriptures the Lord uses in silencing Satan, He quotes from the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy contains the instructions and warnings given by Moses to the people just before they crossed the Jordan to enter the land of Canaan. If they were to possess and enjoy the land God gave them, there must be obedience and dependence upon Him. Satan found in the Lord Jesus here only perfect obedience and perfect trust in God. It was this that gave such power to His word. Thus He was preserved from the snare of the fowler and the enemy was utterly beaten. It will be so with us if we seek grace to follow the pattern He has set for us.

ML-02/04/1962

Two Snow Storms

MANY years ago, in a log cabin that stood in the middle of a field, close by the shore of Lake Michigan, a settler family gathered around the lamp. Supper was over, a big fire blazed on the hearth, and the shutters were bolted and barred, for in those days the dread of Indian prowlers was on every settler’s home. The thought of the Red man creeping stealthily up with tomahawk was never absent.

On this particular night the snow, intense, bitter, biting, cold, was driving before the wind. The lake was storm tossed and furious, with wild waves booming on the shore. But over the door of the Ellesler’s cabin a rosy light shone out, for the mother had compassion on the wayfarer, stumbling through the darkness.

Inside sat the father and mother, sturdy boys, a blue-eyed daughter, and the darling baby asleep in the cradle. Eight o’clock struck and the father took down the large print leather bound Bible and began to read. The 23rd Psalm was chosen. The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.... The psalm being ended they sang together:

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word;

What more can He say than to you He has said,

Who unto the Saviour for refuge have fled?”

Then the father prayed. The little daughter always remembered how fervent, how glad and how tender those prayers were.

As the family rose from their knees that stormy night, they heard at first a low knocking, growing increasingly louder, and voices crying, “Let us in, let us in, we have wandered from the way! Let us in before we perish! If you have human hearts let us in and dinna wait!”

Reuben, the father, looked at Phebe who returned the look and then said, “Open the door, dear, we cannot deny shelter to any this night, were he the worst enemy we had on earth.”

Reuben unbarred the door letting in a wild gust of wind and a great blast of snow. Then in tottered a man who had battled with the cold and the gathering darkness for hours; his wife, bundled up in shawls and furs, had her baby in her arms.

“Deed, and we are lost, and we heard you pray and the sound guided us and we were no feared to knock where Christians prayed to God.”

Three days and nights passed bore the tempest was over. Warmed and fed, the McMurdo family went on their way. Mr. Ellesler took them many miles in his sleigh. At their feet was a bountiful lunch provided by his wife.

Twenty-five years passed. Reuben Ellesler started out from his now prosperous city home to keep an appointment. But after alighting from his train, he started out to walk to his destination, and was caught in a blinding snowstorm. He struggled on for hours, lost and almost frozen, when suddenly a great light glowed before him and a path of light over the snow led him straight to a house. Kind hands were soon busy rubbing him and offering him food and drink.

To his surprise he found that his kind friends were the McMurdos, the very people he had rescued twenty-five years before. And as he lay under soft blankets, with warmth and comfort, and deliverance from death filling him with great thankfulness, Reuben Ellesler heard a song of praise in the room below —

“How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.”

ML-02/11/1962

Jesus Has Got Me Now

AT A children’s service a little girl was listening eagerly to the words of the speaker, as he pressed upon his hearers the joy of accepting the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. The child was deeply anxious and when spoken to burst into tears.

“And are you trusting in the Lord Jesus?” she was asked and at once she replied, “Oh, yes.”

“Why, how long has that been?”

“Only just now, when you were telling us to trust Jesus just where we were sitting, and I did.”

Later when they were saying goodnight the speaker said, “Now, Jean, when you came here this evening you did not belong to the Lord Jesus, but you are going out of this place a believer in Him, and belonging to Him. But tomorrow morning you will perhaps be tempted not to believe that Jesus has saved you. If Satan does so worry you, what shall you tell him?”

A smile instantly lit up her happy and thoughtful face, and she replied in a simple yet confident manner, “Oh, I shall tell him that Jesus has got me now.”

“My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27, 28.

ML-02/11/1962

Birds of the Air

THE Lord Jesus made frequent mention of “birds of the air,” and used them as emblems of the great truths He taught. We are all familiar with the “sparrow on the housetop” (Psa. 102.7), the “raven” of the field (Luke 12:24), and the “songsters” (S. of Sol. 2:12) of the grove. And from each we may learn a truth, clearly made known in the Word of God for our instruction.

A FLEEING BIRD. (Psa. 11:1.) Aware of danger, trembling from fear (Hos. 11:11), it flees from a coming storm to a shelter near. Chased (Lam. 3:52) by a strong and eager enemy of the air, it seeks a place of refuge. And thus does the sinner when awakened to know his danger, flee to Christ to hide in Him (Psa. 143:9).

A SHELTERED BIRD. (Jer. 48:28.) She is snug and safe in her nest “in the rock,” where neither hawk nor storm can reach her. So is the believing soul, hid in the “Rock of Ages” (Isa. 26:4, marg.).

SINGING BIRDS. (S. of Sol. 2:12.) They pour forth their springtime melody while they sit on the branches of the tree, laden with its beauteous blossom. Like the new born soul, saved by grace, singing its first glad song — the song of salvation (Ex. 15:1, 2), the song of deliverance (Psa. 40:3).

BIRDS ON THE WING. (Jer. 8:7.) Birds of passage, who migrate to warmer climes before the winter gather in flocks at the “set time,” and pass from the place of their sojourn here, to the sunny skies of their native land. So one day soon, the whole flock of ransomed songslers, who sing the praises of their great Redeemer here, will pass over to that land to which no foe approaches, in which there is no wintry blast: there to sing redemption’s everlasting song (Rev. 5:9). J.R.

ML-02/11/1962

God's Word

Last eve I paused beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime:

Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,

Old hammers worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had?” said I,

“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then with twinkling eye,

“The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, I thought, the anvil of God’s Word.

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon.

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The ANVIL is unharmed, the hammers GONE!

“They shall know whose words shall stand, Mine or theirs.” Jer. 44:28.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.” Luke 21:33.

“The word of the Lord endureth forever.” 1 Pet. 1:25.

Memory Verse: “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM THAT PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, AND BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS.” Rom. 10:15.

ML-02/11/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:5-10

“THEN the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple.” Again the tempter challenges Him: “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.” Perhaps we may foil Satan once by our dependence upon God, but he will come back again. If he cannot get in the front door he will try and come in the back door.

The Lord Jesus had quoted Scripture in answering the devil, now the devil will quote Scripture also. But since he had not abode in the truth from the time of his fall, he distorts the Word. Quoting from Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High...,” which speaks of the faithful Messiah, he leaves out part of this verse, for where it mentions “He shall give His angels charge over Thee,” it has for its purpose, "To keep Thee in all Thy ways,” that is, the ways of Messiah as the faithful dependent Man. Had He heeded Satan’s suggestion, He would have placed Himself in Satan’s ways. It was as if Satan said, The promise in this scripture plainly applies to You. Cast Thyself down; He has promised to keep You; try and see if He will be as good as His word. But surely we ought never to doubt that the Lord will be for us. If we do anything to prove Him, to see whether He will be for us, this is at once unbelief of the goodness of God and disobedience. The Lord would not allow for a moment the thought of putting God to the proof to see if He would be true to His word, and so He answers Him in a way that is wonderfully instructive for every child of God when confronted by the enemy who distorts Scripture: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

In the Lord’s saying “It is written again,” it shows that we are not to direct our ways in this life by the application of only one scripture. We need the whole Word of God.

In the third and last temptation the devil tries the Lord in a different way still. “The devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Satan must have put on a grand display, that is to the natural eye, for men like glory and power. But the Lord Jesus is the only one who is worthy of these as we learn from the Revelation. No doubt Satan knew that all glory and power and blessing belonged to Jesus, that they would be His in a future day, after His time of suffering was over. Yet he would show the Lord an easier way of obtaining them. But here the Lord says, “Get thee hence, Satan"; and He silences him with another word of Scripture: “it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” So the arch enemy departs, defeated, to God’s glory, by the obedient and dependent Man. Jesus is seen here as the moral Conqueror of that one who has upset every man but Himself.

ML-02/11/1962

Mary's Wish

MARY Jones lived many years ago in a village of Wales. Her father was a weaver, a kind honest man, who worked all day at his loom making cloth. The mother helped weave. Yet because in those days the work was slow and the pay small, together they earned barely enough for each day’s needs.

When a little child Mary learned to do many tasks about the house and when older to weed the garden, feed the chickens, and care for the bees. She was a happy little girl, who loved her home and the country round. She liked to look from their cottage door up the steep bluffs to Cader Idris or down the pretty valley to Cardigan Bay.

What she enjoyed most of all, was after the day’s work was done, her father would sit and tell her stories of Joseph, Moses, or Daniel, or of the Lord Jesus feeding the hungry people or healing the sick and lame. He could not read the stories, because they had no Bible. Books were too expensive in those days, and very few people could read or write. It was not until Mary was ten years old that a school was started in her village, where she quickly learned to read.

Then there was something which Mary wished for every day. It was to have a BIBLE of her very own so she might read it for herself. One day she decided to try and earn some money to buy one. She told her father her plan, and he made a little box in which she kept whatever she earned. Usually it was but a penny at a time, for minding a neighbor’s baby, or washing dishes. As she grew older and could help with harder tasks and could mend neatly, she received a little more pay. It was six years working and waiting before enough lay in the little box to buy a Welsh Bible.

The nearest place where a Bible could be bought was twenty-five miles away, and the only way Mary could go was walk. Her parents gave their consent to the long journey, committing her into the Lord’s loving care.

Early one spring morning Mary started out barefooted, with her shoes in a bag over her shoulder only to be worn when the town should be reached. The road was rough and hilly, but she felt happy and there was much to see and enjoy. At noon she sat under a tree to eat her lunch, and soon started on again.

It was a very weary little girl who late that evening knocked on the door of the house where she had been directed, and they kindly lodged her there for the night.

Next morning she joyfully exchanged her long saved money for a Bible, and with it held tightly to her heart, started to walk home. She arrived safely that night, tired, but happy to share her much loved Book with her father and mother.

Mary never tired of her Bible. The more she read the more she prized it, and learned to repeat many verses and even chapters.

In her Bible she read how the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, had borne the punishment of sin when He died on the cross at Calvary, and that God waits to freely forgive all who trust in Him. That is why Mary valued God’s Word above anything else and why it made her so happy to read it.

The Lord Jesus said: “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life.” John 5:24.

ML-02/18/1962

The Barrels From Renfield

“THE LAST of the sugar, Father!”

“And the last of the oatmeal!”

“Only flour enough for one more baking! Hardly that.”

“The potatoes are almost gone, and there’s no more pork.”

“Margaret’s shoes are completely worn out. She can’t go out of the house until she gets another pair! Neither to school, nor to play, nor anywhere else.”

They sat around the breakfast table — the brave missionary and his family and the usual blessing on the food had been asked without which John Fletcher never began a meal.

The mother had sparingly divided the last of the sugar into each cup before she poured the steaming coffee. The oldest daughter had spoken of the oatmeal as she served out the porridge, the next daughter being the family baker had mentioned the flour and John Jr. the potatoes and pork.

Mr. Fletcher didn’t speak but in his pocketbook he had only forty-seven cents.

It was a cold morning and a bitter blast at that moment went whirling around the house. “Put some more wood on the stove, Jack,” said the missionary quietly, “thank God we have plenty of wood.”

“But, Father,” urged his daughter, “where is our food to come from, and what shall we do for clothes? We can’t eat fuel.”

“My dear,” replied her father, “I don’t know. God knows. And we must not worry; we must be in perfect peace. Has He not said, ‘Fear not, little flock. It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom'?”

John Fletcher had written home, telling of the poverty of the people among whom he labored. Their crops had failed that year, and they had no money to buy groceries or clothing. But three weeks had gone by and no word had come. It was a test of faith.

But that morning in the midst of their tasks, the Fletcher family were startled by a loud knocking at the door, and a cartage man called, “Here’s a load of freight for you. Four big barrels of goods.”

Great was the excitement and joy as those barrels were unpacked. Blankets were in one and quilts — good warm patchwork ones. Out of another came stockings, dresses, underwear, coats, shoes — the cast-offs of a well clothed community.

Then there was a good supply of groceries, and tucked into the middle of one barrel was a valuable new book, to be especially prized by the missionary because it was addressed to him. And here and there between the leaves, the giver had placed dollar bills to the amount of one hundred dollars.

Provisions were in those barrels for many a home and something for everybody.

The little company of friends, when the gifts had been distributed sang with grateful voices—

“How good is the God we adore,

Our faithful, unchangeable Friend.”

ML-02/18/1962

Hell

A FAITHFUL Scotch preacher had occasion one day to pass a factory where glass was manufactured. Finding the door open, he stepped in. Soon he stood before the cavernous opening of one of the furnaces. He stared at the seething flames as though hypnotized and finally exclaimed, “Oh, what will hell be like?” He did not know that a stoker near by in the shadow heard his words.

Several weeks went by. Then one Sunday the stoker came to the chapel, and making himself known to the preacher after the service, the stoker reminded him of the incident at the glass factory and said, “Every time that I have opened the furnace since then I have thought of your words. I came tonight to take Jesus as my Saviour. I don’t want to find out what hell is like!”

And you too, dear reader, have only to look to the Lord Jesus and take Him as your own precious Saviour, and He will save you and give you everlasting life. He is “not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet. 3:9.

ML-02/18/1962

A Simple Conversion

I WAS leaving a hall, in which I had been preaching the gospel, when a man said to me: “Sir, I am very anxious to get salvation.”

“Then,” I said, “God is very anxious to save you.”

I reminded him that “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.

He stopped me by saying: “But do you believe in Jesus?”

I replied, “Jesus said, ‘He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.’ "

A look of astonishment and joy broke over his face as he said: “Then I’ve got it!”

Memory Verse: “ALSO UNTO THEE, O LORD, BELONGETH MERCY: FOR THOU RENDEREST TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORK.” Psa. 62:12.

ML-02/18/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:11-22

THE Lord had said to His adversary, “Get thee hence, Satan,” and the devil had left Him. In a later day when Peter, prompted by Satan, would have turned his Master from the cross, the Lord said to him, “Get thee behind Me, Satan.” Satan was the source of that prompting, but Peter needed the rebuke, as we have also at times. Yet no matter how sadly he may have failed, the Lord will never say to one of His own, “Get thee hence.” Nothing can separate us from His love. (Rom. 8:38, 39.)

After Satan’s departure, the angels come and minister to Jesus, the victorious Son of man. It is comforting to know from Hebrews 1:14 that the angels are ministering spirits unto them who shall be heirs of salvation. We are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us, for he is a defeated foe. We cannot command him, as the Lord did, but we can follow the pattern here set by the Lord Jesus and look to Him for guidance, that we may be able to quote from the Scriptures that which is suited to the occasion, which will cause Satan to flee.

We read in Luke 11:21,22, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” The Lord Jesus had overcome the strong man — Satan — and now He goes forth to bless and deliver man. But first we are told that John the Baptist had been cast into prison. The Lord Jesus sees in this John’s rejection by the responsible leaders of the nation. They had rejected John’s ministry which told them of the coming of the Messiah and in so doing they rejected the Messiah personally. Accordingly He leaves Judea, the center of the religious activity of the people, and goes into Galilee, where the poor of the people dwelt. He first remains for a while at Nazareth where He had been brought up, that despised city in a despised country. He was to be known as Jesus of Nazareth. We are told elsewhere (Luke 4:22), that they stumbled at His lowly origin and refused His ministry. So He leaves Nazareth and comes and dwells in Capernaum. His coming to Capernaum was the fulfillment of that which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The land of Zabulon, and the way of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” That part of the land was regarded as the scene of darkness; yet it was just there that God caused light to arise in a most wonderful way. The people living there had been despised and neglected by those who had professed to have the light of God’s Word, but now they were visited by the One who was the Light of the world. Nazareth was in lower Galilee; Capernaum was in upper Galilee, and here was to be witnessed His wonderful ministry of power and grace.

Satan had well nigh succeeded in drawing all men after him, but now the victorious Saviour begins to gather around Himself those who in their sorrows were awaiting the Deliverer. Some He calls to be His disciples, to be witnesses of His ministry and works of power, among them Simon Peter, Andrew his brother, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, all of whom were poor fishermen.

ML-02/18/1962

The Dead Raven

A POOR weaver lived in the little German town of Wupperthal. He was a poor man in his outward circumstances, but rich toward God, and well known in his neighborhood as one who trusted in the Lord at all times. His constant faith expressed itself in what became his customary saying under every trial and trouble.

“The Lord helps” he would say; and he said it undauntedly, even when it looked as if the Lord had forsaken him. Once when, in hard times, work ran short, many hands were discharged, and the weaver himself lost his job.

After many fruitless pleadings that he might be kept on, he said at last, “Well! the Lord helps,” and so returned home. His wife, when she heard the bad news, bewailed it terribly; but her husband strove to cheer her with his accustomed assurance. “The Lord helps,” he said; and even though, as the days went on, and poverty pinched them sorely, nothing could shake his firm reliance on Him in whom he trusted. At last came the day when not a penny was left; no bread, no fuel in the house, and starvation stared them in the face. Sadly the wife tidied and swept the little room on the ground floor in which they lived. The window was open, and possibly the words were heard outside with which the weaver strove to keep up their courage: “The Lord helps.” Presently a street boy looked saucily in, and threw a dead raven at the feet of the pious man. “There, saint, there is something for you to eat,” he cried.

The weaver picked up the dead raven, and stroking its feathers down, said compassionately, “Poor creature! You must have died of huer.” When, however, he felt its crop to see whether it was empty, he noticed something hard, and wishing to know what had caused the bird’s death, he began to examine it. What was his surprise when opening its crop a gold necklace fell into his hands! The wife looked at it confounded; the weaver exclaimed, “The Lord helps,” and in haste took the chain to the nearest goldsmith, told him how he had found it, and received with gladness two dollars, which the goldsmith offered to lend him for his present use.

The goldsmith soon cleaned the trinket, and recognized it as one he had seen before. “Shall I tell you the owner?” he asked, when the weaver called again. “Yes,” was the joyful answer; “for I would gladly give it back to the right owner.”

But what cause had he to admire the wonderful ways of God when the goldsmith pronounced the name of his master at the factory!

Quickly he took the necklace and went with it to his former employer. In his family too, there was much joy at the discovery, for suspicion was removed from a servant. But the merchant was ashamed and touched; he had not forgotten the words uttered by the poor man when he was dismissed. “Yes,” he said, thoughtfully and kindly, “the Lord helps; and now you shall not only go home richly rewarded, but I will no longer see without work so faithful and pious a workman, whom the Lord so evidently stands by to help; you shall henceforth be no more in need.”

Thus He who fed Elijah by the living ravens proves Himself equally able to supply the needs of His tried and suffering children by the same bird when dead. We almost at once say, after reading such a story as this, “Lord, increase our faith.” Let those who are tried in circumstances, and in whatever way suffering may come, remember that “nothing is too hard for the Lord.” He honors simple faith.

This faith in God kept the poor weaver buoyant and happy, and it was well rewarded. Jesus is the object on which faith rests. Let Him be all our confidence and all our hope, and we shall be sure to know everlasting joy in the days to come.

“WITH MEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT WITH GOD; FOR WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” Mark 10:27.

ML-02/25/1962

Wandering Sheep

IN LABRADOR most of the people are fishermen and their homes are on the rocky cliffs near the sea. In the summer while they are busy fishing they let their sheep out to graze on the hills. All summer long they wander on and on, back over the hills, further away from the sea. Never once do they come home again, and when the cold weather comes, the owners have to go and look for them.

Boys and girls are much like these sheep! When left to themselves they wander away — intent only on having a good time in their sins, with never a thought of where such conduct will lead them. Like sheep they need someone to look for and to find them.

The fishermen often have to go many miles before they find their sheep. The Good Shepherd sometimes seeks for a long time before He finds His wandering sheep.

How it rejoices His heart when the sheep hear His voice and heed that loving invitation “Come unto Me,” and let the Good Shepherd carry them home on His shoulders, rejoicing.

ML-02/25/1962

"Bible Sparrows"

SPARROWS! Whoever would have thought that they were worth naming in the Bible? But they are, and in many places too. Chirping on our housetops, picking crumbs from the road, they are object lessons of God’s care, for not one of them can “fall on the ground” (Matt. 10:29), without God knowing of it.

SPARROWS SOLD. (Matt. 10:29.) “Two sparrows sold for a farthing"—cheap enough surely. But sinners who sell themselves to the service of sin and Satan go for less. For the Word says, “Ye have sold yourselves for nought.” Isaiah 52:3.

THE ODD SPARROW. (Luke 12:6.) Two for a farthing: five for two farthings — so that odd one is thrown in. Of so little value are these birds reckoned among men. Yet the Lord Jesus tells us “not one of them,” not even the odd sparrow, “is forgotten before God.” And boys and girls whose souls are precious in God’s sight, are “of more value than many sparrows,” (verse 7). Need we wonder, then, that He has given a great “ransom” (1 Tim. 2:6) to buy them back to Himself?

A SPARROW SACRIFICED. (Lev. 14:4, margin.) “Take two sparrows, alive and clean.” One was killed, and its blood preserved in a vessel of water. Then the poor leper who had been shut out from his friends and from his God had this sprinkled on him, the priest saying that now he was “clean.” A wonderfully simple illustration surely, of how a sinner is made clean through believing what God’s Word (John 15:3) says about Christ dying for sinners (Rom. 5:8) for you, for me.

A SPARROW LIBERATED. (Lev. 14:6.) Dipped in its fellow’s blood, the live sparrow was set free, and soared into the air with the blood-mark on its wing redeemed and set free. So it is now with all who “have redemption” (Eph. 1:7) through Jesus’ blood, and who confess Him as “my Redeemer.”

J.R.

ML-02/25/1962

Books

MANY years ago a gentleman in India, while searching for a book, felt a slight pain in his finger like the prick of a pin. He took no nice of it, but soon his arm began to swell, and in a short time he died. A small but deadly snake was afterward found among the books.

Though we do not find poisonous snakes among the books in our country, sometimes there is poison in the books themselves. And so, dear children, we must be careful what we read. Satan, our deadly enemy, has flooded the world with books and magazines and papers that contain far deadlier poison than the snake’s bite. The poison in them is cunning lies against God’s Word, and against His beloved Son. If we should read these and be deceived by them, then we should lose, not only our lives, but our never dying souls as well.

“Take heed what ye hear.”

Mark 4:24.

Memory Verse: “THE LORD KNOWETH THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: BUT THE WAY OF THE UNGODLY SHALL PERISH.” Psa. 1:6.

ML-02/25/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:23-5:16

“AND JESUS went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. His fame went throughout all Syria,” which was north of Galilee. “And they brought unto Him all sick people..., and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.

“And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from bond Jordan.” vv. 23-25. Verse 23 is a summing up of the whole of the general ministry of the Lord. It is not a question of time here. What is described in these few verses must have covered a considerable space.

We now come to what is commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, in chapters 5-7. In this discourse the Lord shows what should characterize the kingdom in its principles, as well as the operations of faith in those who should enter into it.

Chapter 5:1-12. In this section we have the character of those who are to enter into the kingdom and the blessedness of their portion.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit... they that mourn... the meek... they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness... the merciful... the pure in heart... the peacemakers...” How different the things mentioned here to that which characterized Israel, and man generally, whom He had to denounce as proud in heart and in spirit!

Those things mentioned here were those things which characterized the Lord Jesus Christ in His pathway through this world. Who mourned as he, and who hungered and thirsted after righteousness as He did? He was a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53). These things should characterize the children of the kingdom, those who are “born again.” It is impossible for the natural man to carry them out as they are given here.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake..

Blessed are ye, when men shall rile you, and persecute you... for My sake.” There are two kinds of persecutions mentioned here, first, that which comes from attempting to live according to the righteous principles of Christ’s kingdom. Then there is that which springs from being a disciple of Jesus, and from following a rejected Master. But in either case they were to rejoice for great was their reward in heaven. The prophets of old who had sought to go on for the Lord had suffered persecutions.

Then we have the position of those who are to enter the kingdom of heaven in a state of things so adverse to it— amidst persecution, corruption and darkness. vv. 13-16. “Ye are the salt of the earth.... Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” There must be a moral aspect of the kingdom before it could be set up in power. The leaders of that time did not see the necessity of this and so they have not received the blessing of the kingdom.

ML-02/25/1962

Crossing the Ocean Without Money

A LITTLE boy I once knew crossed the ocean without money to buy his ticket. His father had died from a sunstroke. His mother gathered the little money she had left and resolved to go home to her friends in Scotland. But sad to say she did not have enough funds to buy tickets for all the children. It was decided that Sandy, just twelve years old, should stay behind in a home in New York for the time being.

Poor Sandy! He shed many tears when he bid his mother good-bye and as he watched the ship sail out of New York harbor he had such a feeling of loneliness. I am sure his mother shed many tears too as she thought of her dear boy left behind. At last Sandy decided he could not stay any longer in the big city. So he determined he would try to get across the ocean somehow to see his dear mother and his brothers and sisters again.

One day he went down to the harbor and found the ship Hibernia getting ready to sail for Scotland. Somehow he managed to get aboard when no one was watching and going down into the hold he hid behind some of the cargo. But just before the ship was to sail he was discovered and turned over to one of the ship’s offers. When it was found out the boy had no ticket and that he was attempting to steal a passage, the offer scolded and treated him very roughly. Taking him by the collar he dragged him along the deck to put him off the ship. The poor little fellow wept bitterly, and I heard him cry, “Oh, do let me go home to Scotland!”

“You don’t have any ticket,” said the officer. “You can’t go without paying for your passage,” and he pushed the boy along toward the gangway.

The passengers gathered around, feeling very sorry for the little fellow, but could do nothing. Just then a well-dressed gentleman came forward and said to the officer, “Let the boy go, and I will see that his passage is paid for.”

“Very well then,” said the officer, and the boy was immediately set at liberty.

I wish, my young friends, you could have seen how happy little Sandy was from then on. He danced about the deck for sheer joy. He did not actually see the kind man pay the price of his ticket, but he believed that he would do all he said he would, and how thankful he was to him. All the way across the broad ocean that little boy was happy, and though sometimes the great waves dashed over the ship, Sandy never seemed the least bit troubled. The thought of seeing his dear mother sustained his joy, and when at last he stood upon the shores of Scotland his little face beamed with delight. He could not fully express his gratitude to his kind friend who had paid his passage over, but he thanked him over and over again.

You and I, dear young readers, owe far, far more to One who has done infinitely more for us. It cost that precious Saviour His life’s blood to purchase a passage from earth to heaven for all who trust Him. But such was His love and pity for poor sinners like we, with nothing to pay, that He would pay the whole price of our redemption on the cross. And now all He asks is that we show our love and thanks to Him by accepting Him as our Saviour. He says, I am the way to heaven. Just believe His message, trust Him, and get on board at once. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. God never frowns on boys and girls who take Him at His word. But He does give them a free passage to heaven. Jesus paid the fare in blood, God accepts the fare, and all who trust in Jesus safely reach the Father’s house on high.

ML-03/04/1962

Nothing to Pay

“It is finished.” John 19:30

Nothing to pay?—no, not a whit;

Nothing to do?—no, not a bit;

All that was needed to do or to pay

Jesus has done in His own blessed way.

Nothing to pay?—no, thanks be to God,

The matter is settled, the price was THE BLOOD,

The blood of the Victim, a ransom divine—

Believe it, poor sinner, and peace shall be thine.

What am I waiting for?—Jesus, my Lord,

He’s coming to take me, so says the Word.

To be with Himself in the mansions above,

Enjoying forever His infinite love.

ML-03/04/1962

Little Broomstick

A POOR little street girl was taken sick, and was carried to the hospital. While there she heard the story of how Jesus came into the world to save us by dying for our sins on the cross. It was all new to her and very precious. She could and did value such a wonderful Saviour, and the knowledge bf Him made her very happy as she lay upon her little cot.

One day the nurse came around at the usual hour, and “Little Broomstick” (that was her street name) held her by the hand and whispered, “I’m having real good times here—ever such good times. S’pose I’ll have to go away from here just as soon as I get well; but I’ll take the good time along — some of it, anyhow. Did you know about Jesus being born?”

“Yes,” replied the nurse. “I know. Sh-sh-sh! Don’t talk any more. You will disturb others, and do yourself no good.”

The child paid no heed to this. Instead, she continued, “You did? You knew about Jesus being born? I thought you looked as if you didn’t, and I was going to tell you.”

“Why, how do I look?” asked the nurse, forgetting her own responsibilities in her curiosity.

“Oh, just like most folks — kind o’ glum. I shouldn’t think you’d ever look glum if you knowed about Jesus being born.”

ML-03/04/1962

"He Died for Me"

RIDING on the train some time ago I took from my pocket a little booklet bearing the title, “The Man Jesus Christ,” and handed it to a bright looking young girl on the opposite seat, with the remark, “Do you know that Man?” Her simple, fervently expressed reply was, “He died for me.”

Memory Verse: “VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO THEE, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” John 3:3.

ML-03/04/1962

Bible Questions for March

The Children’s Class

1. Did the Apostle Paul rejoice in every way in which Christ was preached?

2. What should every tongue confess about Jesus Christ?

3. From whence do we look for the Saviour?

4. Does God supply the needs of those that trust Him?

5. From what power are we delivered when translated to the kingdom of His (God’s) Son?

6. In what way should we forgive one another?

7. What should we do heartily as to the Lord?

The Young People’s Class

1. Did Jonathan remain with David and his six hundred men in their hiding place, after making a covenant with him? 1 Sam. 23.

2. What more is given to a Christian in behalf of Christ than simply to believe in Him? Phil. 1.

3. If we suffer with the Lord now, how will we be associated with Him in a coming day? Rom. 8.

4. Were the Ziphites, the inhabitants of the land where David was hiding, able to diver him into King Saul’s hand? 1 Sam.

5. Does it matter who or how many are against us when we know that God is for us? Rom. 8.

6. After King Saul actually had David compassed about, what happened to prevent David from being captured? 1 Sam. 23.

7. Can we too know what it is to dwell safely and to be quiet from fear of evil? Prov. 1.

ML-03/04/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 5:13-1 6

THE REJECTION of the Messiah by the Jews resulted in their being set aside and dispersed by the Lord. In the meantime the Church has been brought in through the death of Christ on the cross, for after His definite rejection by the nation the Lord told His disciples He was going to build His Church. “Upon this rock I will build My church.” Matt. 16:18.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men.”

Whatever the dispensation be in God’s ways with the world, His own are the salt of the earth, or its preservative, even though the world be ignorant of it. The gospel still going forth retards the development of evil to a certain extent. The latter part of verse 13 shows that when those who proclaim the gospel mix it with the wisdom of this world, its power is lost and it is fit for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men. We can see this very thing taking place in certain parts of the world where there was once a power felt in the proclamation of the gospel. But when that which is called humanitarianism was first brought in, that power declined. Then later those very ones who in an outward way benefited from the introduction of the gospel, turned on their benefactors and have literally trodden them under foot and driven them out.

“Ye are the light of the world.” Salt would speak of that inward preserving power, but light is that which sheds its rays abroad. “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.” How often has the gospel been followed with a commercial spirit, and thus the light has truly been hidden “under a bushel.” “Let your light so shine bore men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The light of the gospel which should have shone out has often become dim, and so there has not been the glorifying of the Father in heaven.

It is well to notice that the Lord here is revealing the name of the Father to His disciples. The name of the Father had not been known in this way to the children of Israel in Old Testament times. When the birth of the Lord Jesus was foretold by Isaiah, one of the names He was to be known by was “The Everlasting Father,” besides His being called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God and the Prince of Peace. These names show that the Messiah, while coming into this world in human form, was also divine. The nation of the Jews failed to recognize this fact, though it was spoken of in many ways; they had not received the Word of God in faith but only as a historical record of their own people.

ML-03/04/1962

Spinning

“The women that were wise-hearted did spin.” Ex. 35:25.

Spin cheerfully, not tearfully,

Though wearily you plod;

Spin prayerfully, spin carefully,

But leave the thread with God.

ML-03/04/1962

The Hobo

THE POOR old fellow sketched here is a hobo, or tramp. In these days of prosperity in this country it seems we don’t see so many hobos as we used to years ago. But when I was a boy the tramp with his bewhiskered face, shabby clothes, worn out shoes, and bag over his shoulder, was a familiar sight on the roads leading out of town.

I remember one old man in particular, in that part of the country I came from, who was well known up and down the highways for hundreds of miles. Often he would be seen thumbing a ride, or squatting on the roadside before a little fire, over which hung a small kettle or a frying pan. When he died he was written up in the newspapers. I don’t know if the poor old fellow went to heaven or not. We can only hope so. But I always felt sorry for him, for I don’t believe the Lord Jesus would have one of His own to live that kind of a life.

Well, our story today is about a famous artist and a hobo. The artist had taken a quiet walk out of town one day, when he came upon an old hobo sitting along the side of the road, much like the one sketched in our picture. What a subject for a painting, he thought. So addressing the old man he inquired if he would be willing to pose for a picture, for which he would be well repaid for the time spent. Thrilled at the prospect of having his picture painted and of making a few easy dollars at the same time, the tramp immediately accepted the offer.

“Very well then, you come to my studio,” said the artist, setting the hour and date of the appointment and giving him his address.

After he was gone the old tramp began to think that he should clean himself up a bit before having his picture painted. So on the day he was to appear at the studio, he got washed up, he shaved off all his whiskers and rigged himself out with the best clothes he could find. With no little pride and self-esteem he made his way to the studio at the appointed hour and knocked on the door.

The artist himself came to the door and demanded who he was and what he wanted. Surprised at such a reception, the tramp reminded him of the bargain he had made with him. The artist, however, failed to recognize him as the tramp he had met on the roadside. “Sorry, but I don’t know you,” he said. “You’re not the man I want,” and he closed the door. Bitterly disappointed at this sudden turn of events, the poor old man turned around and went his way.

We believe, dear friends, that this little story aptly illustrates one of the grand truths set forth in the gospel. Few people perhaps, in the eyes of others, would be called tramps; at the worst they would like to think themselves respectable sinners. But the truth is that before God, apart from being saved by grace alone, boys and girls, men and women everywhere, are prodigals, sinners adrift on the broad road that leads to death and judgment. But God’s love has gone out to us, His grace which bringeth salvation has appeared, and the gospel invites all men everywhere to come to Christ as the only hope of the sinner.

But how often when one is concerned about his need of salvation he thinks he must clean up a bit, bore coming to Jesus, and so he sets about to make some improvements in his life. But this is no good, for that is only a man’s self-righteousness, which God will not accept. “We are all as an unclean thing,” He declares, “and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” in His sight (Isa. 64:6). The best one can produce is nothing more than that. To delay and attempt some reforms only makes matters worse. Had the old tramp presented himself to the artist just as he was, how much better it would have fared with him!

Now the Lord Jesus says, as it were, Come, just as you are, and I will receive you. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” “It is written, There is none righteous, no not one.” Rom. 3:10. It is those who realize they have no righteousness of their own but make Christ their righteousness, that press in through the open door to life, joy and peace, while those who go about vainly trying to establish their own righteousness remain outside.

Try to get a tramp to give up his old shabby coat and he will cling to it all the more, but offer him a brand new one and he will soon give up the old. God offers every sinner a robe of righteousness that will fit him perfectly for heaven, for the Father’s house, and this is having Christ, whose precious blood cleanseth us from all sin. “The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, is unto all,” but it is only “upon all them that believe.” Rom. 3:22. May God grant that you, dear reader, might believe the gospel and have Christ as your righteousness.

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!

Just as I am—and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot:

O Lamb of God, I come!

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

ML-03/11/1962

A Nest by the Way

DOES God care for birds’ nests? He does indeed. To His people of ancient time, He gave instructions how to deal with them.

A NEST BY THE WAY. (Deut. 22:6.) They were not to steal the eggs nor remove the mother bird, while sitting on her young. Thus He tells His loving care for the helpless, who can neither provide for, nor defend themselves. How much greater is His care for “little ones,” for whom the Saviour died, and of whom He says, “I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.” (Zech. 13:7).

A NEST IN THE ROCK. (Jer. 48:28.) Snug and safe in the cleft of a rock (Song of Sol. 2:14), the timid dove builds her nest “on high,” upon the crag in “the strong place” (Job 39:28). So the one who hides in the Rock of Ages (Isa. 26:4, marg.) is secure from robbers.

A BIRD LEAVING HER NEST. (Prov. 27:8.) A mother bird has been known to leave her nest and forsake her young, either “cast out” (Isa. 16:2) by an intruder, or frightened by a foe. But the living Lord never leaves and never forsakes His own (Heb. 13:5). As a bird flutters over her young (Deut. 32:11) and flying over defends them, so the Lord defends and protects His own (Isa. 31:5) who are under His care.

FOOD AND WARMTH. (Psa. 91:4.) The mother bird finds food and brings it for her young, and under her feathers they are kept safe and warm. This lovely emblem, the Lord Jesus uses to describe how safely guarded and warmly protected all the saved are, “under the feathers of the Almighty,” where no flying arrow by day can reach them, and no pestilence by night, can harm them. How good it is, therefore, to respond to the Lord’s invitation to come and hide (Psa. 17:8) under the shadow of His sheltering wings.

J.R.

ML-03/11/1962

Too Good to Hear Alone

A MISSIONARY visited some native villages in Ceylon. Stopping at one house, only one woman was to be seen. He sat down and talked to her. Suddenly she sprang up and said, “This is too good to hear alone; I must find some other won!” In a short time she returned with five.

“Too good, this Word, to hear alone"; thus thought

Samaria’s daughter standing by the well;

And hast’ning village-ward she quickly brought

Others to hear what Jesus had to tell.

“Too good to hear alone, and I must share

With other folks the gladness of this Word.”

So spoke a daughter of Ceylon who ne’er

Before the gospel of God’s grace had heard.

And we, who know the power of Jesus’ name,

And countless precious gospel blessings own,

Can we account ourselves as free from blame,

While myriad souls in heathen bondage groan?

“Oh, may these women make us feel some shame

And deem that Word “too good to hear alone.”

ML-03/11/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 5:17-48

THINK not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”

To the end of the chapter the Lord Jesus is showing that He did not come to destroy the law or the wrings of the prophets, but to fulfill what was in them. This was something no one else had ever been able to do in their fullest extent.

Also in this part of His discourse He points out those two dominant forms of evil that have been only too evident throughout the history of man upon earth—violence and corruption. It was said of that age bore the flood, “The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence.” Gen. 6:11. Here the Lord mentions first the taking of human life, He does not deal merely with the final act, but with the state of heart which leads up to it. “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him.” He speaks of anger and shows the necessity of being recoiled with and of agreeing with an adversary, in order to carry out the spirit of the principles of the kingdom.

Then He deals with corruption and the breaking down of the marriage relationship, which was the divinely given basis of all human relationships. He shows that the conduct of His disciples or those entering the kingdom, must be of a different moral character than that of those who were outwardly keeping the law. The revelation of the relationship of the Father with His children called for a higher moral basis, which could only be found in becoming a follower of the One who was God manifest in the flesh.

The state of the heathen peoples of this world, or those who have not heard the gospel of the grace of God, is characterized by these two things, violence and corruption. Some who have had to do with research in pan mythology have had to confess that much of what was written on their so-called worship, on account of the filthiness connected with it, could not be translated into the languages of Christian people.

“Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:...” The natural tendency of men in binding themselves by an oath, when aroused by their departure from a right moral path, especially that which is given in the Word, is shown to be in ignorance of their true condition before God. This we find illustrated over and over again in the history of the people of Israel, when they found out how they had forsaken the law of God. They would bind themselves by an oath that they would not do so again, but it was only a short time before they were back in the same condition again. The truth of the gospel shows us that we have no strength of our own, and that by receiving the Lord Jesus into our hearts we are born again. Then we receive strength to go on in the path of faith. But it can only be by prayer and waiting upon the Lord that guidance and strength are given each step of the way.

ML-03/11/1962

Johnny and the Candles

“JOHNNY, my boy,” said a poor sick woman lying upon her bed, “run and get a pound of candles. We have none in the house.”

“All right, Mother"; and away sped the boy, money in hand, to do his mother’s bidding.

He was a boy who had been taught implicit obedience; and six months ago, when his father lay dying, he had said “Johnny, my boy, when I am gone, obey Mother. The boy who obeys a good mother will early learn to obey a gracious God.”

Johnny remembered his father’s words. But this evening, when he had bought his candles, he forgot to hurry home, for seeing a large hall lighted up, and crowds of people entering, Johnny entered too, and in a few minutes was charmed especially with the preaching by a missionary from India and two native converts by his side. John’s eyes opened wide, and his mouth too, and all he could wish was that he had his one large fat black rabbit to give to the man who came around, for those dear black men pleaded so hard for help. When John heard the white missionary say something about thirty-fold or sixty-fold, he decided that he might put the candles on the plate. They were wrapped up in a piece of greasy brown paper tied around the middle. But so alarmed was Johnny at the look of astonishment on the collector’s face when he had done it, that he fled from the building.

“Why, Johnny, where have you been?” asked his mother.

“Been? To a missionary meeting, Mother; that’s what they called it, and the candles are still there, and likely as not you’ll have thirty pounds here in the morning.”

Mrs. Price smiled. She understood it all, and although it meant lying there all night without any light, and the bit of coal had burned to a cinder, yet, as she listened to the little fellow’s glowing account of the meeting, and heard him plead with her to let him take his black rabbit to the missionary man in the morning, who had told all the people where to go if they had anything to give to him, she praised God for the real missionary spirit which had then and there entered into her boy’s heart. And it never left him.

In the morning there was no peace with Johnny until black “Bunny” was packed in an old basket. But Johnny took care not to let his mother see the tears which fell on his favorite’s shiny coat as he stroked it, as he thought, for the last time, and said: “Now, Bunny dear, make the most of yourself, and sell for all you can, that the poor heathen may hear about Jesus.”

Black “Bunny” was soon in the missionary’s home, but she was soon back again, accompanied by two white rabbits. The missionary brought them all three himself on purpose to see Johnny. There was also the lady with him who had bought the rabbit, on the condition that while the money went to the heathen, the rabbit should be returned to Johnny with a pair of her own white ones. She had brought something else too in the carriage—a basket of groceries and, of course, several pounds of candles. Johnny was so excited at the sight of the carriage that he jumped up from eating his bread and jam, and shouted out: “Look, Mother! Here’s the thirty-fold coming in a carriage. Oh! how good of God! how good of God!”

The rich lady kept her eye upon Johnny Price, and when she learned of his devotion to his mother, of his daily toil to keep the house clean while her weary fingers, when able, did the sewing to get the food, and found how respected he was as an errand boy, and knew that he must continually make many little sacrifices to put pennies into the missionary box, she sent him to school. When he finished school, he became a missionary. The last word we had of him was that he was still in a foreign land, telling the natives of the Saviour’s love. His mother has gone to that “Better Land,” to be forever with Jesus, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

ML-03/18/1962

A Great Forest Fire

A TERRIBLE forest fire raged in Minnesota. Every building in the town of Hinckley lay in ruins, and many of the inhabitants perished in the flames. While the fire raged, the panic-stricken people rushed hither and thither in wild confusion, actually pushing each other into the burning furnace. In the midst of the confusion, a voice was heard saying, “Hurry to the gravel pit!”

“What will that do for us?” was the scornful reply by one.

“Better use your legs and run from it,” said another.

But a few of the simple folk heeded the call, and followed the speaker to the pit, where acting according to his directions, they soon found themselves standing to the neck in cool water. A ring of blazing timber and houses soon surrounded their place of safety. For hours they stood in the fierce heat with blistered lips and scorched faces, while the tongues of fire leaped all around them.

One man encouraged the others by telling them they were perfectly safe, and getting a bucket, he drenched their heads with water to keep them cool. At last the fire passed across the country, burning up everything as it went. But the little band who fled to the gravel pit and stood there, were safe, while others perished. They stood in an element upon which the flames could not feed. Nay, it repelled them. In the midst of death and destruction, that little band stood in life and safety. So stands the sinner who has fled to Christ.

The judgment of a righteous God, like that devouring fire, will one day pass over this world, consuming the ungodly. Only those who have fled for refuge to the cross of Christ, will be safe on that day. No wrath, no judgment can reach them there. On the contrary, life flows to them from that cross, and through the death of Him who hung there for sinners. All other refuges will fail. In Christ alone is life eternal. In Him there is safety from judgment. There is “no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1.

Are you sure that you are in Him? Have you fled for safety to the Son of God, the only Refuge?

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

ML-03/18/1962

"He Love Me, Daddy"

MARION, the second child in a family of four, was much beloved by all who knew her. She was only about four years of age when she gave unmistakable evidences that her young heart had been drawn to the Saviour, who ever welcomes little children.

She knew very well that the Lord Jesus had been here on this earth, and that He had died, not only to save men and women, but children also. She loved to listen to those touching scriptures which tell how the Lord was crucified and slain, and sitting closely by her mother’s side as she read aloud, the dear child seemed to drink in every word until her pent-up feelings were at length expressed in tears and sobs of sorrow.

One day she asked her mother to sing a hymn to her called, “Jesus, meek and mild.” Her mother sang the whole hymn, and she said, “Momma, sing again about He having no pillow for He head.” When this was completed she said, “Now, Momma, sing I’m washed as white as snow.” Her mother, with her precious child in her arms, and with tears in her eyes sang the sweet verse:

“Oh gracious Saviour,

Thou hast given,

My trembling soul to know,

That trusting in Thy precious blood,

I’m washed as white as snow.”

A more touching scene could scarcely be witnessed, and the writer can never forget the effect produced by the faith of that sweet child as she rested so peacefully in the love of Jesus. Once she said to her father, “Daddy, I wish I was up in the sky with the Lord, because I love He, and He will take me in He arms, and I will hear He say, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me.’ "

How wonderful is the love of God to send His beloved Son to die that He might have a claim on each little child as well as on each man and woman. He who said, “Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto Me,” is the same still. His love never changes.

Memory Verse: “NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US.” Titus 3:5.

ML-03/18/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 6:1-18

IN CHAPTER 6 the Lord takes up His people’s relationships with their fellowmen and with the heavenly Father. All their activities are known to Him and they are to conduct themselves accordingly. “Take heed that ye do not your alms [or your righteousness] before men, to be seen of them.” The giving of alms is first mentioned. It is to be done in secret; “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” Those who do these things openly to be seen of others are called hypocrites, for it is “that they may have glory of men.” The same principles are applied in the matter of prayer. It is to be done in secret before the Father. It is not a question here of the prayer meeting. But among the Jews it was a custom at a certain hour of the day to be engaged in prayer, even in public. There were those who desired the praise of men for their devotions and these things they did on the street corners, using vain repetitions. Such, the Lord said, were like the heathen, who were without God, and idolaters.

He then tells them how the Father should be addressed in view of His coming kingdom and of His moral character, which the Lord was revealing to His disciples. When the kingdom was come there was to be perfect obedience. His will would be done on earth as it was in heaven. Needless to say His kingdom has not come in that manner as yet. The King was rejected by those who should have received Him. When He does take up the kingdom in power and reigns, His will will be carried out on earth as it is in heaven. But He will put down all rebellion against Himself when He takes that place.

In the meantime there exists through the forbearance of God a moral kingdom, the King Himself being absent, and in the Gospel of Matthew it is called the kingdom of heaven. The rule of heaven is owned by His disciples but the world rejects Him, so suffering and persecution become the lot of His disciples.

Then we have what is commonly called “the Lord’s prayer.” This prayer expresses daily dependence, need of pardon and the desire to be kept from the evil one. These principles apply to the Lord’s people at all times. But the prayer itself was really for those disciples individually who needed to be instructed in the first principles of Christianity, or part of that which is spoken of as “the word of the beginning of Christ,” in Hebrews 6:1: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” There was that which Christ here below brought out and this was perfectly suited to His disciples in their state then. There is no thought of giving up those blessed truths, but now believers ought to go on to the understanding of Christ as He now is above, He who was made “perfect through sufferings” and is now glorified in heaven. We believe that this prayer will be more suitable to the condition of the Lord’s own in that time of tribulation which is to follow after the Lord has removed His Church to heaven. Those of this present dispensation know the Lord as the One who has redeemed them by His blood shed on the cross and they know their sins are forgiven.

ML-03/18/1962

The Withered Rose

A GROUP of bright-faced girls boarded a train one day, on their way for a day’s outing in the country. Once seated, their attention was attracted to a desperate looking man in the charge of a policeman, who was sitting near them.

“A jail-bird,” whispered Jane, with a scornful look on her pretty face. “I wish we had gone into another car.”

“He can’t hurt us,” replied the girl beside her, “see he is handcuffed.”

“Poor fellow,” whispered Sue, looking with pity on the hardened criminal, who by his attitude seemed to have caught the meaning of the girls’ looks, though their words failed to reach his ears. “I believe I will give him this rose,” she continued, choosing the nicest one from a bouquet she was carrying.

“I thought that one was for your Aunt Ruth,” urged her friend. “You said this morning that you would not have picked it for anyone but for her.”

“I had not seen this poor lonely man then,” insisted Sue. And suiting her actions to her words, she crossed the aisle and laid the beautiful rose in his lap.

Tears sprang to his eyes as he took up the rose in his imprisoned fingers, and turning to the young girl he said in a husky voice, “God bless you for your kindness to a poor castaway. It is many a day since I had a word of cheer from anyone.”

The train went on its way, whirring him away to the prison that for five long years was to be his home. But the gift of the rose had touched the poor man’s heart. He thought of his old mother who had died brokenhearted, his wife, and the child who was worse than fatherless. And he bowed his head in silence and prayed to the One he had neglected all his life.

He took the rose with him into his gloomy cell and when it withered, he pressed it between the leaves of his Bible—a book he soon learned to love and prize above all others. And it was from that Book that he learned of the Saviour, who loved him and gave Himself for him. He learned to love and trust in the Lord Jesus and became a true Christian, serving out his term of imprisonment in an honorable way.

When he came out from behind the bars, he lived a noble Christian life among his fellowmen and became the means of leading many others to Christ, telling them of Him who had saved his soul and who could save theirs also. How the Lord Jesus loves to have us tell others of His love to us, for He loved us and gave Himself to save us from our sins.

ML-03/25/1962

Livingstone's Gloves

DAVID Livingstone, the African missionary and explorer, felt the cold of the winter at home very much. One day when out walking with some friends, a little girl — one of the party — was chilly, and tried to screen herself from the wind by walking behind some of the others. At length her hands were so painful that she began to cry. Some of the elder people scolded her, but Livingstone said, “Do not scold her; I know what it is to feel cold"; and he took off his large woolen gloves and put them on the child, completely covering her hands and wrists. Of course, he had to go without gloves himself, but he was glad to do this for a little girl.

Was not this like his Master who took our place and suffered for us upon the cross of Calvary?

ML-03/25/1962

At School

YEARS ago I was traveling over a most beautiful mountain in the island of Jamaica. The buggy toiled up the mountain drawn by strong mules. At a turn in the road, I saw, almost hidden among the dense vegetation, a school.

It was a familiar sight, and yet strange. There were the desks and books and cane and teacher. But the little boys were dark skinned, and they wore very little clothing. Being a very hot country they had no walls to the school — just a roof held up by upright supports.

Now it is very necessary that boys and girls should be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and very desirable that they should know history, geography, chemistry, and a number of other things.

But all these things only fit a boy or girl for this life, and there is the life beyond to think about. There is another kind of learning much more important. So I stepped out of my buggy, and asked the teacher if I might speak to his boys for a moment about this other kind of learning.

I told them the wondrous story about the Lord Jesus Christ, His coming from heaven to die on the cross, the finished work of Calvary, and His going back to heaven a risen, glorious Saviour, and above all that, all this would be of no avail to them, unless they trusted Him as their own personal Saviour.

This was years ago, and these boys must all be grown-up men now. I wonder if the message was received by them?

But I turn from them and ask you, my dear young friend, have you been taught by God’s Holy Spirit this wonderful learning, which lasts forever? Have you received the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour? Do not rest till you know Him.

ML-03/25/1962

Gospel Lessons

THE lovely many-colored butterfly, fly, that you see among the flowers in the garden, floating in the golden sunshine, was not always as it is now. It once was

A CREEPING WORM, weak and worthless, liable to be crushed by the foot of a man, a loathsome thing that is cast out wherever it is seen. Such we all are, by nature and by practice, all as “an unclean thing” (Isa. 64:6), unfit for heaven, unable to rise upward, or to be occupied with “things above” (Col. 3:1). In process of time after feeding upon earthly plants and leaves, this creeping caterpillar becomes what is then called

A CHRYSALIS. At first it lies quietly, unable to move far or fly at all, although it has life. It remains thus in its cone-like house for a time. And in this it resembles some boys and girls I have known. They profess to be converted, to have spiritual life, but they lack liberty, and seem to make no progress heavenward. But one fine morning, the little living dweller in that cone, bores a hole through its house, or bursts it, coming out into light and liberty, finding itself in a new world. He has short wings, and is able to get about among the flowers and plants, picking up what he likes and enjoys. This is like one who has believed on Christ, who has got both life from and liberty in Him.

A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. See his gorgeous colors, his strong wings, able to rise and live in the warmth of the summer sunshine. This is what a living Christian is like. And when the last grand change comes, at resurrection, all who are saved will then bear the full image of Christ. How wonderful this will be!

“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Cor. 15:49.

“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.

J.R.

ML-03/25/1962

The Invalid's Lowly Service

“Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God.” Psa. 143:10.

“I am not sent a pilgrim here,

My heart with earth to fill;

But I am here God’s grace to learn,

And serve God’s sovereign will.

“He leads me on, through smiles and tears,

Grief follows gladness still;

But let me welcome both alike,

Since both work out His will.

“The strong man’s strength to toil for Christ,

The fervent preacher’s skill,

I sometimes wish, but better far

To be just what God will.

“I know not how this languid life

May life’s vast ends fulfill;

He knows; and that life is not lost

That answers well His will.

“No service in itself is small

None great, though earth it fill;

But that is small that seeks its own,

And great that seeks God’s will.

“Then hold my hand, most gracious Lord!

Guide all my goings still;

And let this be my life’s one aim,

To do or bear Thy will.”

Memory Verse: “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY; AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE.” Rev. 22:12.

ML-03/25/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 6:19-34

AFTER His instructions as to prayer and fasting, the Lord Jesus lays down divine principles for guidance, to keep His own in separation from this world which knows not God and is under the prince of the power of the air, which is Satan. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Happy are we if our hearts are set on things above where Christ is, but if our hearts are set on things down here, then those very things will prove a sorrow to us sooner or later. The Lord shows that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” One’s heart will be with that he values most. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon,” which means riches, here personified as man’s master in seeking to get on in this world. And so He says, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on....” He would have us to have a peaceful trust about these things in the sure knowledge of the Father’s love and care. The Apostle could say, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Again, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Then follow further lessons to be learned. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them....”

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” If God takes care of these things in such a marvelous way, will He not take care of those who are His own through faith?

“Therefore take no thought, sang, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” To the Jews the Gentiles were those without God, but a Christian has a Father in heaven who knows that he has need of these things, so why should he doubt His love?

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If we make His glory down here our chief concern, whether in our walk or in our service for Him, if we give Him the first place in our lives, it will be His joy to take care of all our needs along the way. The Father is dealing with us in view of glory and we can confide in Him, knowing that He knows best how to accomplish His purposes of grace.

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” How often there are those anxious fears about some evil on the morrow, but then how often too when there is submission to the Father’s will about it, the dreaded sorrow is taken away, and the Lord meets us with unexpected kindness and goodness. He can turn even the sorrow into a blessing, for He makes all things work together for good to those that love Him, to them that are called according to His purpose.

ML-03/25/1962

The Faithful Shepherd

DURING a very heavy snowstorm, an aged shepherd, anxious for the safety of his flock, exposed to the storm on the mountainside, went out late on a wintry afternoon to bring the sheep under shelter. As he did not return that night, the farmer set off next day to search for him. By tracing his footsteps in the snow, he found the aged man, frozen to death, with a lamb wrapped in his coat. To a neighbor who called later on, he pointed out the rescued lamb frisking in the field, and said, “That lamb owes its life to the good shepherd; he gave his life to save it, although it knows nothing about it, and can never own its gratitude.”

But you and I can, dear reader. And the way in which God, who gave His Son to become our Redeemer and Saviour, desires sinners to own their gratitude to Him who gave His life a ransom for them, is to receive and to confess Him as their personal Saviour and Lord.

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

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:28, 29.

ML-04/01/1962

The Withered Rose

(continued)

Seven years passed away, and Sue had quite forgotten about her kind act in giving the rose to the poor convict.

One day there was a terrific explosion in the mine where Sue’s brother worked. Quite a few men were buried far beneath the earth’s surface. Their comrades flocked around the shaft, but even the stoutest hearts shrank from going down into what seemed certain death.

“Let me go, friends,” said an unfamiliar voice, and a stranger, tall and straight, appeared at the mouth of the mine.

“He who ventures down into that place reeking with poisonous gases takes his life in his hand, stranger,” remonstrated the boss.

“I’ll go down, friend, to those men, and if all is well, I will come up to you again with news of them, or send them up one by one alive. If not I can die with them. I was a prisoner once myself and a kind act saved me from dying at my own hand, as I had planned.” Then he went on to tell the story of the rose. After this he was lowered down, down to the bottom of the mine.

It seemed like hours—though it was actually less than twenty mites before the signal agreed upon for the ascending of the cage was given. Much to the surprise of the anxious crowd waiting above, the men who came up, though unconscious, were alive, and soon revived. Others now went to the stranger’s assistance, and the work of rescuing the imprisoned miners was soon completed.

Sue was there to welcome her brother back to life, rescued by the man who years before had blessed her for her kindness. In after days he won Sue’s brother for Christ.

ML-04/01/1962

Why He Let Down the Blinds

IT WAS broad daylight, but a little boy between four and five years of age was letting down the blinds.

Why did he want to shut out the sweet sunshine, that beautiful day?

Ah! he had been naughty. He had been doing wrong, and felt unhappy, and was afraid. He thought that if he let down the blinds God would not see him. He wanted to hide away from God. He wanted to cover his sin.

Now it is no use trying to hide from God. Darkness and light are both alike to Him. He is everywhere and He sees everywhere. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God behind the trees of the Garden of Eden. Achan tried to hide the things he had stolen in his tent. But God knew where Adam and Eve were. And He knew where Achan had put the gold and other things which he had taken. It is quite useless to try to hide away from God.

In Psalm 139 David asks, “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence.”

When I was a little boy I went io a dark cupboard thinking that I might hide away from God. It was foolish of me just as it was foolish of the little boy who drew down the blinds. But I knew I was a sinner, and I wanted a hiding-place.

Now I have found one. It is the same hiding-place which David found. He said, “I flee unto Thee to hide me,” or “I hide me with Thee.” Yes! God is the best hiding-place. He knows all about our naughtiness and sin but He calls us to come to Him. He wants us to tell Him all about our sins. He has found a way to blot them all out. He gave His own Son to die to put them all away. And if we confess our sins to Him, He will cover them from His sight and make us happy in His presence. Then we shall not want to let down the blinds. The light of God’s presence will only show how snow-white He has made us through the blood of the Lamb.

ML-04/01/1962

Taken at His Word

A NUMBER of young men were sitting together in a country store one evening, telling what they did not believe and what they were not afraid to do. Finally the leader of the group remarked that, as far as he was concerned, he would be willing at any time to sign away all his interest in Christ for a $5.00 bill.

“What did I understand you to say?” asked an old farmer who happened to be in the store and who overheard the remark.

“I said that for $5.00 I would sign away all my interest in Christ; and so I will.”

The old farmer, who had learned to know the human heart pretty well, drew out his leather wallet, took therefrom a $5.00 bill, and put it into the storekeeper’s hand. Then calling for ink and paper, he said: “My young friend, if you will step to the desk now and write as I direct, the money is yours.”

The young man took the pen and began: “In the presence of these witnesses, I, for the sum of $5.00 received, do now, once for all and forever, sign away all my interest—” Then he dropped the pen, and with a forced smile, said, “I take it back; I was only fooling.”

For what are you selling your interest in Christ?

Memory Verse: “TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” Heb. 4:7.

ML-04/01/1962

Bible Questions for April

The Children’s Class

1. From what had the Thessalonian saints turned, to serve the living and true God?

2. Who is it that trieth our hearts?

3. Who can make us increase and abound in love one toward another?

4. Where shall we meet the Lord when He takes us to be forever with Himself?

5. What will we be unable to do if we sleep as others do?

6. What will happen to those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

7. Who is able to keep us from evil?

The Young People’s Class

1. Did King Saul immediately devise mischief against David after returning from following the Philistines? 1 Sam. 24.

2. What kind of a man deviseth mischief continually? Prov. 6.

3. In Whom did David hope when he knew there were those that sought his hurt and spoke mischievously about him? Psa. 38.

4. How do we know that David’s conscience was still tender toward the king? 1 Sam.

5. Is the maintaining of a good conscience just as important as faith in the Christian pathway? 1 Tim.

6. What effect (although only temporary) did David’s kindness toward Saul have upon the king? 1 Sam.

7. What change has been wrought in us after the kindness and love of God appeared through Jesus Christ our Saviour? Titus 3.

ML-04/01/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 7:1-14

IN THIS chapter the Lord speaks of that spirit which should characterize those who were called to enter into the kingdom. It is what their conduct should be towards one another and to men in the world. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:...” It does not become them to judge others individually as to their motives and acts before God. (This is not to be confused with that which the assembly is called upon to exercise when certain members have fallen into sin. We have this brought out in 1 Corinthians.) “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” A mote is used to illustrate small failings in contrast to larger faults, called “beams.” Here the Lord Jesus is exposing the hypocrisy of those who see and magnify small faults in others, and pass over greater ones in themselves. He shows that the way to deal rightly, if we desire the good of His people and seek their deliverance from evil, is to begin with self-judgment. Often we will find that when one gets rid of a great fault in himself, the small failing in another will have disappeared too.

“Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls bore swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” The Lord is not speaking here of the gospel of the grace of God which is for all men everywhere, but the pearls would be those precious things which are the special treasures of those that belong to Christ—the love of Christ for the Church His bride, His coming again, the place that she will share with Him in His glory, etc. These blessed truths are to be enjoyed by the Lord’s own and are not to be spread before those who have not received the Lord and are counted as unclean through not hang been cleansed from their sins. Such neither value nor appreciate these sacred things and so to place such treasures before them would only cause them to turn and rend the Lord’s disciple.

Then we have the Father’s care over His own in answer to the prayer of faith. “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.”

After this He tells them that in their conduct toward others they should manifest the same spirit that their Father had shown toward them. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” It was only in acting according to these principles of faith that they could expect others to act in kindness toward them.

Finally the Lord puts before them the energy of faith. “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 which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” This way is in contrast to the natural desires of those who had not heeded the voice of Him who pleaded with them. They would attempt to make the gate large and the road broad and to deny the separated path in which God leads His own in the knowledge of Himself.

ML-04/01/1962

Among the Indians

THE following story, showing a love for the Scriptures which is rare in these more favored lands, was told by one who for many years was engaged in spreading the gospel among the Indians of the Canadian Northwest.

One of our Indians, with his son, came away down from the distant hunting grounds to fish on the shores of our Great Lakes. They had splendid fishing and put up the white fish on a staging where the foxes and wolves could not reach them. One night the father said, “My son, we leave tomorrow morning early; put the ‘Book of Heaven’ in your pack; we go back 140 miles to our distant hunting ground to join the mother and the others in the wigwam home.” So the young man put his Bible in his pack, that they might take it home. Later on along came an uncle and said to the young man, “Nephew, lend me the ‘Book of Heaven,’ that I may read a little; I have loaned mine.” So the pack was opened, the Bible was taken out, and the man read for a time, and then placed the Bible back among the blankets and went out.

The next morning the father and son started very early on their homeward journey. They strapped on their snowshoes and walked 70 miles, dug a hole in the snow at night, had prayers, and lay down and slept. Next morning they pushed on and made seventy miles more and reached home. That night the father said to his son, “Give me the ‘Book of Heaven,’ that the mother and the rest may read the Word and have prayers.” As the son opened the pack, he said, “Uncle asked for the book two nights ago, and it was not put back.”

The father was disappointed, but said little. The next morning he rose early, put a few cooked rabbits in his pack, and away he started. He walked that day seventy miles, and reached the camp where he and his son had stopped two nights before. The next day he made the other seventy miles, and reached the lake, and found his Bible in his brother’s wigwam. The next morning he started again, and walking in the two days 140 miles, was back at home once more. That Indian walked on snowshoes two hundred and eighty miles through the wild forest of the Northwest to regain his copy of the Word of God.

Would we do that much to regain our Bibles? Oh, the power of the gospel! It can go down very low and reach men deeply sunken in sin, and can save them fully, and make them devout students and great lors of the blessed Book!

ML-04/08/1962

The Happy School Boys

A RICH man had a son, whose heart had been won for Christ, and he was holding meetings among the young. In barns and in schoolrooms, in the green fields, and by the river side, he preached Christ to crowds of attentive and deeply interested schoolboys and schoolgirls.

At the close of his address one evening, he invited all the boys and girls who wanted to be saved to stand up. For a long while none of the children moved, although many were in deep anxiety of soul, only they were afraid of their companions’ sneers.

Pat and Dick, the sons of two neighboring farmers, sat next to each other. They were close friends and school companions, nearly the same age, and very much of the same disposition. They were both anxious to be saved, but shy to own it before so many. When the young evangelist gave a second invitation for any who were “desirous of being saved to stand up,” Pat slowly rose to his feet, and in a moment more, Dick was standing by his side. What a sea of faces were turned toward the two boys! Yet no one laughed. Many were glad, for now the ice was broken, others less courageous followed; and many, both boys and girls, decided to be the Lord’s that night. Pat first saw the light, put his trust in the Lord Jesus, and had left the meeting to return home. Now he was anxiously looking behind him in the direction of the schoolroom for Dick, who soon overtook him, rejoicing that the Lord had saved him also.

Next morning Pat and Dick were walking along the road that leads from their country homes to the village school, both saved and happy. The glen through which they passed rang again, as their voices blended in singing.

“I know my sins are all forgiven,

Hallelujah to the Lamb;

And I am on my way to heaven,

Glory to the bleeding Lamb.”

As they drew near the village Pat said to Dick, “Shall we tell the boys we’ve been converted, Dick, when we go into the playground or wait till dinnertime?”

Dick hesitated. The desire to tell them at once was uppermost in his mind, but to wait until dinnertime might be the easiest way, he thought; and Satan was of that opinion too. The whispered suggestion was almost adopted, when there crossed Pat’s mind the lines of the hymn,

“Now I will tell to all around,

What a dear Saviour I have found.”

“No, we must confess Christ at once, Dick; it won’t do to leave it till dinnertime. Come and let us ask God to give us courage not to be ashamed of Jesus.” Drawing Dick by the arm to the roadside, they knelt down together by the mossy bank, and asked the Lord to strengthen them to confess His name, and to give them courage among their schoolmates. And the God who heareth the raven’s cry, heard the prayer of the two schoolboys that first morning of their Christian life. They arose strengthened and happy.

When they reached the playground quite an ovation awaited them. “Here come the two converted fellows,” shouted a dozen voices, as Pat and Dick made their appearance. Nothing daunted, they made their reply, “Yes, here we are, saved, and on our way to heaven; how many of you are going with us?”

The other boys hardly expected an answer like this; they thought “the two converted chaps” would blush, or more probably deny that they had been converted, to escape their sneers. But there they were, openly confessing themselves the Lord’s; and their faces beaming with joy. At playtime quite a circle gathered around Pat and Dick, to hear the story of their conversion.

“It’s as simple as A B C, boys,” said Pat. “You have nothing to do at all. Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ You have only to believe on Him, and He says you are saved, and have everlasting life. That’s how Dick and I have been converted; and it’s the same for you.”

That was the beginning of days of grace in the village school. Many of the boys and girls were saved; some of them are now in heaven; while others are on earth, following Jesus “in the way.”

Reader, the gospel by which Pat and Dick were saved is all-powerful to save you. It will, if you believe, for there is no respect of persons. If you believe the gospel in your heart this day, it will be the power of God to your immediate salvation as surely as it was that day, long ago, to Pat and Dick, the happy schoolboys.

“FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.” Rom. 1:16.

ML-04/08/1962

Influence

HAVE you ever noticed what is said about Peter and John in Acts 4:12? In speaking of those who formed the council before whom Peter and John were brought, we read, “They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.” There was something about them that told they were His followers.

I came across these verses the other day, and I feel they have a message for you and me.

Somebody has his eyes on you,

Waiting to see if you are true.

Somebody’s watching you today,

Listening to hear just what you say.

Someone will step in the footprints you make—

Be sure that the trail is narrow and straight.

Someone will walk in the pathway you trod—

Will it lead him upward and nearer to God?

You’re helping or hindering — you cannot tell who,

By the things you say and the things that you do.

“PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.” Amos 4:12.

ML-04/08/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 7:15-29

THE Lord had been speaking of the wide gate and the broad way that leads to eternal destruction, “and many there be which go in thereat.” How many profess the name of Christ who are mere professors and not possessors of eternal life but who go along with the multitude in the broad way. There has been the widening of the gate and the broadening of the way in contrast to the narrow separated path the Lord has marked out for His own in this world.

It is here in this connection that the Lord says: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” They might have a great many charming ways about them, but it was faith merely in the natural man and not that which would lead them to have no confidence in the flesh. Of these false prophets the Lord says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.... Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

The Lord’s words that follow are very solemn for those who profess to know Him. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name have done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

The Lord closes His discourse with a word commending the wisdom of one who heeds His word, but He also points out the sure ruin for every soul that names the name of Christ if hearing and not doing His sayings. “Whoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” it would stand the violence of the wind and waves which were sure to come. On the other hand, “every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew... and great was the fall of it.” It is a vivid picture of how mere profession without true faith will fall under the great onslaughts of the enemy of that which is Christ’s in this world.

Here the Lord Jesus ends his teachings on the mount. He had held the attention of the people who were astonished at His doctrine. It was so different from the way the scribes taught, for there was a power there which was absent in their way of commenting on the Scriptures. The officers who were sent to take Him had to confess, “Never man spake like this Man.” John 7:46. Every one who enters the strait gate must own that His Word is far different to that of man. It is to abide after heaven and earth have passed away.

ML-04/08/1962

Faithful Ned: He Died for Me

“THIS is just the day for us to get Mother some blueberries, Philip,” said Thelma to her brother. “I’ll get some pails, and here’s Ned wanting to go along, too.” She stroked the good dog’s long, silky hair.

“Of course we’ll take you as usual, Ned. If a bear happens to see us, Ned will take care of him in a hurry, won’t he?” answered Philip.

In that northern country of British Columbia bears are quite a common sight in the woods. They are not feared as a rule unless harm has come to a cub or unless the bear is hungry. A dog is a constant companion of most children living a distance from the city.

“Mother, is it all right if we go berry picking today?” the children asked at the house. “Can’t you go with us?”

“It would be lovely to have some berries for the freezer, and it’s quite all right for you to go, but I can’t go with you until the baby is a little older. Let’s ask the Lord Jesus to help you because we know we can’t do anything without seeking His help and guidance.” The children knelt while Mother asked the Lord to protect and lead them in their berry hunt. Then, as she and Daddy always did when they prayed, Mother thanked the Lord Jesus for dying on the cross to save them from their sins.

“Keep Ned with you, dears. Good-by.”

The day seemed long for Mother, for it was summer and she was accustomed to having Thelma and Philip near her, or within shouting distance at most. Late in the afternoon Ned could be heard in the distance, barking first loudly, then more faintly. “Brother and sister will soon bring us some fine berries,” she said aloud to Baby Mary. “It must be almost time,” and she held baby to the window. But they did not come. When Father arrived from his work, he became alarmed.

“I’ll drive back to town for the searching party,” he quickly decided.

“There is a company of men in town who have done this kind of searching before.” Before he left, he looked to the Lord in prayer. Soon a party of men arrived and headed for the west woods, when — sure enough — ruing toward them were two tired, frightened figures, gasping, yet both trying to talk at the same time.

“Just as we came near the old shack, we heard Ned begin to growl, and then we saw the bear. He was hungry, and he pounced on Ned. Ned put up a good fight, but it wasn’t any use. He died, and we hid in the loft of the shack until dark. If Ned hadn’t been with us, we’d have been the ones to be eaten.”

Everyone was relieved that the children were safe, and they knelt and thanked the Lord for His care over them. When all was comparatively quiet once more, Mother drew her son and daughter to her side. “Thelma and Philip,” she said, “your experience has made me think of something very precious. You said Ned died so you wouldn’t die, didn’t you? That is only an experience on this earth, but think how the dear Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross and took the burden of your sins so you would not have to die in your sins! What an awful death that was, and how much He suffered for you, dear children. Have you seen yourselves as sinners, and do you believe that the Lord Jesus died for you? ‘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.’ "

“Our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” 1 Thess. 5:9, 10.

ML-04/15/1962

Saved and Happy

COMING along the country road a quiet evening, I heard the sound of singing borne on the breeze. As it came nearer I recognized the tune, and soon the words of the familiar gospel song:

“Saved by grace alone,

This is all my plea,

Jesus died for all mankind,

And Jesus died for me.”

Two horses soon came into view, on the backs of which sat happy farm boys, pouring forth a tribute of praise to the great Redeemer’s grace.

“You seem happy, lads,” I said, as they passed by.

“Yes, sir, we are,” was the quick reply.

“Is it because you are really saved by grace?”

“It is; but only a week ago, at the meetings in the tent.”

Up at the village a bright gospel tent was pitched, and under its roof the happy boys had heard and believed “the old, old story of Jesus and His love.” Had they not good cause to be happy? Yes, indeed. Are you saved and happy?

ML-04/15/1962

No Power

A CULTURED Chinese gentleman, an ardent admirer of Confucius, said to me the first day I met him, “I know nothing about Christianity, but I would like to know. I have read the Sermon on the Mount—it is truly beautiful.”

“Tell me,” I said, “where do you find the power to carry out what your prophet Confucius teaches?”

He leaned back in his chair and laughed aloud. “Oh, I have no power! We admire the teaching but we are unable to carry it out.”

“That is just where Christianity differs from every other religion,” was my answer. “Our Lord told us, ‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’ But He also added that He by His Spirit would dwell in our hearts and give us both the desire to do His will and the power to carry that desire into effect.”

A smile of joy spread over his face. “Why, that is wonderful!” he cried. “Wonderful! Tell me about it.”

A few weeks afterward this dear Chinese man received Christ as his Saviour, and I later baptized him.

No religion on earth has power to save anyone, nor the power to help one to live for God. Only the Lord Jesus can change lives and make them fit for God’s holy presence. “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.

Dear friend, if you are unsaved, you are still in your sins, and nothing you can do will make you fit for God. But Jesus has provided a way, so that you, by believing in Him, may have everlasting life. When you take Christ as your Saviour, God gives you a new nature, capable of loving Him. The Spirit of God, dwelling in the heart, is the power that enables one to live for the Lord, teaches him from His Word, and gives a happiness which this poor world cannot give. Why not trust Him today?

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

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

Memory Verse: “HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE.” John 11:25.

ML-04/15/1962

He Suffered for Us

A FIERCE war raged in India between the English and Tippoo Sahib. On one occasion several English officers were taken prisoners, among them one named Baird. One day a native officer brought in fetters to be put upon each of the prisoners, the wounded one not excepted. Baird had been severely wounded, and was suffering from pain and weakness.

A gray-haired officer said to the native official, “You do not think of putting chains upon that wounded man?” “There are just as many pairs of fetters as there are captives,” was the answer, “and every pair must be worn.”

“Then,” said the noble officer, “put two pairs on me; I will bear his as well as my own.” This was done. Strange to say, Baird lived to regain his freedom — lived to take that very city, but his noble friend died in prin. Up to his death he wore two pairs of fetters. But what if he had worn the fetters of all in the prison? What if, instead of being a captive himself, he had been free and great, and had quitted a glorious palace to live in their loathsome dungeon, to wear their chains, to bear their stripes, to suffer and die in their stead, that they might go free?

Friend, such a thing has been done. “There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Tim. 2:5. “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3. “Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.” Titus 2:13, 14.

ML-04/15/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 8:1-4

THE Lord Jesus comes down from the mountain and great crowds follow Him. “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Leprosy, that dread disease which only God could heal, is a type of sin, and only God can cleanse from sin. The leper was a type of Israel as they appeared in the presence of their Messiah, and indeed is a type of all men everywhere — sinners before God. But here we have Messiah as the great Physician come near in grace to heal.

The leper recognizes in Jesus, One who had the power to heal, but he seems to doubt His willingness to do so, and this seems to be the way that men in general think of the goodness of God. It was back in the garden of Eden that Satan succeeded in implanting in the heart of man that distrust of the goodness of God. But the gospel is God’s answer to the lie of Satan, for it tells of how God, in the gift of His Son, has come out in the richest display of His grace and goodness toward lost, guilty man, now under the power of Satan. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son... " (John 3:16), and the Cross is the measure and the pledge of that love.

The leper says, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” The Lord does not take offense at being approached in this way. Not only was there in Him the power, but He is also “the sympathizing Jesus” — the need of man but drew out the compassions of His heart. He responds immediately to the poor man’s request and says, “I will.” Stretching out His hand He touches him. He was the only one who could touch a leper and not be defiled by the dread disease. His whole pathway was through a defiled world, yet in no way was He defiled by it. He could say as He neared the close of His pathway down here, “the prince of this world [Satan] cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30. He was holy, harmless and undefiled. He alone could go to Calvary’s cross that He might bear our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Pet. 2:24). There He bore the sins of those who put their trust in Him.

“And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” No medicine was needed; it was the Lord of life Himself come down to heal. “And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Had the man gone telling every one instead of the priest, Satan might have got busy and tried to misrepresent the work, perhaps sought to make out that it was not he who had been the leper but another man, and so deny the miracle. He was to go to the priest, for it was he who had first pronounced him unclean and put him outside. Now he would see the unmistakable evidence that the man was now healed. It was to be a testimony to him that Jehovah was Himself in the land, and that Jesus was God.

ML-04/15/1962

Heard Through the Partition

A GENTLEMAN paid a colporteur the price of fifteen large-type Bibles. Being paid for, they were gifts to be given away to any needy aged persons.

Gifts! I repeat that word, and see in it a gospel illustration. “The gift of God is eternal life” (Rom. 6:23). Christ paid for it by dying on the cross. Now God gives it. I receive it without payment or merit. Need and willingness to receive is all God asks.

One of these Bibles was given to a poor old man who could never have purchased one; but he could receive one and say, “Thank you!”

“Bless the dear Lord,” said he, “the print is that beautiful, even my old eyes can see.”

It was large print, and the aged one read it out loud. It was a way he had.

In the next cottage lived an old woman and, as the partition was very thin, she heard her neighbor “talking,” as she thought. She was blind; but her ears were keen.

“What is the matter with him?” she asked her granddaughter.

“Reading, Granny; reading the Bible.”

So Granny put her ear to the wooden partition and heard: “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God;... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Listening again, she heard: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.”

This third chapter of the Gospel of John was the old man’s favorite chapter; so that several times his blind neighbor heard these blessed words. God loved the world — the world that was perishing — the world of which she was part.

The old man evidently believed and enjoyed this life; it was something she had not; but she might have it.

Eagerly she listened for further information, nor had she long to wait.

“He’s reading again, Granny,” said the young girl.

It was the old chapter about

“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

With her ear pressed against the partition, she listened to the last verse: “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.”

And it came to pass that through what was thus heard, she, at eighty-seven, was born again, and received God’s gift — everlasting life. Since then both have gone from their cottages to the Father’s house of many mansions.

ML-04/22/1962

The Old Indian's Faith

AT THE side of a narrow graveled road sat quite an old Indian man. Jim stopped his car and walked toward him. “Would you like something good to read?” asked Jim, as he held out a copy of the Gospel of Luke.

“Oh, yes, I know what that is,” was the reply. “That’s part of the Bible.”

“Are you a Christian?”

“Oh, yes, and I like this Gospel of Luke. Do you have any more? I’d like John’s Gospel too if you have it. I can give some to my friends, and in that way I can work for the Lord, too.”

“From what Indian tribe are you?”

“I am a Skeena River Indian. In the winter our tribe has time to get together and talk about the Lord, but many of my people do not believe. I believe that Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross for my sins, and my daughter believes, so she is a Christian, too. You saw me laugh when you gave me the book,” he continued. “That was because I was so glad to meet you and so glad that you took time to stop to talk to me.”

Jim was so thankful to the Lord and happy to find this dear old Indian who when asked if he were a Christian could readily answer, “Yes.” What could you truthfully answer, dear reader, if you were asked the same question? Are you one of the Saviour’s lambs and are you safe in His arms? He wants you. O come to Him now for He says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

ML-04/22/1962

The Waste Paper Basket

WHEN preaching one day in a town, a message came to me from a young woman staying at another place, that she would be glad to see me. So I walked across to that town. Calling at the house indicated, I was welcomed by the young woman, who asked me to come in.

I sat down, and at once she began to explain why she had sent for me.

“You will not know me,” she began, “but I have heard of you through your sister, Mrs. Price, for whom I worked for several years. Every now and then you sent gospel books through the post addressed to her and her husband, the doctor. These books are generally thrown into the waste paper basket. Part of my duties each morning was to empty this basket of its contents, and those books which they cast away as worthless, I valued, kept, and read, and through God’s mercy, they were the means of my conversion. Hearing you were preaching so near, I sent for you, as I felt sure you would be pleased to hear of me. I am housekeeper to a doctor here, and cannot easily get out to attend any meetings, or you may be sure I would have come to hear you.”

Hearing this testimony of God’s grace from her lips caused my heart to rejoice, and you may be sure I thanked God, and took fresh courage to go on with that service, which undoubtedly had His approval, although my relatives failed to appreciate or profit by my efforts.

God says, “My Word... shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

How true it is that if some refuse God’s invitation, He will call others, so that His house may be filled (Luke 14:23).

Unsaved friend, the fact that God’s servants are still on the earth proclaiming the glad tidings, proves that there is still room for you. God offers you salvation now. Will you accept it freely, and go on your way to heaven rejoicing?

Another relative of mine, whom I called on at his office, after some conversation, pointed to the waste paper basket, saying, “Look here, Bob, there is where all your tracts go.”

A good depot, thought I, there to lie under the eye of God, to be used by Him to some office cleaner, or scavenger or rubbish searcher, to their salvation through reading them, while the wealthy businessman who despises God’s Word, seeks in vain for happiness in the things of this perishing world.

Let us go on sowing the good seed with fresh courage. God must have His harvest.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9.

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccles. 11:6.

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

“Him that cometh” — listen! listen!

“I in no wise will cast out.”

Oh, believe the loving Saviour,

Do not hesitate nor doubt.

In the precious blood of Jesus,

Come and wash thy sins away;

He “forgiveth,” “healeth,” “cleanseth,”

Oh, believe His word today!

Memory Verse: “GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME, A SINNER.” Luke 18:13.

ML-04/22/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 8:5-18

AFTER the cleansing of the leper, the Lord Jesus is met by a Roman officer, a representative of the Gentile power that held the Jews in bondage. In general the Jews despised their Gentile masters. The centurion recognizes the power there was in Jesus but, unlike the leper previously, he does not doubt His willingness to heal. He comes to Jesus, beseeching Him and saying, “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” The Lord expresses His sympathy and willingness in His response, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion realizes that as a Gentile he had no right to Jewish privileges, and takes the ground that he is not worthy to have Jesus enter his house. So he says to the Lord, “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth;... and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” He expresses the confidence that Jesus need only speak the word and his servant would be healed. The Lord marvels at the man’s faith and says to those who followed Him, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

The Lord goes on to say, “That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abram, and Isaac, in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness.” If Israel rejected their Messiah, then they as a nation would be rejected. In the meantime blessing has gone out to the Gentiles.

“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

Next we find the Lord Jesus in the house of Peter. There He saw Peter’s wife’s mother sick with a fever. “And He touched her hand, and the fever left her.” Usually a fever leaves one very weak, but here it tells us, “she arose, and ministered unto them.” It was divine power that healed her.

The Lord was unwearied in His love, for we read that “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.” This, the evangelist records, was a fulfillment of that which the prophet Isaiah had spoken of Messiah, “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Some have said that the Lord Jesus did this on the cross, but here it is shown to be in His life that He accomplished this. Messiah was wounded for our transgressions, Isaiah does tell us, He was bruised for our iniquities and we are healed by His stripes, and this the New Testament speaks of His having done on the cross. (Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 2:24.)

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave commandment to depart unto the other side.” The Lord does not seek the admiration of the crowd, nor would He satisfy mere curiosity. It is His work He has before Him, so He withdraws.

ML-04/22/1962

A Boy, a Girl, and a Tramp

HARRY and Bobby, Mary and Beth were playing Sunday school just inside the fence. They were singing their favorite song:

“There was a dear old Christian

whose name was Uncle Joe,

And everywhere the old man

went he loved his Saviour so.

And down by the river he’d

watch the fishes swim,

He’d think about his Saviour,

and this is what he’d sing:

Oh, come, come to Jesus,

come, come to Jesus.

Only come to Jesus, and He

will take you in;

And, if you’re discontented

and lead a life of sin,

Only come to Jesus, and He

will take you in.”

A voice said, “Oh, if He only would.”

Mary and Beth were a little bit frightened, but Harry and Bobby had started again, so they sang too:

“At last Death’s dark angel with

his mighty arrow came

And took old Joe to Heaven on

the Hallelujah train.

As his spirit was ascending to

the palace of the king,

They thought they heard him

singing, just as he entered in:

Oh, come, come to Jesus,

come, come to Jesus.

Only come to Jesus, and He

will take you in;

And, if you’re discontented

and lead a life of sin,

Only come to Jesus, and He

will take you in.”

“Oh, if He only would; if He only would,” the voice said again.

This time Harry and Bob heard it, too. They weren’t frightened, though, being boys — at least, they weren’t MUCH frightened. They looked over the fence. There on the other side was a tramp.

“Oh, if He only would,” said the tramp again. “Oh, if He only would.” “Only would what?” asked Bob. “Only take me in,” said the tramp.

“Oh, if He only would.”

Harry and Bob didn’t know what to do. But Mama would. They took him home with them.

Mama did know just what to do. She gave him some supper, and she told him about the Lord Jesus. She told him that He said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. The tramp went away happy in Jesus.

The tramp did just what Happy Joe did. He came to the Lord Jesus, and the Lord Jesus took him in. He will take YOU in, too, if you will only come to Him.

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

Memory Verse: “ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” Rom. 3:23.

“The scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed... Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:11, 13.

ML-04/29/1962

Your Name

A PREACHER was once telling God’s message of love to a group of children.

“I have never seen you before,” he said, “but, children, I can tell you your names.” Immediately they were all attentive. “Your name,” he continued, addressing a girl on the front seat, “your name is here.” He held up his Bible. “Your name is S-I-N-N-E-R, for God says ‘All have sinned.’ "

When the service concluded, the girl ran straight home to her father who was a hardened old sinner. Breathlessly she said, “Father, I can tell you God’s name for you, for it is in the Bible!”

“Nonsense,” he replied.

“But it is, Father,” persisted the child.

“What is it, then?” he asked.

“It is ‘sinner’ for God says that ‘all have sinned': the preacher told us about it.”

Although the man was a hard old sinner, God used his daughter’s message. It went as an arrow to his heart and like the prodigal son long ago, he acknowledged, “I have sinned.” Luke 15:21.

Through God’s boundless grace he accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. His sins were all put away by virtue of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ which “cleanses us from all sin.”

Your name is in the Bible! it is SINNER. But like that father you can be saved if you acknowledge that you are lost and take the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Won’t you do it now?

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

ML-04/29/1962

More Bible Birds

THE PEACOCK AND HIS FEATHERS (Job 39:13). How majestically he walks across the lawn, with his gay colored train of feathers. He is no doubt a pretty bird. His crested head, blue neck, back of yellow and green, give him a very graceful appearance, but then, he knows it. “As proud as a peacock” is a common proverb. His gorgeous train does all very well in fine weather, but it is a sore battle for him in a storm. He has a very poor voice, only a croaking scream.

We may see in the peacock what we all are and love to be by nature; proud, self-willed, unruly, mischievous. When the peacock dies his beauty passes away. His feathers adorn him no more. So will it be with the proud, unconverted sinners when they come to leave this world. Their beauty will consume away. The world will soon forget them. But for the believer in Christ, there is a much brighter hope. He will rise in the image of his Lord. His body will be fashioned like unto His most glorious body, and he will go to be with Him forever. How wonderful to be a Christian!

THE OSTRICH (Job 39:14). This bird is called the camel-bird by the Arabs. It is a bird of the desert, very large, powerful and swift in its fight. The mother ostrich is referred to in Scripture as heartless and cruel. (Lam. 4:3; Job 39:13-18). Her eggs and her young are often left behind. Her nest is scooped out in the sand. There she lays her eggs and goes off in search of food for herself, leaving them to be hatched in the sun or trodden underfoot of man or beast. When men go out to hunt the ostrich, it is said she leaves her young and flees. How unlike the care God has over little ones who put their trust under the shadow of His wings! To them He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

THE SWALLOW AND HER YOUNG (Psa. 84:3). Here we have a home bird, one that we all know—a bird of liberty and swift wing. The swallow is very careful of her young. She builds a cozy nest for them and faithfully cares for them all through. The psalmist thought of the swallow’s nest built in the tabernacle of God, as the emblem of his own soul’s rest. How sweet and safe a resting place for the soul is the sacrifice of Christ! There the weary sinner finds peace and safety.

“I declare unto you the GOSPEL... how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:1, 3, 4.

How wondrous a SAVIOUR is God’s blessed Son!

How great and eternal the work He has done!

God’s glory maintained by His death on the tree,

While mercy flows freely to you and to me.

ML-04/29/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 8:19-34

“AND A certain scribe came, and said unto Him, Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest,” but he did not realize where such a path would lead. Doubtless he thought that following Jesus would get him a good place with the Messiah in the kingdom, but the Lord tells him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.” He had no place to give him. It is sad to think that in spite of all the love the Lord had shown to Israel, yet they had no heart for Him. He was rejected and a stranger here — He had no place to lay His head.

Next we read of another, one of His disciples, saying to Him, “Lord, suer me first to go and bury my father.” Here we have a different case. When the Lord calls how often difficulties and trials are felt. The Lord, however, tells this one, “Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.” That is, all are looked at as dead in the sight of God until quickened through grace, and natural ties must not come first. How often natural relationships come in as a hinderance between Christ and the soul. He must have the first place—“that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Col. 1:18.

We then have the Lord with His disciples in a little ship crossing the Sea of Galilee. “And, behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.” The disciples, experienced sailors though they were, were afraid, and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us: we perish.” But how could they perish in the same ship with the Lord? “And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” The men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him!” They had not yet discerned Him as the One who was the Creator and Sustainer of even the things commonly spoken of as nature.

On the other side of the sea the Lord was met by two men possessed by demons, and they were so fierce that none could pass that way. “And, bold, the demons cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time.” Here we have a picture of the terrible power of Satan in this world. The demons acknowledge the authority of the Lord Jesus over them, and they know of a time appointed when He will send them into the bottomless pit. They ask if that is what He was doing now. But, no, the Lord was now showing mercy to those afflicted by them.

There was a herd of swine feeding on a hillside and they request that they might go into that herd of swine. The Lord commands them to go. “And they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.” Why did the Lord allow this? Partly because, we believe, He was testing the hearts of those in that area to see which they thought most important, their swine, which were forbidden by the law, or Himself as their Messiah. How sad the attitude of the people in the city who, when they hear what happened, come out and ask the Lord Jesus to depart out of their coasts. How many there are today who desire to be left alone, even though they know they are going on in a course wholly contrary to the Word of God. They prefer the power of Satan to the liberating power of the grace of God.

ML-04/29/1962

Rescued From the Flames

FIRE, FIRE!” The words rang out as a man ran through an apartment house where he had seen a fire. All the people were brought out safely except one family whose apartment was on the top floor. Somehow they had been overlooked. Now the flames were raging all around them but the people were asleep.

Down on the street men picked up stones and threw them at the topmost windows and succeeded in breaking them. This roused the father and mother and immediately they took their little boy and girl in their arms and rushed out from the flaming building.

But where was Willie? In the excitement they forgot to warn their eldest son. He was still there and the father ran back to get him. Smoke blinded and choked him and he got no further than the first flight of stairs.

By this time Willie had wakened from his sleep and realizing the danger he stood at the window calling for help. Now not a moment must be lost. A ladder was put up but it was not long enough to reach that high window.

Then someone brought a sheet and the father stretched it out. Strong and willing hands grasped the four corners of it as they stood beneath the window.

“Jump, and your father will catch you,” one of the men shouted.

Willie looked down and quivered with fear for a moment. Then he dropped down and in a moment he was safe in his father’s arms. Willie trusted his father and he was safe.

It is just the same for lost and guilty sinners. God’s judgment will reach you if you remain as you are, with your sins upon you. But you need not perish. Trust yourself to Jesus, the mighty Saviour. His outstretched arms are ready to receive you. The only question is, are you ready now to trust yourself to Him?

Won’t you tell Him, from your heart, “I will trust and not be afraid"? Is. 12:2.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.” Proverbs 3:5.

ML-05/06/1962

The Toy Sermon

“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Zech. 8:5.

“They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you and ye have not wept.” Luke 7:32.

What does it mean? Why, these children had been trying to please their companions, but they could not! First they offered to have a game of piping and dancing, but that did not please them; then they suggested a mournful funeral, but it was no good. Nothing would please these unhappy playmates. We have all seen children of that kind, or read about them in books, but I hope none of my little readers will see the likeness of one in the mirror.

The children in the Bible played just as children do nowadays. Some were nice and gentle, and kind and considerate in their games. Some were otherwise.

A child who loves the Saviour will PLAY like a little Christian, as well as learn lessons so as to please Him.

A tiny boy once had a toy given to him, and he was so pleased with it that he fairly raced around the room for joy, showing it to his friends. Presently he held it up and said, “Dear Jesus, look at my nice new toy!” I believe the blessed Lord was pleased to look at that little child’s toy and to enter into his joy in possessing it.

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me,... And He took them up in His arms,... and blessed them.” Mark 10:14, 16.

ML-05/06/1962

Help Me to Praise Him

ONE afternoon we visited an old woman who lived alone and at a distance. She was very poor, but through the years we had known her, I had never heard a murmur from her lips. Her family were all dead, and she was left, as she described herself, “a lone orphan of seventy-four.”

I had called once long before to see her, and noticed a gap in the old thatched roof above my head.

“What do you do when the rain comes down?” I asked with symphony.

“Why, I just thank God, dear, that the hole is no bigger!” was the unexpected reply.

So on this winter day I set out to see her. There lay the old woman in bed, feeble and weak, but with a smile of welcome on her face.

As I thought of all the comfort which we had left and the care which surrounded us, I exclaimed in pity, “Betty, who is taking care of you?”

She raised her trembling hands and put them together, and answered with a look of happy conviction: “The Almighty, dear!”

“And what can we do for you?”

With a smile that any queen might envy, the feeble old woman looked up and said, “Can you help me to praise Him, dears, for all that He has done for me?”

Alone, with no human hand to care for her, she had lain in bed with little food or fire, but in her heart was the profound conviction that the words of the worn, brown Bible at her side were true:

“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him;” and no heart was richer than hers.

“O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psa. 34:3.

Memory Verse: “THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE: BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE.” Isa. 26:3.

What Does the Lord See?

“The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7.

ML-05/06/1962

Important Questions With Scripture Answers

Who Wrote the Bible?

“Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:21.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim. 3:16.

Is the Bible All True?

“Thy word is true from the beginning.” Psa. 119:160.

“These words are true and faithful.” Rev. 21:5.

Who Made the World?

“For by Him [the Lord Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth.” Col. 1:16.

“By whom also He made the worlds.” Heb. 1:2.

ML-05/06/1962

Bible Questions for May

The Children’s Class

1. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners".

2. “Who gave Himself a ransom for all".

3. “Received up into glory”

4. “God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy”

5. “Who... hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”

6. “The Lord knoweth them that are His”

7. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”

The Young People’s Class

1. How did the Israelites react to the death of Samuel? 1 Sam. 25.

2. Had these same people honored Samuel in his life, or had they refused to obey his voice? 1 Sam. 8.

3. Why did the Lord condemn the Pharisees for building tombs unto the prophets? Matt. 23.

4. How did Nabal respond to David’s message of peace?

5. Was the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, received by those to whom He came? John 1.

6. When Abigail came before David, how did she address him in seeking mercy for her husband’s wrong?

7. How is the mercy of salvation obtained today? Rom. 10.

ML-05/06/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 9:1-13

WE SAW in the last chapter how that after the Lord had delivered the two men possessed with dons, the people of the city came out and requested Him to depart out of their coasts. They showed no regard for the two who had been liberated from Satan’s power. This shows their hardness of heart against the Lord, who had gone forth among the people in the power of Jehovah according to Psalm 103:3: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” He presented Himself to the nation as their Redeemer and Deliverer, and to prove His title as such, He carried out this last part of the verse first.

It is a very solemn thing to ask the Lord to depart, for He will do so. But it may be the last opportunity to have to do with Him while He is dealing in grace. By and by He will be the One who will tell those who refused Him to depart, and that will be to everlasting punishment.

In chapter 9 the Lord enters into a ship and passes over to the other side to “His own city” — Capernaum. It was where He lived and wrought His mightiest miracles. “And, behold they brought unto Him a man sick of the palsy lying on a bed.” The Lord appreciates their faith and speaks kindly to the afflicted one: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven Thee.” Some of the scribes, who were very familiar with the law but very critical of the Lord, said within themselves, “This man blasphemeth.” But the Lord knew their thoughts and asks why they thought evil things in their hearts. To Him it meant the same to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” or “Arise, and walk.” Any sins must be forgiven before the man could be healed of his affliction. But that they might know that the Son of man had power to forgive sins, He saith unto the sick of the palsy, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” The man departed to his own home. In the man sick with palsy we have a picture of Israel. The day is coming when the Lord will both forgive all their iniquities and heal all their diseases.

“When the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” They did not see that the One who wielded that power was God Himself.

The Lord goes on from here and sees a publican named Matthew sitting in the tax office. Knowing him to be a man of faith He says to him, “Follow Me,” which he did. The publicans were commonly classed as sinners, but this only brings out the Lord’s grace all the more in calling such. Matthew not only followed the Lord, but he invited Him and His disciples to his home where they sit down to eat at his table. Many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him also. But the Pharisees, who were always ready to find fault with Him, question the disciples as to why their Master would eat with publicans and sinners. When the Lord heard it He said unto them, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” They should have learned that the prophets had spoken of a time coming when Jehovah desired them to show mercy, rather than offer sacrifices to Him. They, however, took the ground of not needing a physician, but in heart they were far from Him and so did not hear His voice.

ML-05/06/1962

A Feast

IT WAS a cold and stormy Sunday afternoon and we were glad to be close to a large, cheerful fire. Just one buttered slice of bread with jam on it remained, and mother, looking out of the window, suddenly thought of the little feathered citizens—the birds—who lived in her garden. They surely would appreciate a feast of butter and jam on bread. So it was carefully broken up and spread under a tree in our view.

At first fear caused most of the feathered family to hurry away, though impelled by their hunger they soon returned to nearby positions, for doubt and mistrust seem to fill every feathered breast. Then two grandfather thrushes warily flew on to a branch immediately overhanging the feast, and solemnly began to discuss the strange matter. How long this state of affairs might have lasted would be hard to tell, had not that rank outsider “Second-cousin blackbird” come boldly hopping up and seizing a morsel of bread, flew away as if all the cats in the kingdom were after him! He was too frightened to take more, and when all his relations descended upon him to see what he had got, he nearly lost his morsel through sheer dismay!

Encouraged by his example the rest of the family cautiously tried in turn, and those who were not too overcome by fear and doubt, each obtained a morsel. But “Baby Tit” and “Robin” wanted the feast so much, that in spite of their mother’s warnings, they each had plenty of bread, butter and jam!

The birds were unhappy because they were hungry. There was a feast provided to make them happy, but through doubt and fear of being the first to try, some of them missed the feast entirely. Those who did venture were satisfied, and the little ones seemed to get most because they were too young to fear and only old enough to trust.

God has provided a feast of love and joy in His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross for sinners. God sends out His invitation: “Behold, I have prepared my dinner:... and all things are ready: come.” Matt. 22:4. All who put their trust in Jesus are cleansed from their sins in His blood and made perfectly fit for God’s presence. The Lord Jesus Himself says, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger.” He is the bread which alone can feed that new life He gives to those who are “born again” by faith in Him. In His goodness He has prepared a happy home for them in the glory.

Have you accepted God’s provision for your sins by trusting in the Lord Jesus and now find joy and satisfaction in Him? Or are you like some of those little birds who through doubt and fear of what their friends were thinking, missed out on the feast and went hungry?

“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.

“He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psa. 107:9.

ML-05/13/1962

A Boy's Testimony

WE HAD been having a Sunday school for boys and girls in our neighborhood and since then some have written telling how they had been brought to know the Lord Jesus. I received one from a boy named John who was now on one of the training ships. He also wrote to his teacher who loved him and had prayed for him while he was in Sunday school.

John used to play about in Sunday school with other boys and caused a lot of sorrow to his teacher. But much prayer went up to the Lord for him and he began to show an interest.

Then the time came for him to leave and on the farewell Sunday the parting gift from the Sunday school was a Bible. Now the answer has come and he has confessed the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. This is what he writes: “I have only been here eleven weeks but in that time I have confessed the Lord as the only Way. I knew three other girls who wrote to you and I attended the same Sunday school. Just before I came here a gentleman gave us an address one Sunday in which he told us that the Lord was saying COME, and that one day He would stop and it would be too late. For the word COME he told us that

“C” was for CHILDREN to come,

“O” was for OLDER PEOPLE to come,

“M” was for ME to come,

“E” was for EVERYBODY to come.

“And the song I shall always remember is ‘Keep me shining, Lord.’ "

In a letter to the superintendent of the Sunday school John wrote: “Please tell the children at the Sunday school that I always remember them in my prayers. Tell Ruth (who has recently received the Saviour) that I rejoice with her in knowing the Lord is my very own.

“Also will you please ask Norman, Will you confess the Lord Jesus? I cannot bear to think of you being outside. ' "

Will those boys and girls who read our little magazine and have trusted the Lord Jesus, join me in prayer that many more young ones may be brought to the Saviour? The time is short. The Lord’s coming is very near. This should make us to be real earnest to win others for Him.

ML-05/13/1962

More Bible Birds

THE GRACEFUL SWAN (Lev. 11:18). How pretty she is as she sails along the river. But her feet are not so pretty and she is a very poor walker. God said of that pretty bird that she is unclean. She is like an unsaved sinner—unclean in His sight. “We are all as an unclean thing.” Is. 64:4. Often what we admire is not pleasing to God. But how clean in God’s sight are those who are washed in the blood of His dear Son! “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psa. 51:7.

THE WEARY DOVE (Gen. 8:9). Noah sent her forth from the ark, but after roving across the lone waste of waters and finding no rest for her foot, no wonder she was weary. There was no place of rest to the weary dove save in the ark. There is no rest to the weary sinner, save in Christ. See how the dove flies toward the only place of refuge and rest! And she was not rejected for Noah put out his hand and took her in again. I know of many who have found their rest like that in Christ. They came to Him “weary and worn and sad,” and He took them in and gave them sweet rest. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

THE EAGLE (Deut. 32:11). Last of all we have the powerful eagle, with her eyrie in the high rocks. Her care for her young in teaching them to fly is given as an illustration of the Lord’s care over all who are saved. He bears them on eagle’s wings upward, their strength is renewed as the eagle’s (Is. 40:31), and one day He will bear them homeward to the glory above. How safe, how happy are they who have such a God who will bring them home to heaven!

J. R.

ML-05/13/1962

O Turn Ye!

(Sung to the tune, “Hiding in Thee")

O turn ye! O turn ye! for why will ye die,

When God, in great mercy, is coming so nigh?

Now Jesus invites you! the Spirit says “Come,”

And angels are waiting to welcome you home.

Refrain:

Come while you may! come while you may!

Take God’s free salvation, ’tis offered today!

How vain the delusion, that while you delay

Your hearts may grow better by staying away;

Come wretched, come starving, come, happy to be,

While streams of salvation are flowing so free.

ML-05/13/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 9:14-26

“THEN came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?” The Lord gives two reasons why He could not submit to the demands of the Pharisees. Fasting was a mark of sorrow and humiliation whereas the Lord was Himself the source of His disciples joy and gladness. To fast while He was among them would not be in keeping with His presence.

Secondly, His mission was to bring in that which would be far better than all the ritual of the Pharisees! Furthermore there could be no mixing of the two. There could be no putting the principles of the law together with the gospel of His grace. “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.” Christianity is an entirely new thing and cannot be added to the old system of law-keeping as a sort of improvement on it. To attempt to do so will only make the old worse, and yet this is what many are doing today.

“Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish.” The old bottles had been stretched by what had been put into them before. If new wine were put io them they would be unable to stretch any more; so they would burst and all would be lost. The power of the coming kingdom would be lost if the attempt was made to make it conform to the old order of things. “But they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” The Lord has brought in the new wine of grace and He must have new bottles.

After this we read that a ruler comes to Him doing Him homage, sang, “My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Thine hand upon her, and she shall live.” The Lord Jesus followed him with His disciples. On the way a poor woman with an incurable disease came behind Him and touched the hem of His garment, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be made whole.” The Lord felt that touch of faith and knowing what had been done, He would not allow her to go away with just that. He desires that she might have the assurance of His Word that she was healed. How many, like this woman, depend on their feelings as to their standings before God, whereas we can only have real peace as to our faith by resting simply on His Word.

When Jesus reached the ruler’s home, He found a crowd of mourners there, some of them flute-players and all apparently making a considerable noise. The Lord commands them to withdraw, saying, “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth,” for that is what death is in His presence. They laughed Him to scorn, but when they had been put out, He went in. He took the maid by the hand, and she arose. “And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.”

The ruler’s daughter, raised from the dead, is a picture of Israel whom the Lord will raise as from the dead in a coming day. In the meantime, while He is on the way, whoever comes now and touches Him in faith, gets the blessing.

Memory Verse: “BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.” Ps. 2:12.

ML-05/13/1962

Speckle

SPECKLE had been Jack’s pet for two years. His uncle had given her to Jack as a little chicken. How proud he was when she laid her first egg!

One day Jack missed Speckle. He could not find her, and she did not come when he called. He looked and looked, but no Speckle.

He was about to go home again when he heard the faintest noise. Peering carefully through the tall grass, he saw some speckled feathers! Stepping closer, he said, in surprise: “Oh, Speckle! What a hunt I’ve had for you!”

She had made her nest in the tall grass where she would not be disturbed. In the nest were ten snowy white eggs. For three weeks she would have to sit there.

Near the end of the three weeks Jack went to see if the eggs were hatching. He carefully lifted her off the nest to see what was happening underneath. He gave a squeal of dight! Already there was one fluffy yellow ball! And most of the other shells were pipped, too.

The next morning a neighbor, not knowing she was there, set fire to the grass. Poor little hen! She clucked wildly to her brood, but they were too small to run away from danger. Should she run herself, and leave her babies to die? Not Speckle! She hid them under her wings—and none too soon. The fire passed over, leaving her body black and burned, but not a chick was touched by the fire.

How that mother loved her children! Either Speckle or the chicks could be saved, but one or the other had to die.

Like the mother hen, Someone had to give His life in order that you and I might be saved. The only Person who can save us is God’s Son, the Lord Jesus. If you ask Him to take away your sin and be your own Saviour, you can live in Heaven with Him when you die, and you can be happy here in this world. He suffered in your place because He loved you so very much.

ML-05/20/1962

The Best Use

“MY MOTHER gave me a Bible for a gift,” said a little girl, with quiet satisfaction, “and Aunt Lou gave Harry one at the same time. Just look at them now, and see the difference!”

Harry’s was a little worn. Its gilt edges were tarnished, and the newness was gone from the cover, but it looked as if it had been read very often. Here and there were pencil marks by favorite verses. Harry Goon had been saved recently and his Bible had evidently been very precious to him.

After Harry’s Bible had been examined, Minnie triumphantly said, “Now see mine!” She unfolded some tissue paper and there it was, just as fresh and new as when it came from the store.

“I’ve never had it out of the drawer but once,” said Minnie, “and that was to show it to somebody.”

“Minnie,” her visitor said, “if your father were away from home and sent you a letter telling you just what he wanted you to do and be, would you leave it in the drawer unread or even unopened? Would you not rather, take it out every day and read it over and over, trying all the more each time to do what your father said?”

“Yes,” said Minnie, blushing and hanging her head as she began to realize what she had done with her Bible.

“This is God’s letter to you, Minnie, but you have carefully wrapped it and put it away. Hereafter use it as God wants you to.”

Jesus said: “Search the Scriptures... they testify of Me.” John 5:39.

“I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to... give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts. 20:32.

ML-05/20/1962

Like a Little Child

RECENTLY while walking through the factory where I work I was stopped by Joe G. who told me the following interesting story.

He said: A wonderful thing happened not long ago. I had been visiting Bert H. in the hospital for some time and prayed that the Lord would give me an opportunity to speak to him about his soul, for I knew that he was not saved.

After several visits I still hadn’t spoken to Bert but continued to pray about it. Then one night, just as I entered the hospital room, I heard Bert say, “Thank God you’ve come, Joe, God has sent you.”

I said, “What do you mean, Bert?” Bert said: “I’ve been praying all day that God would send you to see me. I want to know what I have to do to be saved.”

I replied: “Bert, I shouldn’t have to tell you. Why, when you were in the shop you could quote verses from the Bible as well as I could.”

Joe paused here to tell me that, although Bert could quote verses from the Bible, he would scoff at them and say that he was all right the way he was.

“Yes, I know, Joe,” answered Bert, “but I don’t know how to be saved.”

“Well, Bert,” I said, “you know John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life. Well, all you have to do is believe that, just like a little child.”

“Oh Joe,” said Bert, “is that all? And I’ve been stumbling over it for years. I do believe it, I do believe it.”

Joe went on to tell me that Bert was really saved for when he went back another night there were a number of Bert’s friends around his bed, and he told everyone that he wanted them to meet the man who had led him to the Lord.

Joe had many happy visits with Mr. H. and they read God’s Word together. Just five days before Mr. H. died, Joe dropped in to see him. Mr. H. took his hand and said, “Thank you, Joe, for introducing me to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It was while Joe was on his vacation that Bert passed away and went to be with his Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who had died to save him.

Mr. H. left it a long time before he got saved for he was about 75 years old when he died. But you should not leave it a moment longer to take Jesus as your Saviour. None of us know how long we may be left here so it is most important to turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin, through His precious blood, now.

ML-05/20/1962

A Daughter of the King

PASSING along a country road one sultry day, I saw a cottage on the edge of a wood, and being thirsty, I knocked at the door and asked for a drink of water.

“Come in and rest yourself while I get it fresh from the spring,” said an aged woman, clad in a homespun dress, with a snow white cap on her head, such as one seldom sees worn now.

In a few minutes she returned with a jug filled with cool clear spring water which, I remarked, reminded me of the text, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Prov. 25:25.

I was scarcely prepared for the old lady’s remark, which followed. “Yes,” said she, “and the good news that Jesus died for sinners, has come from heaven above, down to earth. Isn’t it a wonder that folk do not take it in, and have their soul thirst quenched?”

I said, “Yes, it is a wonder, but thank God, some have taken it in. Have you?”

“Forty years ago,” was the prompt reply, “and I have rejoiced in the knowledge of my salvation all these years.”

I could only say, “Praise the Lord.” There in that lone corner was a saint of God, one of the Lord’s hidden ones, little known beyond her own door, yet well-known in courts above. As I said “Good-by” to the aged saint, I wished that some of the world’s great ones could have had but her happy smile as she pointed upward and said, “We shall meet up there.”

Yes, she had Christ, and she was saved and happy. Are you? You may have all that the world can give, the pleasures of sin in all their fullness; yet if you have no Christ, no salvation, you are far from being happy.

ML-05/20/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 9:27-10:15

“AND WHEN Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” The two blind men come to Him in the house and He asks them, “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” “They said unto Him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened.”

Next they bring a dumb man, possessed of a demon, to the Lord Jesus. The Lord casts out the demon, and the man speaks. In all these miracles we see the wonderful grace of the Lord giving proof after proof of His mercy to Israel and of what He will yet do for them in a coming day. But we can see in them types of what we are ourselves through the fall of man—blind and dumb spiritually. How wonderful the grace that delivered us from sin and Satan’s chain, opened our eyes to see beauty in Jesus, God’s beloved One, and loosed our stammering tongues to sing His praise!

“The multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” What could be more terrible than this? And yet it does not turn the Lord aside from His mission of showing mercy to His people. He “went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” When He saw the multitude He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Then He tells His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”

Then in the beginning of chapter 10 the Lord acts according to what He had just said as to sending forth laborers into His harvest. He calls to Him His twelve disciples and gives them the power which He Himself had displayed. They were to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of disease.

We then have their names given, and they are told not to go to the Gentiles, nor to the Samaritans, but to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” They were to announce, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They were to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. The people might be Israelites, yet as such they were no longer to have the right to enter into this kingdom, for they are treated as lost, and could only enter by faith. Some of the cities into which they would enter might not receive them, but it would be more favorable in the time of judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who refused them.

From verses 16-42 we can see that this testimony also applies to a future day. It is very evident that it also refers to that spoken of by the prophets of old — the time of Jacob’s trouble. The burden of the prophets’ testimony of old was the coming of the Messiah in lowliness, His rejection, His sufferings, and the glory which should follow.

Memory Verse: “HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOREVER.” 1 John 2:17.

ML-05/20/1962

The Cat That Said "Thank You!"

AWAY over in Africa lived a missionary family—five girls and two boys lived with their mother and father. The missionary family loved to tell the African girls and boys and their mothers and fathers about the Lord Jesus.

They told them that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for them on the cross. The African people would clap their hands. That is the way they said, “Thank You.” As they listened to the story of God’s love they clapped their hands to say “Thank you” to Him.

One day the missionary family found a baby civet cat. A civet cat is a wild cat that lives in Africa and grows as big as a fox. It has gray fur with black bands and spots. They took the little cat home for a pet. It would go sniffing all around the rooms. They liked the little civet-cat and fed it every day.

But soon it wasn’t little any more. And, because it was growing so big, and it was a wild cat, they were afraid to keep it. One day they took it away off in the forest and let it go free.

It had been gone for a long time. Then one evening they heard scratching at the door. They opened the door and in came the big, big cat! He sniffed at each member of the missionary family. Then he jumped up on the missionary man’s lap.

One of the missionary children set a bowl of food on the floor. The civet cat jumped down and ate the food. Then he went from one to another of the family. He sniffed each one, patted them all with his great paw, and then went out of the door. They never saw him again. But they all felt that he had returned to say “Thank You.” He was glad they had cared for him and fed him when he was a little kitten.

This wild animal of Africa said, “Thank You” to the missionary family for their kindness. When the African people heard about the love of God and the Lord Jesus, they said “Thank You” by clapping their hands.

I wonder if you have ever thanked the Lord for His great love and care for you? Have you thanked Him for dying for you on the cross?

ML-05/27/1962

A Spanish Boy's Conversion

LOUIS was a Spanish boy who lived with his grandmother on one of a group of islands off the coast of Spain. Louis grew up in ignorance of the love of God and he knew nothing of how the Lord Jesus died for sinners.

One day a change came in Louis’ life. It was his fourteenth birthday. On that day he heard a church bell ringing for someone who had died. Louis listened and counted the strokes of the bell for this would tell him how old the dead person was. The bell in that church was rung as many times as the years of the dead person’s life. So Louis listened and counted. To his surprise the ringing stopped at fourteen. Someone his own age had died.

Where had the soul of that person gone? Louis asked himself that question. If death came to him, where would his soul go? Louis could not get those thoughts out of his mind.

The young boy became anxious about death and what comes after and so he talked to his grandmother about them. But she could not help him for she herself did not know, nor did she know the Lord Jesus Christ. But she did have a Bible and she gave that to her grandson.

The Bible was a new thing to Louis and he read it all he could. As he read he learned that he was indeed a sinner and that after death comes judgment. But in his Bible he also found out that “Christ Jesus came into the world to have sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15. He learned too that “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.

As he read on he saw how to be saved. You are saved, dear reader, by simply believing in the heart that the Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross for you. Louis believed and was saved. Then he rejoiced in the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour.

How happy he was now! There was no more fear of death for he knew that if he were to die, he would go to be with Jesus, the One who had loved him so much as to die for him.

His desire now was to tell others of that same Saviour. Whenever he could he would gather together a group of people from his town and would read to them from his Bible. Often, too, he would take a boat and go from island to island telling the fishermen and others about the Lord Jesus.

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

ML-05/27/1962

Gospel Lessons From a Boy's Watch

THE WATCH in our picture will serve as an object lesson for today, to bring some gospel truths before us.

1. It is a gift. Nothing was paid for it. No work was done to earn it. A father gave it to his son as a birthday gift, and all that was required on the boy’s part, was to receive the gift, and to thank the giver. This is exactly how it is with eternal life. It is the “free gift of God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:23, R.V.). All who receive Him (John 1:12) as their personal Saviour, “HAVE eternal life” (1 John 5:13). God says it, and they believe it, and rejoice in it.

2. It is not a loan, but a full possession. I know a boy who got the loan of his father’s watch during his vacation, on the understanding that he was to give it back when he returned. But God does not give salvation, eternal life, or any of the great blessings made known in the gospel, on loan. He gives them as possessions, to be retained forever. Of all who receive His free gift of eternal life, the Word is, “They shall never perish (John 10:28). They are Christ’s, and He is theirs forever.

3. It is a present possession. The boy does not hope he owns this watch. He KNOWS it is his. He came to this knowledge first by hearing his father, who gave it to him, say that it was now his, and next, through having it in his pocket, hearing its tick, and using it day by day. He knows in experience that the watch is his property. It will take a good deal of argument to convince him that it is otherwise.

4. A blessed enjoyment. This watch is much valued, for its own usefulness, and because of its giver. So is the life the saved sinner has. He knows there is a new power, and new desires within, which are the practical witness that Christ is there. Let each receive, feed on, enjoy and manifest this new and heavenly life as theirs in possession.

J. R.

ML-05/27/1962

The Open Door

A LADY had been away from home during the afternoon and when she returned she looked in her purse for her key. It was not there. She had lost it.

Dinner time was near and night would soon be coming on. She went to the neighbors and borrowed their keys in the hope that one of them would fit her door. But not one of them would fit.

Then someone asked if she had tried the latch. In a spiritless voice she replied, “No, but I will.”

Imagine her surprise when she found that the door had been unlocked all the time! She opened the door and walked in.

What a picture this is of an anxious soul who desires to come to God but thinks he must do something first. He stands outside, his mind full of fears as to being welcome. He believes there are many reasons why he can’t see the Saviour. But really the door is not only unlocked; it stands wide open and all are invited to enter just as they are.

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

Memory Verse: “IN THE LORD PUT I MY TRUST.” Psa. 11:1.

ML-05/27/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 10:16-42

THE LORD goes on to tell His disciples what they must expect in preaching the gospel of the kingdom among their own people. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” They might go forth in love, yet they would meet with “wolves.” They would need heavenly wisdom also: “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils.” The Jews hated the Gentiles, but they would not hesitate to bring the power of their Gentile masters against the servants of the Lord. “Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” This is quite a different way of bringing the gospel before those in high places, for the means usually employed to reach such persons is through compromising the truth and in conformity to the world.

Furthermore the Lord prepares them as to what to expect from their nearest kin in rendering this testimony to Him as the Messiah. “The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child:... And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” In 2 Timothy 3:12 we are told that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” However, the Lord gives the disciples a hope that this special period of trial would be for a limited time, and that he that should endure to the end would be delivered.

Then the Lord says, “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” The mission of the disciples to Israel came to an end with the death of Christ and finally with the destruction of Jerusalem. After that we have the calling of the Church, and the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God to all men everywhere has been going forth in the meanwhile. But after the Church has been called home to glory, the testimony to the coming kingdom of Messiah will again go forth until He comes as Son of man in His glory. Daniel the prophet spoke of Him coming with the clouds of heaven. This would be in judgment on the ungodly, but it would mean deliverance for the faithful remnant then.

“Fear not them which kill the body,” that is, their persecutors; they cannot touch the soul. Nothing can happen to a child of God but what the Father allows. The only thing one ought to dread is grieving and sinning against God. “Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” — such would be the portion of the enemies of the Lord.

Then He speaks of the Father’s care for them in the very smallest details. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

After this He presses on them the need of confessing and not denying Him before men. “Him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.”

“He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.” The cross here is evidently those trials in life which Satan uses to keep people from coming to the Lord. If we would follow the Lord, we must make up our minds to experience trials, suffering and reproach. Yet if we take these things from Him, He will turn them for our blessing. He makes all things work together for good to those that love Him.

ML-05/27/1962

There Was a Crooked Man

HOW many of you remember the crooked man you used to read about in your nursery rhyme book?

“There was a crooked man,

And he walked a crooked mile;

He found a crooked sixpence

Against a crooked stile;

He bought a crooked cat,

Which caught a crooked mouse,

And they all lived together

In a little crooked house.”

He WAS a funny fellow, wasn’t he? HE was crooked, and everything ABOUT him was crooked. He chose a crooked house and a crooked cat. Why do you suppose he did that? “Because he was crooked himself.” Yes, that’s right.

But you know, boys and girls, we’re all pretty much like him. Our hearts are wicked; we love wicked things, and we like to walk down a crooked path in this world just like the crooked man. God wants us to walk a straight path, but we can’t do it the way we are, can we?

That crooked man couldn’t walk straight until HE was straightened out. And if we’re going to walk on the path where God wants us to walk, we’ll have to have our hearts changed. God is the only One who could make that crooked man straight. Doctors could not help—he’s SO crooked only God could straighten him.

And, you know, our hearts are so sinful that no doctor or no one in the world can make them clean. We can’t do it ourselves either. God is the only One who can—by washing them in the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All we have to do is open our hearts to Him and He’ll make them clean.

Have you ever opened YOUR heart to Jesus and asked Him to cleanse it? The Bible says that your heart is wicked, and that Jesus can make it white as snow. Won’t you let Him do it now? Just accept Him as your Saviour, and He’ll cleanse your heart. How do you accept Him as your Saviour? Just believe on Him—that’s all. Just believe that He died to save you. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-06/03/1962

Story of a Spaniard

A SERVANT of the Lord was preaching the gospel in Spain. One day he entered into conversation with a man whom he had just met, about his soul. The man made the bold statement, that “he did not believe there was a God.”

“Indeed,” said the preacher quietly. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.”

“If I could see Him, I would believe in Him,” said the man.

“You cannot see the wind,” replied the preacher, “but I suppose you believe in that.”

“Why, yes,” he answered again, “I can feel the effects of the wind; of course I believe in it.”

“And do you know,” questioned the preacher, “that God could make you feel the effects of what He does? He could send enough wind to blow you off your little cart.”

The man, who earned his living by going round the neighboring villages with a little cart, was silenced and went away little thinking, I expect, that God would send His wind to stop him in his infidel career.

The poor Spaniard of whom I write was convinced of this in a remarkable way. The preacher had almost forgotten the incident when one day he was accosted by a man who asked if he did not remember him. “No,” he answered.

“Do you not remember some time ago telling a poor infidel that God could send enough wind to blow him off his cart? I am that man. Very soon after speaking to you I was blown off my cart, and my arm badly injured by the fall, and I have been laid up almost ever since; I do not doubt now that there is a God.”

These words recalled the circumstance to the preacher’s memory, and he questioned the man as to his state of soul, and persuaded him to attend the gospel meetings nearby. At first he seemed ashamed to be seen in such a place, but very soon the Lord Jesus spoke to his heart in grace and he became a rejoicing believer in Him.

After that he went his round with his little cart like the Apostle Paul in another day, “preaching the faith which he once destroyed” and the people who once knew him as a godless scoffer, now knew him as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is such a solemn thing to turn away from the voice of God, and to shut your ears to it. His word says, “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.” Heb. 12:25.

ML-06/03/1962

The A-B-C of the Gospel

PERHAPS when you were little you had a certain kind of book which your mother or father read you. By this you may have learned the alphabet even before you could read by yourself.

“A is for apple, so rosy and red.”

Then “B” was for book, perhaps, and so on through to “Z.”

There is an A-B-C of the gospel, too. I hope you learn it.

“A” tells us:

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

What a terrible thing to think of being short of God’s glory. Yet we are His creatures and we must have to do with Him. God has said that everyone of us must give account to Him. But if I stand before Him in my sins I know I will be short of God’s glory and I must go to hell.

But thanks be to God for His wonderful love. He does not want anyone to go to hell. Our letter “B” tells us:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

Who is the Lamb of God? It is Jesus, God’s Son. He came to earth to be a sacrifice for sins on Calvary’s cross. So the Bible tells us to behold—to look upon — the Lamb of God. As God’s Lamb He takes away the sin of the world and “whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Now “C” says:

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

Come to Him now, right where you are. Lift your heart to Him and quietly say, “Lord Jesus, I come. I am a sinner, but Thou hast died for me.”

“All have sinned.” Rom. 3:23

“Behold the Lamb of God.”

“Come unto Me.”

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

Memory Verse: “MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART.” Prov. 23:26.

ML-06/03/1962

Bible Questions for June

The Children’s Class

1. “Promised before the world began”

2. “Who gave Himself for us”

3. “According to the hope of eternal life”

4. “Upholding all things by the word of His Power”

5. “Crowned with glory and honor”

6. “An evil heart of unbelief”

7. “A discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

The Young People’s Class

1. What change did Abigail believe the Lord would bring to pass concerning David’s state of rejection in Israel? 1 Sam. 25.

2. What does faith see regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and His present rejection in this world? Rev. 11.

3. Did David accept Abigail for the faith thus manifested? 1 Sam.

4. What standing before God do the faithful of this day possess? Eph. 1

5. What relationship did Abigail later have with David? 1 Sam.

6. What is the great mystery which tells the relationship of the Church with Christ? Eph. 5.

7. How did the Lord deal with Nabal for his rejection of David? 1 Sam.

ML-06/03/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 11:1-15

HAVING finished His warnings and instructions to His disciples, the Lord Jesus departs to teach and to preach in their cities. John the Baptist had been put in prison by Herod some time before (chapter 4:12), and while there he hears of the wonderful works that Jesus had done. Though John had announced the coming of Jesus earlier and had even said of Him, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” he seemingly did not understand the way in which it should come about. He had heralded the coming of the King but how was it that he should remain in prison when such wonderful works of power were taking place? So he sends two of his disciples to Jesus saying, “Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?” John had been an honored and faithful servant, but even John’s faith wavered in that long wait in prison. There was only one perfect Servant — the Lord Himself. The Lord tells the disciples of John, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Then He adds a word especially for John: “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” There were special blessings for those who would not be offended in Him, no doubt referring to Isaiah 8:14: “He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel.”

The messengers of John depart and then the Lord in a most gracious manner takes the occasion to testify of John to the multitude. He refers to John’s life of self-denial in the wilderness. “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?... A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” Had they gone out to see a prophet? John, He says, was more than a prophet. “Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” He was the greatest of all who had gone before.

“Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The privileges and blessings of the kingdom of heaven were far more wonderful than those which belonged to the old order of things, of which John was a part, and which closed with his testimony.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Satan, the great enemy, would bring about many hindrances to those who would seek to enter; he would use the religious leaders of the day to confuse and discourage. It required real purpose of heart on the part of those who would seek to enter. They must seize the opportunities set before them, and so it is until our own day, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John,” the Lord says. John stood as the last and greatest witness of that dispensation which was about to close; “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Elijah’s mission was to prepare the way for the Lord and John was to come “in the spin and power of Elias.” But when the King was rejected, the establishment of the kingdom on earth must await a future day. John’s witness then to faith was a testimony to the kingdom that will be displayed in power and glory by and by.

ML-06/03/1962

The Bible

Study it carefully,

Think of it prayerfully,

Deep in thy heart let its pure precepts dwell.

Slight not its history,

Ponder its mystery,

None can e’er prize it too fondly and well.

(Author unknown)

Some years ago a missionary in New Guinea translated two of the Gospels into Tavaro, the native language. They were keenly appreciated by the natives. One old chief, Iokobo, who received a copy of St. Mark, was so anxious to read it, and was so envious of the children in his village who could, that in the space of six months he learned to read it for himself. He would take his precious copy of St. Mark into his garden and read it there while he rested. He used to cut little sticks of dry wood and at night he would light them one by one, while he sat and pored over the words of the Saviour.

How this old chief treasured those Scriptures! He puts to shame many of us who possess copies of the entire Word of God. Still it is good to see those now who love their Bibles and spend time reading and pondering its sacred pages.

One boy we know goes to sleep at night with his New Testament under his pillow. When he wakes in the morning his first act is to read a portion from the Word. Surely such time is well spent. The Word of God is unlike any other book, it is the living Word. The more we read it the dearer it becomes, if we seek to walk in the light it sheds along our pathway. King David of old wrote: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes... More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psa. 19:8-11).

By the time this reaches you many of you will be out of school and enjoying your suer vacation. You will have many carefree hours in which to play and to read good wholesome story books. If, like the old chief, you spend many of those leisure hours reading the precious Word of God, He will surely turn it to your blessing both now and in the life to come.

ML-06/03/1962

The New Drinking Fountain

A GENTLEMAN from Australia, visiting his native village, noticed that the school children and mill workers had difficulty in finding good water to drink. There was a splendid spring on the hillside near, so he arranged to bear the cost of bringing the water to the village, and erecting a fountain in a public place accessible to all. So the water was brought, the fountain was erected and presented, and the villagers had water enough and to spare.

The donor knew and loved the gospel, and in order to keep its message before all, he had chiseled on the granite stone upon which the fountain stood, the words: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

Many read the message as they drew near to drink, and the Word of the Lord will not return unto Him void but it will accomplish that which He pleases.

On a summer day, a thirsty traveler passing through the village saw the fountain, but was in doubt if it were private property. Walking up, he read the inscription, and to one who stood near he remarked, “Whoever: that is a big word, but it means ME.” He put in his claim as one of the “whosoevers” and drank till his thirst was quenched. And so may you drink the water of life. It has been brought near at infinite cost, the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, but it is free to all. Make it yours.

“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” John 7:37.

“He that cometh to Me shall never hunger: and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35.

ML-06/10/1962

An Infidel's Conversion

POOR Mr. Smith was an infidel; that is, he did not believe in heaven or hell, in God or Satan, or even that he had a never-dying soul. At the time of our story he was thirty-five years old but it seemed he would not live much longer for a severe cold had settled on his lungs and he was quite ill.

A minister of the gospel heard about him and came to his house to visit him. But Mr. Smith refused to let him in. Another minister tried in the same way but he, too, failed. Mr. Smith had a neighbor who was a Christian and he longed to see him saved. So he prayed to God for wisdom to know what to do. He had a friend, named Mr. Abel, who was a Sunday School teacher and who loved to tell about Jesus and salvation from sin. The neighbor asked Mr. Abel to do his best to bring the gospel to the poor, sick infidel.

Now Mr. Smith was fond of a little girl named Alice, who often called to see him. Alice attended Mr. Abel’s Sunday school where they learned songs such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “There’s a Friend for Little Children.” One day when Alice went to visit Mr. Smith, she said, “I have learned a new song. Will you let me sing it for you?”

He gladly consented and so Alice began to sing.

“When life’s tempestous storms are o’er,

How calm he meets the friendly shore,

Who died on earth to sin!

Such peace on piety attends

That where the sinner’s pleasure ends

The saved man’s joys begin.

“No sorrows drown his lifted eyes,

No horror wrests the struggling sighs

As from the sinner’s breast.

His God, the God of peace and love,

Pours sweetest comfort from above,

Then takes his soul to rest.”

The sick man listened to Alice’s song and soon she bade him good-by.

The next day Mr. Abel sent a little gospel paper to Mr. Smith. This time he did not refuse it. After he read it he asked his wife to invite Mr. Abel to come and see him.

Mr. Abel was very glad to come and he visited the sick room time after time but sick as he was, Mr. Smith never talked about God or religion or death. Then on one visit, when Mr. Abel stood up to leave, the poor, sick man said, “Mr. Abel, how is it you never speak to me about my soul?”

“Why, Smith,” said his visitor, “do you have a soul?”

“Oh, Mr. Abel! Mr. Abel!” he groaned. “I am a poor, miserable man. The hymn that girl sang, and that gospel paper you sent me have crushed me. I have held out as long as I can; what must I do?”

Mr. Abel sat down again and answered his question. He told him three things: First, that he could do nothing. Second, that there was nothing to do.

Third, that Jesus has done everything.

Mr. Smith listened and as he did he realized the wonderful truth that Mr. Abel was telling. There was nothing for him to do except to put his trust in the Lord Jesus. Then peace and joy flooded his soul.

After this, God in His grace made Mr. Smith’s health better. He was able to go about again, and as long as he lived he told others about God’s grace and mercy. The Bible was his constant companion and Alice’s song was a favorite with him.

Time went on and again Mr. Smith was sick. This time he knew he was going to die but he was not afraid for he knew that his soul was bound for heaven. During that illness Mr. Abel often called to visit with him. On the last visit, hearing that Mr. Abel was going on his way to preach the gospel, Mr. Smith said to him, “Let me give you a text: ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.’ And,” he added, “don’t leave out those words, ‘Of whom I am chief.’ " 1 Tim. 1:15.

Reader, have you accepted Christ Jesus as your Saviour?

ML-06/10/1962

The Bees and Their Hive

Yonder in the corner of the garden is a beehive, and the bees are humming all around it in the spring sunshine. The Bible has much to tell us about bees and their honey.

BEES are of two kinds—wild and tame — wasps to sting and working bees to gather honey. The one kind brings poison with their sting, the other food and sweetness by their labor. There are two great powers at work among men, “the power of San” (Acts 26:18), and “the power of Christ” (2 Cor. 12:9). From the one comes sin and death, from the latter, life and glory.

A RIDDLE ABOUT BEES. (Judges 14:3, 14). A swarm of bees in a dead lion’s carcass by the way, provided Samson with his riddle, “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” Its gospel answer is, that from the victory of the Lord Jesus over the roaring lion, the devil (1 Pet. 5:8; Heb. 2:14), has come life and sweetness for all who trust in Him.

HONEY AND THE HONEYCOMB. (Psa. 19:10). Sweeter than “honey and the honeycomb” is the Word of God to all who read and receive it in faith. A “land flowing with milk and honey,” tells how rich Canaan was, in providing milk for babes, sweetness and strength to all. So the Word of God when fed on, makes the babes in Christ to grow (1 Pet. 2:2), and gives them strength (1 John 2:14).

A HIVE AND ITS LESSONS. A beehive is a little kingdom of order and labor. It has its queen bee to rule, its workers to gather in the supplies. In the kingdom of “God’s dear Son” (Col. 1:13), this is so also. Each has a place (1 Cor. 12:18, 28), and all have their work to do (Mark 13:34).

J. R.

Memory Verse: “HEARKEN UNTO ME, O YE CHIREN: FOR BLESSED ARE THEY THAT KEEP MY WAYS.” Prov. 8:32.

ML-06/10/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 11:16-27

THE LORD had borne testimony to John the Baptist now in pron. Then He shows how that generation had rejected John’s ministry, because he was in his ministry as one separate from the nation. “Whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”

John’s ministry had called them to repentance and sorrow, but they had no heart for it. Then the Lord Jesus came and His birth was announced with “glad tidings of great joy,” but they did not want His ministry either, though it was accompanied with power and great blessing. He had sought out the most wretched among them to show them the kindness and love of God, and He was accused of falling into their evil ways. Such is man naturally. He dislikes God. But “Wisdom is justified of her children,” the Lord adds. They had rejected the voice of heavenly wisdom, and the wisdom which they professed to have was but the wisdom of this world.

“Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they rented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!” They had witnessed His works of power and grace and yet had not repented on account of it. “For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Those great cities of the past, because of their wickedness, had been overthrown by the judgment of God. They had rejected the testimony of God in creation, but the Jews, in rejecting the works and testimony of Jesus, were far more responsible to God. Capernaum had been exalted to heaven through the mighty acts of power and blessing performed there, yet it would be brought down to hell. For if those same mighty works had been done in Sodom, it would have rained until this day. It will be more tolerable for those of old in that final day of judgment than for those who rejected the Messiah spoken of by Moses and the prophets.

After pronouncing these solemn woes on those who rejected Him, the Lord turns and addresses His Father. “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” He gives Him His broadest title, as “Lord of heaven and earth.” He was now no longer simply the God of Israel, but on account of those who thought that they were wise and prudent, rejecting both the ministry of John and that of the Lord Himself, He will be revealed as “the Father” to whomsoever comes.

“All things are delivered unto Me of My Father.” Men might refuse Him the throne of Israel, and all His earthly honors, He might be despised and rejected, yet He stands in all the conscious dignity of His heavenly Person as the eternal Son of the Father.

ML-06/10/1962

Who Taught the Bird?

“TELL us a story, Uncle Edward!” chorused the children’s voices as they clustered around their uncle in that delicious dusklight hour before bedtime.

Little lame Clarence, lying on his couch, echoed the request, and pleaded so piteously with big, sad eyes that even if Uncle Edward had felt ever so disinclined for story telling, I think he must have yielded to the request of those lustrous eyes.

Uncle Edward, having only just returned from South America, had stories of wonderful things to talk about. He was quite a hero in the eyes of the children.

“I’ll tell you a snake story,” said the young man. “One beautiful morning, off I roamed as usual, with gun over my shoulder, and my lunch in my pocket, in search of game.

“After a while, feeling rather tired and very hungry, I sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to rest. It was a glorious tropical morning, the woods gorgeous with color and rich with life. The intense solitude was broken only by the music of a million bird-notes and the humming of countless busy insects.

“While seated there, my attention was attracted by the cries of a bird which was fluttering over a leafy spot, doubtless her tiny nest. She was in great distress, and I could not help rising to see, if possible, the cause of her trouble. I soon found out. Creeping slowly along towards the trees was one of the most venomous snakes in South America, with its small, glittering eyes fixed on the bird, and its forked tongue darting quickly out and in.

“Presently I saw a curious thing happen. The male bird flew quickly away. In a little while I saw him return with a small twig covered with leaves in his beak. Perching near the nest, he laid the twig carefully across it, covering his mate and her young. Then, taking his place on one of the topmost branches of the tree, he seemed to grow calmer and quieter, and there awaited the approach of the enemy.

“By this time the snake had reached the spot. He twisted himself around the trunk and climbed up the tree. Then gliding along the branch, he came close to the nest and lifted his venomous head, ready to dart un the poor bird. His small, glittering eyes watched the nest for a moment, and then—”

Uncle Edward paused.

“Oh, what, Uncle?” cried the children breathlessly.

"—then suddenly throwing his head back, as if he had received some sudden blow, he turned around, made his way down the tree and disappeared in the long grass.

“I climbed up the tree and examined the little broken branch. I carried it home and told the whole story to a native friend, showing him the twig. I learned from him that it had been plucked by the bird off a bush which is poisonous to the snake and which he is never known to touch. The little helpless creature had used it as a shield of defense in its hour of danger.”

Satan is called in scripture “that old serpent.” He is intent on the destruction of men and women and boys and girls, helpless as birds against his attacks and his wiles.

But God has told us in His Word of a tree that is as poison to our enemy, and certain protection for us, old or young. I mean the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). “By His stripes we are healed.” Are YOU as wise as the bird that protected its nest? Are you sheltered by the blood of Christ shed on Calvary’s tree?

Isn’t it wonderful that our gracious God should teach the bird about the tree where it may “help itself” to a healing branch? And is it less wonderful that He has provided the cross, and the great salvation accomplished there by our Lord Jesus Christ for us? No, it is the most remarkable fact in the universe that “the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20), and that salvation is for “whosoever will.” Will YOU?

ML-06/17/1962

Scarlet Stains

MR. CHAPMAN was employed in making printing inks, and he had to use dyes of many different colors. Often these dyes would get on his hands and were very difficult to remove, especially scarlet dyes.

Walking into the ink room one day I noticed Mr. Chapman’s hands were scarlet.

“How do you get that dye off your hands, Mr. Chapman?” I asked.

“I can’t get it off,” he replied. “Isn’t there some kind of hand cleaner that will remove it?”

“Nothing at all.”

“What do you do, then?”

“Well,” he said, “it sort of wears off in time — perhaps in about a week.”

I felt sorry for Mr. Chapman and wished I had been able to tell him about some kind of cleaner that would remove those scarlet stains, but I couldn’t. I thought of how badly he would feel in meeting his friends with those telltale hands. They would soon find out that he had been touching the scarlet dye. I am sure Mr. Chapman would have been very pleased if I had told him of a cleaner that would remove those stains, and I have no doubt he would have been willing to pay a good price for it.

But Mr. Chapman, as well as you and I, had some other “scarlet stains” that other people could not see so easily. Mr. Chapman was a nice kind man, but his heart, like each one of us, was soiled with “scarlet sins.” I was able to tell Mr. Chapman about how the scarlet stains of sin could be taken away—so completely removed that even the all-seeing eye of God could not see one sin remaining, and it would not cost him anything. Yes, I was able to tell him that “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.” 1 John 1:7.

I wish I could tell you that Mr. Chapman had come to the Lord Jesus for that cleansing, but as far as I know he did not. His friends could see the scarlet stains on his hands, so he cared about these. But they could not see the sin-stains on his heart, so he did not seem to care. They thought he was a fine man, and he was more concerned about this than about how he was seen by the holy eye of God.

Dear friend, how is it with you? You may have clean hands, but God looks on the heart. Are your sins still upon you? The Lord Jesus said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24. Why not come to Him for cleansing this very moment? God’s time is now, tomorrow may be too late. God Himself invites you, and His salvation is free.

“Come now, and let us reason tether, 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.” Is. 1:18.

ML-06/17/1962

How to Love the Lord Jesus

A LITTLE girl went up to a preacher one day and said to him: “Mr. P.—, I do not love Jesus, but I wish you would tell me how I could love Him.”

“Well, my little girl,” he replied, “when you are going home today, just you say to yourself, ‘Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me!’ and I am certain you will come back next Sunday saying, ‘I love Jesus.’ "

The following Sunday, as Mr. P.—saw the little girl approaching him again, he could tell from the joy that was beaming in her face that she had something very different to say to him now.

“I love Jesus now,” she said. “Last Sunday, as I went home repeating the words you told me to say, I saw Jesus nailed to the cross and dying in agony for me. Then my heart seemed to be set on fire and immediately was filled with love for Him.”

The law demanded love. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27.

Christ displayed love, divine love, in His life and death, and when His love is shed abroad in our hearts and we are made partakers of the divine nature which is Love, then Love is produced in us as a natural consequence.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Memory Verse: “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM.” Heb. 11:6.

ML-06/17/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 11:28 - 12:8

THE INCREASING rejection of the Lord Jesus in His glory as King of Israel only had the effect of bringing out His higher glories as the Son of God from all eternity, the Revealer of the Father, full of grace and truth. How great that grace that had been shown to Israel, but now it was to have its widest and fullest expression in that it would now flow out to Gentiles as well, to man wherever he may be found. And here it is that we have the blessed invitation in the Lord’s words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

“They come from Him who knew the depth of woe,

And felt for sinners as none here below.”

All are invited — the sin-burdened, the weary, the sad, none can be too wretched — “Come... and I will give you rest.” The Lord does not say here how these burdens will be removed, but we know it could only be by the way of the cross.

“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.” The Lord had spoken of a rest that He gives to needy souls that come. Now He tells of a rest that they would find who having put their trust in Him, submit themselves to His yoke and seek grace to walk with Him. We experience this rest of soul through being in subjection to His Word in the daily circumstances of life. Those who do so prove the truth of the Lord’s words, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

In chapter 12 The Lord Jesus no longer is presented to His people as their Messiah. Now He comes into conflict with the leaders over their traditions as to the Sabbath, and He takes the position that the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath. He shows that God’s covenant relationship with them as a nation, their rejecting Him as the Messiah, sets aside this relationship.

It was on the Sabbath day and Jesus went through the cornfields with His disciples. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck the ears and to eat them. When the Pharisees saw it they found fault saying that it was not lawful to do so on the Sabbath. In reply the Lord cites the case of David who when rejected went into the house of God with his followers and ate the showbread which ordinarily was only lawful for the priests to eat. Things were in a sad state in Israel when their anointed king was persecuted and in rejection and had to eat the showbread. It was the same now, only One greater than David was there. The true King was in rejection and His followers hungry. Therefore what the Pharisees contended for was but empty formality. The Lord lets them know that the One who was greater than the Sabbath had power to change it. They had been attempting to carry out that which had been instituted by God in a carnal and intellectual way, and had not discerned the spirit in which these things should have been kept. They had not learned what was meant by the prophet of old when it was said, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” So they were unable to understand that the Son of man had come who also had authority over the Sabbath.

ML-06/17/1962

Saved Through His Cow

THERE was once a boy who went to Sunday school and learned many verses of Scripture by memory just as many of our readers do today. One verse he learned was Isaiah 1:3: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.”

However, this boy did not turn to the Lord as he ought to have done, but as he grew older he became very careless and indifferent. He cared little for the God who had created Him, who loved him and had given His Son to die for his sins. He thought little about the need of his never-dying soul.

When he was a man, one day he stood in one of his fields and his favorite cow came and licked his hand. Suddenly there flashed into his mind the verse he had learned long before when a boy. “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.” Why, he thought, my cow is more intelligent that I am. She knows me well enough, and yet here I have been living all these years without God who has only sought my good and blessing. He was both humbled and sorry at what he had done, and turning to the Lord in repentance, he found pardon and peace in Jesus, who is the sinner’s Friend.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

But oh, to think of those wasted years! How much better it had been if he had taken the Lord as his Saour when just a boy, and lived for Him all those years.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Eccles. 12:1. “My son, give Me thine heart.” Prov. 23:26. “I love them that love Me, and they that seek Me early shall find Me.” Prov. 8:17.

ML-06/24/1962

Believe God's Word

IT WAS bedtime and, as usual, Tom knelt down beside his bed to pray, when he felt himself being pelted with pillows. Looking up he saw his brother Bernard laughing mockingly at him. Tom knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, but Bernard was not saved. He had been told many times and he himself had read in the Scriptures many times that he was sinful, and could never go to heaven unless he would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away his sins. But he only ridiculed his brother and did not believe.

The young men made their living by fishing and spent many hours a day in their boats. On one occasion as they fished, the sea became rough and the waves rose higher and higher until a great swell tipped Bernard’s boat and he fell into the water. He was entirely helpless, for he could not swim. He had often heard stories of drowning fishermen, and as he went down into the dark water he knew he could not save himself and would perish as others had done. Just as he went down the third time, Tom’s strong hand grabbed his finger — just one finger — and tugged him to safety. Bernard was saved from downing; but even after such a rescue he still refused to confess his sins and to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

Some time later the two men were fishing again, when poor lost Beard had a second experience almost exactly like the first. This time too he did not listen to the warning. “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not,” Job 33:14. God’s eye was upon him, and soon after these narrow escapes, as Beard heard the Word of God read, he saw himself as a sinner and realized that God was speaking to him. By faith he saw the Lord Jesus dying for him on the cross, and he believed the word of God. How repentant he was as he remembered how he had thrown pillows to keep Tom from praying, and now he knew it was himself for whom those prayers had gone up to God. Tom showed to him the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:12,13.

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

ML-06/24/1962

Miriam's Fear

MIRIAM was about eight years old and she had not yet come to the Lord Jesus for herself. She had not yet put her trust in Him. She had heard that the Lord Jesus was coming again, and she felt that she was not ready.

One evening, when she had gone to bed, her father and mother went out for a short walk. “Not for long,” the mother had said, “lest the children should wake.”

On their return, as they neared the house, they heard a loud scream. “That’s Miriam! What can be the matter?” said Mother, as she hurried to open the door.

They found Miriam downstairs. “My dear child, what is the matter?” asked Mother.

“O, Mother, Mother, I thought the Lord had come and taken you, and I was left behind.”

She had wakened and called “Mother” more than once, and getting no answer had come downstairs. Then, finding no one there, she had decided that the Lord Jesus had taken her loved parents away and that she was left behind. Mother could tell Miriam how gladly the Lord Jesus would bless her if she came to Him. There and then she turned to the Saviour and found Him just waiting to receive her. Thus her fears of His return were banished, for now she could rejoice at the thought of seeing the Saviour face to face. Can you?

ML-06/24/1962

The Shepherd's Care

THROUGHOUT the world shepherds are noted for their care of the sheep in their flocks. A traveler tells us this story.

“On the Aletsch glacier I saw a strange and beautiful sight — the parable of our Lord carried out to the letter.

“One day we were making our way down the glacier, when we saw a flock of sheep following their shepherd over the windings of the crevasses. They were passing from the pastures on one side of the glacier to the pastures on the other. The flock had numbered two hundred all told, but on the way one sheep had gotten lost.

“One of the shepherds called to us, asking if we had seen the sheep. Fortunately, one of our party had a field glass. With its help we discovered the lost sheep far up amid the tangled brushwood on the rocky mountainside. It was beautiful to see how the shepherd, without a word, left his hundred and ninety-nine sheep on the glacier wastes, knowing they would stay there perfectly still and safe. Then he went clambering back after the lost sheep until he had found it and brought it safely back again.”

The Lord Jesus did much more than this for sinners—for me. He left His heavenly glory, He became a man and came to seek and to save that which was lost. He never gave up the search until He had found me, wandering on the fields of sin, and brought me home again. But He gave His life for me, as one of old could say, “the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20. Was ever love like His love?

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Dear reader, has He found you yet? Have you trusted the salvation of your soul to Him alone, the Saviour of sinners?

Memory Verse: “THE MAN CHRIST JESUS; WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL.” 1 Tim. 2:5, 6.

ML-06/24/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 12:9-37

AFTER this the Lord departed and went into the synagogue. There He found a man with a withered hand. This was a picture of what Israel was in the sight of God on account of their dried up condition of soul. They were unable to lay hold on the real privileges open to them in that which God had provided for them.

The Lord Jesus was ever ready to show them grace and to heal them of their infirmities. But before He could do so in this instance He is challenged by them with the question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?” This they ask “that they might accuse Him.”

The Lord’s simple reply ought to have humbled their pride and silenced their objections, but they were bent on maintaining their own system of things and proved themselves to be enemies of grace. “What man shall there be among you,” said the Lord, “that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.”

Then the Lord commanded the man to stretch forth his hand, and on his doing so it was healed immediately. The Pharisees went out and held a council as to how they might do away with Jesus.

After this the Lord withdrew, “and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.” This was a picture of what He would do when He was put to death. But he desired that they should not make it known as His testimony to Israel as a nation was now over. Henceforth grace would flow out to the Gentiles, as the quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4 shows. But as for Israel they were as “a bruised reed” and “smoking flax.” They would be left in that condition “till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”

But the Lord would render one more testimony of His grace to Israel. “Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him.” Here was another picture of what Israel was to be, without eyes to see Jesus as their true Messiah and without a voice to sing His praise.

The people — the poor and unlearned — ask “Is not this the Son of David?” but the Pharisees, when they heard of it said, “This fellow doth not I cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” This showed their true state before God as being void of understanding. The Lord knew their thoughts and exposed their folly, saying, “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself.” His kingdom could not stand.

For any one to attribute the power of the Spirit which was being displayed in their midst, to the power of Satan, was to commit a sin which could never be forgiven. The Lord as Man might submit to humiliation, but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, He declared, “shall not be forgiven..., neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

The Lord then calls them a generation of vipers, using at the close of His ministry the very term that John the Baptist had used at the beginning. Furthermore “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

ML-06/24/1962

A Lesson From the Bees

A BLACK cloud was rising out of the west. The low muttering of thunder was heard in the distance, and as I stood taking note of the signs of the coming storm, I noticed the air seemed full of bees. Each one was dropping straight down as an arrow to the hive. I watched them for some time, as they hastened in from the flowery meadows to their home, and this scripture came to my mind: “Flee from the wrath to come.” Luke 3:7; Matt. 3:7.

I thought how much wiser the bees are than the men of this world! God has given them warning after warning in His word of the judgment surely coming on this poor world. But folks go on as if all were well, unheeding the solemn word, “Flee from the wrath to come.”

“Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained.” Acts 17:31.

How safe the little bees are in their hives! The storm may rage about them, but it does not touch them. And oh, how safe is each one who has fled for refuge to Christ. “A MAN shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest.” Isa. 32:2.

We know who that Man is, even “The Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Tim. 2:6.

Oh, dear friends—young and old—be wise as the bees. Make haste to Christ! Let not any of the sweet things in the fields of this world tempt you to stay away from Him. He will be your “covert” and “hiding place” when the great day of God’s wrath has come.

ML-07/01/1962

Jesus for Me

WHAT’S WRONG, Bobbie?” asked Mother one day. “You have been looking so sad lately! Are you not well?” Mother looked into his eyes and put her hand on his forehead.

Bobbie shrugged his shoulders, “Oh, I’m alright I guess.” But Mother knew better. She would not let her little boy go until he told her his troubles.

“I—I—I—want to be saved,” stuttered young Bobbie, “but I don’t know how.”

Mother quickly reached for her Bible. She turned the pages until she came to 1 Peter 3:18.

“Can you read this for me?” she said.

“Christ-also-hath-once-suffered-for sins,-the-Just-for-the-unjust,-that-He might-bring-us-to-God.” Bobbie read it slowly but very well.

“Do you know what the word ‘Just’ in this verse means?” asked Mother. “It means some One who has never done anything wrong — One who is not a sinner. The unjust are those who are always doing wrong things — they are always sinning. Now, Bobbie, who is the Just One?”

“Oh, I know, of course it’s Jesus.” “And what about the unjust ones? Are you one of them?”

Bobbie hung his head, “I guess so,” he said.

“Don’t you know, Son?”

“Yes I am, Mom,” he answered.

“Then Jesus suffered and died for you, didn’t He? Look at the verse again. It says — ‘that He might bring us to God.’ Who are the Us I wonder? Does that mean you too?’

Bobbie looked hard at the verse, then he thought for a little while.

“I see it all now,” he said, “I’m not left out! I am one of the UN. JUST ONES, and I am one of the US too.”

That day Bobbie’s sorrows turned into joy because NOW Jesus was His Saviour.

Would you like to know how Bobbie signed his name in his new Bible? Here it is.

BOBBIE BROWN

JESUS—FOR—ME

“THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST”

ML-07/01/1962

The Blind Man's Answer

A FRIEND of mine was preaching a few years ago, when someone from the crowd called out, “May I speak?” After getting permission, he pushed his way through the crowd until he was standing on the platform beside my friend.

“Friends,” he exclaimed, “I do not believe what this man has been talking about. I do not believe in a hell. I do not believe in a judgment, I do not believe in a God, for I never saw, any of them.”

He went on talking in this way for a while, when another voice was heard from the crowd: “May speak?” The infidel sat down and the next man began.

“Friends, you say there is a rivet running not far from this place. There is no such thing: it is not true. You tell me that there are grass and trees growing around me where I now stand. There are no such things that also is untrue. You tell me that there are a great many people standing here. Again I say, that is not true.

“I suppose you wonder what I am talking about. But, friends, I was born blind. I have never seen one of you; and while I talk, it only shows that I am blind, or I would not say such things. And you” he said, addressing the infidel, “the more you talk, the more it exposes your own ignorance, because you are spiritually blind and cannot see.”

The Scripture tells us that “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:3, 4. Are you among the number who are still blinded by Satan and who see no beauty in the Saviour, or can you say with the hymn writer:

“Once I was blind, now I can see,

Once I was bound, but now I am free;

For now I know there’s a Saviour for me;

Oh, what a Saviour!”

Memory Verse: “WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN.” 1 Thess. 4:14.

ML-07/01/1962

Bible Questions for July

The Children’s Class

1. “He became the author of eternal salvation.”

2. “Who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

3. “Draw nigh unto God.”

4. “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.”

5. “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

6. “Framed by the word of God.”

7. “The Lord is my helper.”

The Young People’s Class

1. How many men did Saul have with him when he sought out David in the hill of Hathilah? How many men did David have? 1 Sam. 26.

2. How was it possible for David and Abishai to come into the midst of Saul and his army without being detected? 1 Sam.

3. Do those who look to the Lord for their safe keeping ever need fear that He will slumber or sleep? Psa. 121.

4. What was it David forbade Abishai to do to Saul? 1 Sam.

5. What answer did the Lord Jesus give James and John when they desired to bring down fire on the Samaritans? Luke 9.

6. Where did David go to make known his act of mercy to Saul? 1 Sam.

7. In what elevated place are believers now viewed? Eph. 2.

ML-07/01/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 12:38-50

“THEN certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, sang, Master, we would see a sign from Thee.” They had disregarded entirely all the miracles that He had wrought in their midst. Such is unbelief. The Lord’s answer was that no sign should be given to such an evil generation, “but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” He was referring to His death and His being in the tomb. Jonah had been sent away from Israel with a message to the Gentiles and in figure he had passed through death and resurrection. So the Lord was about to leave the Jewish nation on account of their unbelief, and God was about to take up the Gentiles.

Then the Lord goes on to cite two remarkable cases in the history of His people in a way which ought to have reached their consciences.

“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they rented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

In the next three verses the Lord depicts what the final condition of the Jews would be before He came back in judgment. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man....” The Jews had been possessed with the unclean spirit of idolatry at the time they were carried away to Babylon — the seat of idolatry. After a time the unclean spirit comes back to his house and “he findeth it empty, swept and garnished.” After their return from Babylon the Jews had gotten free from idolatry and it had not been known among them since. However the unclean spirit “taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” At a future day the idolatrous spirit would once more enter the Jews and their state would be seven times more wicked than ever it was. They will accept the worship of man — the Beast, the revived head of the Roman Empire whose image will be set up in the temple (Matt. 24:15-22). This would bring down the judgment of God upon them as a nation. Taught of God by this very circumstance the faithful remnant in that day will flee into the mountains, ere the judgment of God falls on that unbelieving, guilty nation.

The Lord was attached by natural ties to the Jewish people: “Who are Israelites;... Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came.” Rom. 9:4, 5. His mother and His brethren came pressing this claim, but on account of the nation’s rejection of Him He will acknowledge those relationships no longer. Of course the actual severing of those links was at the cross. But stretching forth His hand toward His disciples, He says, “Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.” The only relations which He acknowledges from henceforth are those that having received His Word into their heart, do it, and are now in relationship to the Father in heaven.

ML-07/01/1962

Reconciled

RECONCILED! That is a big word, isn’t it? What does it mean?

A friend told us a story once of how he went for a stroll one day along the waterfront. He decided to take a walk out to the end of the pier that jutted far out into the sea. Part way along the pier he came upon two dogs growling at each other so fiercely that it seemed a fight was inevitable. One dog was larger than the other, but they both bared their teeth and snarled at each other in a dreadful manner. Our friend moved to the far edge of the pier in order to get around the angry beasts and so continued his walk.

By and by when he was returning the two dogs were nowhere to be seen. But looking over the edge of the pier he was surprised to find they had both fallen into the water below.

How different things were now! The dogs were both swimming for shore, and the big dog was swimming alongside the little one as if to make sure that he got safely in. In a short time they reached the shallow water and together they walked up the sandy beach—no longer enemies, but friends! They were reconciled!

In the Bible we read this verse: “Be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:20. When sin came into the world it put distance between God and man. We are all sinners. God is holy and cannot have sin in His presence.

Not only are we sinners, but in these natural hearts of ours there is enmity (or hatred) against God. Perhaps we may try and hide this feeling, but it is there nevertheless. Man proved he was an enemy of God for when the Lord Jesus came into this world he put to death God’s beloved Son. He needs to be reconciled to God.

But the Bible never speaks of God having to be reconciled to us. God loves man in spite of this enmity against Him. It was He who sent His Son into this world to save guilty sinners such as we. He died upon the cross to put away our sin. Those who trust Him as their Saviour not only have all their sins put away, but that old enmity is taken away too. They have a new nature which delights to please God, and they can say, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Let us read those verses, Colossians 1:21, 22. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled... through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight.” The Lord Jesus, when He was a Man on earth, was Himself holy, without blame and faultless bore God. And those whose sins He has put away He presents before God in all the value of Himself and His work—they too are holy, without blame and faultless.

Not only has the Lord Jesus died for sins, but He is a living Saviour. He keeps His own day by day. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Rom. 5:10.

Dear young reader, are you reconciled to God?

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:20.

ML-07/08/1962

The Atheist and His Board

MR. CARPENTER lived in a pretty little cottage. He had plenty of work, good health and strength, and everything he wanted. He had a loving, praying wife, and a little daughter whom he loved dearly.

But, alas, this man said there was no God. Such was his hatred of religion that he would not let his daughter attend school for fear that she would learn to read her Bible and there find out about God. But Mrs. Carpenter taught her little girl as best she could. And all the time, she prayed to God that her husband’s hard heart might be opened to accept God’s salvation.

God listens to Christians pray but He does not always answer immediately. He answers prayer at just the right time and in just the right way. In Mr. Carpenter’s case, God allowed him to become seriously ill. Mrs. Carpenter did not realize that this was God’s way of answering her prayers and seeing her husband so sick, she was afraid he might die.

“Oh!” she thought, “if he should die, what will become of his soul?” She prayed earnestly that God would heal his body and save his poor soul. A doctor might give medicine for the sickness but only God could save him from hell.

Mrs. Carpenter decided to ask Mr. Mason for his help. Mr. Mason was a minister in a church and he loved to tell about the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, who died on Calvary’s cross to save sinners. He had tried to speak to Mr. Carpenter many times, but he always met with insult and scorn. Once again he tried to tell the story of God’s love but sick as he was, Mr. Carpenter swore at him and told him to get out of his house. Seeing it was useless to remain, Mr. Mason sadly left the wretched man, silently prang that he might yet repent and be saved.

When the minister was gone, Mr. Carpenter spoke abusively to his wife for daring to go to the minister. Presently he exclaimed, “I’ll never let that man into my room to talk to me of his God. I don’t believe there is a God.”

Then he asked his wife for a board and a piece of chalk. What were her feelings of horror when she saw him slowly write, “GOD IS NOWHERE.”

“Place this,” he said, “at the foot of my bed so that I may see it every time I open my eyes, and that all who come to my room may see what I believe.”

Still the sickness increased until the man’s mind was affected. Death seemed to be at the door. That same day, Mr. Mason, the faithful preacher, came to call and this time Mr. Carpenter was too sick to notice. Seeing how serious the sickness was, he offered to take the little girl to his own home so that she might not be exposed to the infection. He spoke a word of encouragement to Mrs. Carpenter and prayed to God with her. Then he took the little girl to his own home where Mrs. Mason welcomed her.

Mr. and Mrs. Mason used every opportunity to teach her about God and the Bible, and sin and salvation. Each evening after dinner, Mr. Mason read aloud from the Bible and then they got down on their knees to pray. The little girl thrilled to hear Mr. Mason ask God to heal her poor, sick father and to save his soul.

ML-07/08/1962

The Door

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

These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A door means the way into some place. So the way to be saved is to believe in Jesus. He is such a wonderful Saviour, that the Bible tells us that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13.

No matter how wonderful the inside of a building is, you cannot get in to enjoy it unless you enter in through the door.

I was standing outside a large building once, and a gentleman came up and asked me where the door was. When I told him, all he did was to thank me and walk away. I suppose he meant to come back later, but God does not want you to come back later. He wants you to come to the Saviour now. For He tells us that “Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Another thing about it is that to put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way into blessing. If I left my front door wide open for you to come in, and then found you trying to climb in through the window or some other way, I should be very vexed.

God says, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is NONE OTHER NAME... whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Memory Verse: “WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST’S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.” 2 Cor. 5:20.

ML-07/08/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:1-4

IN THE last chapter we saw how the Lord disowns the old links with the flesh, with Israel, on account of their rejection of Him. Israel had of old been spoken of as a vine brought out of Egypt and planted by God (Psa. 80:8). But from henceforth He is no longer seeking fruit from them as a nation. He is a sower scattering good seed. He begins in a new way, and these new ways of God are not to be confined to the limits of Israel. The Lord now has before Him the unlimited field of the world.

“The same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered tether unto Him.” The sea often in Scripture portrays the great masses of peoples in the world, henceforth to be the scene of the display of the new testimony that the Lord would raise up.

“And He spake many things unto them in parables.” In these are hidden sayings, but they can be understood when there is faith. However the religious leaders of the day, who were both blind and deaf spiritually, could not understand them. Nevertheless the disciples, who had eyes to see and ears to hear, had entered by faith into the kingdom of heaven and so had the privilege of knowing its mysteries.

The kingdom of heaven, in its successive mysteries, fills up the interval between the rejected Christ’s going back to heaven, and His returning again in glory.

There are seven parables contained here in the Lord’s discourse. The first four were addressed openly to the multitude on the seashore, while the last three were spoken to His disciples alone, after the Lord had sent away the multitude and had gone into the house again (v. 36).

The Lord Jesus as Son of Man begins to sow the word of the king dom. “Behold, a sower went forth sow.” It is the same good seed in each of the four cases described. The seed tests the soil where it falls. It reveals the conditions which prevail there, whether it was such that His blessing could rest there, or such as would call forth His judgment.

“Some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” The wayside was a place, where the soil might have been good at one time, but it was now hardened, having been trampled on by those coming and going. The seed lay there exposed in full view to every one. The fowls could readily see it and come and devour it. The fowls in the parables were those who were the serve ants of Satan. Those who have had to do with the Word of God over and over again without ever being affected by it, generally become hardened to it. The enemy can come and occupy them with everything else, so that the good seed is taken away, and there is no fruit produced for the sower.

ML-07/08/1962

The Strong Arms

I KNEW a little boy who was very I disobedient to his parents, and on one occasion his disobedience almost cost him his life.

This little fellow lived with his parents near a mill where there was a lot of machinery. He was not allowed to go to the mill alone, as his parents were afraid he might get caught in the machinery. But one day, unknown to them, he made his way there.

This incident took place years ago before they had the modern machinery that most shops have today.

There was in this mill a youth who ran a crane. His work was to hoist things up to the top floor. The little boy had gone to the mill that day, and this youth suggested to him (and he should have known better) that he should catch hold of the hook at the end of the rope. The little fellow thought it would be fun to have a ride through the air in this manner, and when the rope had been lowered to the ground, he clasped his hands around the hook.

Soon the youth at the top started the hoist, and our little friend was lifted off his feet and carried upwards. At first he enjoyed his ride through the air; it was a thrill to be going higher and higher every moment, but very soon his arms began to get tired. He shouted to the boy up above to let the rope down. The crane was speedily reversed, but bore many seconds had elapsed the little follow had fainted. He was a long way from the ground when he let go the hook and dropped.

I am thankful to tell you that he was not killed though he might easily have been. God had so ordered it that a man was passing by who, seeing the danger in which the little boy was, ran to the spot just in time to catch the falling child in his strong arms. A moment later and he would have been dashed to pieces on the pavement below.

This little incident has often reminded me of the gospel. By nature we were all disobedient, and powerless too, just like that little boy. We have all fallen through sin, and would all perish in our sins, had not God sent His beloved Son to save us. The Lord Jesus came down to where we were, but He had to go to the cross and die to put our sins away.

We read that “When we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.” But He is not dead now. He is risen and alive forevermore at God’s right hand in heaven.

If you, dear young reader, are not saved, the Lord Jesus wants you to trust yourself to His strong arms of love—to trust Him as your Saviour. Those who do so will never perish. But those who will not trust Him as their Saviour will die in their sins and be eternally lost.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27, 28.

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

ML-07/15/1962

The Atheist and His Board

After some days God, in His infinite mercy, did make Mr. Carpenter better. His wife’s heart overflowed with thankfulness to God.

When the doctor called again, Mr. Carpenter asked if he could have his little girl back again. The doctor promised that if he continued to improve he would soon have her. After a few days the little girl was brought home to see her father but the door said the visit must be for only a few minutes. But those few minutes were filled with eternal importance. She climbed on the bed and lay down beside her father. And her father’s heart, which was at enmity with God, softened with the tenderest emotions towards his dear little daughter.

“Well, my pet,” he asked, “where have you been while I have been sick?”

“Oh,” she said, “I have been so happy; the Masons have been so good to me. Mrs. Mason has taught me to read ever so many little words.”

The father listened with delight. Then he asked, “Could you read the words on that board at the foot of my bed?”

“Oh, yes, Father, let me try,” said the little girl; and she began to spell out the words and repeat them.

“G-O-D, God, I-S, is—.” She stopped, studied the next word, and then said excitedly, “Oh, Father, I’ve got it now——GOD IS NOW HERE,” and added, “Yes, Father, so He is, and He has been here all the time you have been sick.”

“You must go now, darling,” said the father in a low choking voice. Then as the door closed upon her, a burst of tears of repentance followed. And sounds which rejoiced the angels in heaven came from that sick man’s room — sounds of prayer, sounds of deep sorrow for sin. The prayers of the loving, Christian wife were answered. Satan was taken in his own trap: the very same letters he had tempted the sinner to write, were the selfsame letters used for that sinner’s salvation! How wonderful the way in which God works!

Mr. Carpenter now called on God for mercy. He realized what it was to be a lost sinner on the way to hell; he was brokenhearted before God. Now he eagerly asked that Mr. Mason might come to see him. The mister came at once and hearing of what had happened he told Mr. Carpenter that he had simply to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for him, that the Lord Jesus bore God’s punishment against sin. Right there in his room Mr. Carpenter took Jesus for his Saviour.

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

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13.

ML-07/15/1962

The Slaves and the North Star

IN OUR country before the Civil War, when we had slavery, the slaves used to keep their eyes on the North Star. If a slave escaped to the northern states only, the slave master could come and take him back into slavery. But there was another flag on North American soil, and if a slave could once get under that flag he was free forever. That flag was the Union Jack. If they could only get to Canada they were free.

So it is with every poor sinner who wants to come to Christ. Satan tries to keep souls in the slavery of sin. Even some people do all they can to hinder one from coming to Christ; others cheer him on. Let us help everyone towards Christ.

Well, the moment a man escaped, perhaps he would swim across the Mississippi, or cross the Ohio in a little canoe. His master would hear of it, and perhaps he would take his hounds and set them on the track. He would begin to hunt him down.

The slave would hear those hounds; they had their noses on his track, and his master would be following hard to take him back. What would he do? He would escape as fast as he could. He would make his way to the frontier, over hedges, bridges, and rivers. Away he would go for Canada, day and night. He would work hard, and not eat much. He was in the greatest haste to get liberty. Away he would go, and by and by he would come in sight of Canada. He could see the flag in the distance, and knew if he could only cross the line before his master and the hounds overtook him he would be free. Away he would go, and at last he was over the line. One minute he was a slave; the next minute he was a free man.

Friends, Satan would like to keep you under his power. There is no master so hard as he.

The Lord Jesus came into this world to set us free from the bondage of sin, and the slavery of Satan. God in love is urging you to get free of Satan’s power as quick as you can. Believe the gospel, for “it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. The Lord Jesus alone can set you free. “If the Son... shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

Come, join the ranks of those whom God has delivered from the power of darkness, and has translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:13). And when once you have Christ as your Saviour remember the word, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1.

Memory Verse: “BLESSED ARE THEY THAT KEEP MY WAYS.” Prov. 8:32.

ML-07/15/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:5-30

IN THE second place, the seed falls upon stony places, “where they had not much earth.” The real condition of the soil is thus hidden. “And forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” The one who hears the word in this case may be occupied with something else than its real worth, yet he sees something in it which attracts him. There is a pressed joy in receiving it, but it is only a shallow work, with little or no sense of sin. When there arises persecution for the name of Christ, they Which are not born again cannot take it, so they give it up and continue on in their old way. Such is the heart of the natural man, whose nature rains unchanged.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.” So there is no fruit produced here. It is not persecution in this case, but the effect of the influence of the world. The world, with all its attractions, the deceitfulness of its riches, is arranged by Satan, its prince, and comes in to choke the word. Neither was the word allowed to produce any sense of need in the soul, and the love of God in giving His Son as a ransom for the lost, is neither appreciated nor desired.

But last of all there was that which “fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.” Here there had been a previous work of the Spirit of God in preparing the ground for the sower. The amount of fruit is not the same everywhere in this field but it is all called good ground. The class represented here are said to have heard the word and understood it. They receive it as a treasure and consider it a privilege to be entrusted with it. We learn from Romans 2:4 that the hard lessons of life which we are passed through are after all the riches of God’s goodness, His forbearance and longsuffering to us, to lead us to repentance. The deep heart searchings which He passes the children of men through here are for our eternal welfare, that we might become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

In verses 24-30 we have another parable of a sower. “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.” Later the Lord explains that He as the Son of man is the sower, but He has turned it over to men, His servants, to watch over in His absence.

“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” The tares are a useless weed resembling wheat. “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.”

When the wheat came up, the tares appeared also. The servants are at a loss to know where the tares came from, but the master says unto them, “An enemy hath done this.” The serpents wish to know then if they should go out and gather up the tares, but he says to them, “Nay; lest... ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to they reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

ML-07/15/1962

The Young African Prince

A DEAR old missionary went one day to speak to some girls at a private school.

Just at that time he had a young African prince staying with him, whom he asked to accompany him and to say a few words also. Prince J. E— looked astonished, and asked, “What can I say to young ladies who know God—I, who have only known Him such a little while?”

The answer of the missionary surprised him still more. “You say they know God, but that is a mistake. Of course they have heard about Him ever since they were born, but some of them do not yet know Him; their hearts have never been touched by His love.”

On arriving at the school the missionary gave a little address, and showed some idols and curiosities which he had collected in Yoruba, West Africa. Then at the close he asked his African friend to speak, and the prince began:—“Dear young ladies, I cannot say much to you, for I find your language is a very hard one. I thought you all knew more than I do, for I have been brought up in a heathen country, and worshiped idols such as you have been looking at. I have only known your God a little while. But my friend tells me that perhaps some of you do not know Him yet, and this seemed so strange to me that I could not find it in my head to believe it. Is it really true? Our gods are so wicked and hard and cruel we could not love them; but when your missionary came and told us about your God, how loving He is, and how He gave His dear Son to die such a cruel death to save us and wash away our black sins, then my heart believed in Him and loved Him. Can you hear about such great love and not love Him back? My eyes feel as if they could weep for you; but you will soon get to know Him, won’t you? I must tell you that my father is a king, and I might be one next him; but I do not want to be. I want instead to go and tell my people about this loving God and His Son Jesus, and my brother may be king. I pray that you may soon all know God.”

Are you like this young African prince, whose heart had been touched by the love of God so that he loved Him in return? Or are you like some of those girls, well educated in the things of this world, but ignorant of the love of God?

“And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

One of those girls never forgot what the prince said. She was struck with her own ingratitude and sin, and found no rest till she knew and believed the love of God in Christ Jesus whom she trusted as her Saviour.

Jesus is calling little ones to Him. Have you come to Him yet?

ML-07/22/1962

"No Friends"

“THERE is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24.

A preacher was visiting in a crowded ward in a city hospital. A busy nurse asked, “Will you speak to that young fellow over by the door?”

“With pleasure, nurse,” he replied, “but he is sleeping.”

“No,” she said, “he is dying.”

The evangelist read the name of the card at the head of the bed— “Robert Browing, Age 17, No Friends.” “What does this mean, nurse, ‘No Friends'?” he asked.

“Just what it says, sir. If he dies tonight,” she answered, “we do not know anyone who knows him.”

Bending over the boy, the preacher quietly said: “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear.” In a moment the closed eyes opened slowly and a joyous whisper wail heard, “Yes, Jesus is my Saviour, my Friend.”

The card read “No Friends,” but this boy had the greatest of friends, My Friend is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is well described as the “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Indeed, He is this and much more. I have known Him for over twenty-five years. How I wish I had known Him sooner. I wouldn’t give anything in exchange for His friendship. I fail Him many times, but He never fails me. “The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

Do you know this wonderful Friend? I do not mean do you know about Him. Do you really know Him? Have you received Him as your Saviour and Lord? If not, let me tell you how to meet Him immediately, Bow your head and ask Him to come into your heart. He says, “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 sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev, 3:20. Don’t try first to change your life. He will do that. Come just as you are.

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

Memory Verse: “HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY: BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY.” Mark 13:31.

ML-07/22/1962

Her Eighteenth Birthday

IT WAS Christmas day, and Alice M.'s 18th birthday. Several little presents had been given her, and she took delight in looking over them again one by one; so time had slipped away, and it was late when she went upstairs to prepare for the meeting. The bells were ringing, and though sorry to be late on her birthday, when she got sight of the town clock it was ten minutes past 11.

Very quietly she opened the door of the meeting-place she attended every Sunday, and determined to wait till they should sing before she went in. A Scripture was being read, and as she stood within the door, closing it noiselessly, the first words she heard were, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abram, lo these 18 years, to be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16).

The Holy Spirit sent those words of the Saviour right home to the heart of that young girl standing at the door.

“Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these 18 years,” she said to herself; “that is me. I am 18 today and I know that I am not serving God; and they say that if I am not, I must be serving Satan, and if so, I am his slave.”

Little she heard that morning except these words. She saw she had spent all her life—those 18 years, in which God had given her health and comfort and countless other blessings—in forgetfulness of Him. She remembered He had often called her, and she had refused to listen. Yes, she saw it all now; she had been bound by Satan for 18 years. She was bound still. How could she be “loosed?”

The meeting ended, and Alice returned home. Still those words filled her mind. She went to her room; not now to spend her time at the looking-glass, but on her knees before God. Earnestly she prayed, “Lord, I am bound; I am all wrong-oh, show me what to do!”

Even as she prayed a ray of light from God shone right into her soul. “Ought not this woman to be loosed?” came to her mind. “That woman was loosed,” she said; “Oh, that I might be.”

More and more God’s blessed light shone into her repentant heart, showing her that though she was a captive to sin, bound by sin for 18 years, yet “One mighty to save” had come “to preach deliverance to the captives, and to set at liberty them that are bound.”

When Jesus was on earth, He said to that poor woman, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” He laid His hands on her and she was made straight, and glorified God. How very simple and natural it all was, Alice thought to herself; and why should He not do the same for me, and even more, now that He is in heaven? So now she would trust Him.

And so it came to pass that though she had been bound by Satan for eighteen years, she too was loosed that very day!

Can you imagine her joy, dear young reader, when she realized that she was really set at liberty? And my reason for telling you this story of Alice is that I so long for you also to know the gladness of being made free from the dominion of sin, and thus free to serve your Deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ. For as He Himself said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

ML-07/22/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:31-40

THE LORD now puts forth another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which is indeed the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.” The mustard seed in Palestine will grow ten feet high, quite large enough for the birds to come and rest in its branches. The figure of a tree has often been used in Scripture for a great power on earth, such as Egypt and Syria (Ezek. 31); and Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4). So that which professed the name of Christ, while it had such a humble beginning as regards this world, has become a system of vast power and influence in the earth. Furthermore, the emissaries of Satan, which preyed on the seed that Christ sowed (see verses 4 and 19), are found sheltered by that which is seen in its outward form as the kingdom of heaven.

Again, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” Leaven is always used in Scripture as a type of evil. It would seem to all outward appearances that she was preparing food for the household. The three measures of meal would perhaps speak to us of Christ in His perfection — three speaking of completeness as the food of God’s children. Here through carelessness or evil intent there has been the allowance of that which corrupts to enter and remain until all is corrupted. We can see in some sections of the church the sad effects of corrupting the Word of God, and these things are allowed to go on unchecked. Thus we have the Lord disclosing the sad end of the outward effect of the kingdom of heaven in this world.

In explaining the parable of the tares, the Lord tells His disciples that “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” The tare is a noxious weed resembling wheat, and answers to those who while pressing to be Christians nevertheless show by their ways that there is no real faith in them. When Christianity began to grow popular in the world, instead of being persecuted and a reproach, we read of great crowds being brought in. Now there are vast multitudes in Christendom today who are mere professors and not possessors of Christ.

The servants had asked in verse 28 if they should go and gather up the tares, but the master tells them no, lest they root up the wheat also. The Lord has not yet come to judge the earth, but to save souls, and believers now are called to be witnesses of the mercy of God and of the love of Jesus to the world. This does not refer to discipline in the assembly, for there it is not a question of whether one is saved or lost, but whether one’s ways are contrary to the Word of God.

ML-07/22/1962

Found Out

IT WAS the winter season in India I— the cool, dry months when many missionaries go camping in village centers, seeking to spread the message of the gospel to those who have few opportunities of hearing it. One missionary, with his cook, had spent some time camping in a village. The camp was at an end, and all his equipment was piled high on the bullock-cart that was to take it to the next camping center. The tradespeople from whom he had made purchases came to have their accounts settled. The missionary-sahib paid the milkman, the butcher, and the grocer. Then along came a man who demanded payment for a chicken which he said the cook had bought the day before.

The missionary thought hard, but could not recall having had a chicken curry the night before. He called his cook.

“Did you buy a chicken from this man?” he asked.

The cook shook his head decisively. “No, sahib,” he replied.

“You did,” the other retorted hoy. “It was a big rooster, and you promised me that the sahib would pay a rupee for it.”

“Don’t tell such lies,” the cook replied. “I have never seen you bore.”

“Don’t you tell such lies,” the other man returned angrily.

The missionary tried to quiet them. He did not want his servant to quarrel with the people whom he had been trying to reach with the gospel. But while the two men glared at each other a fresh and altogether unexpected witness was heard. From the middle of the load on the cart came the unmistakable crow of a rooster! That settled everything. The cook had been unable to hide his theft.

“Be sure your sin will find you out” was the warning Moses gave to the people of Israel (Numb. 32:23), and the warning is still true today. We may hide our sins from men but we cannot hide them from God. What must we do about it? “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy,” Prov. 28:13, is God’s promise in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament there is an even greater one.

“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 you have never done so yet, why not confess to the Lord today that you are a sinner and claim His cleansing and forgiveness.

“Come now, and let us reason tether, 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.

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

ML-07/29/1962

He Came Down

“CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

Not long ago, a steamer was sunk, and in the hold of the ship there were things of great value, including a large sum of money, which the owners wanted to save. So a diver was sent down to the sunken steamer in his heavy diving-suit and helmet to try to save the money and the other things they wanted.

Now if these valuables were to be saved, there was only one thing to be done. They could do nothing to save themselves — the diver had to go down where they were. And if we poor sinners were ever to be saved, the blessed Son of God had to come down to where we were. And so “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” In His death He came where we were. He gave Himself up to God as an offering for sin and bore the judgment that our sins deserved.

God is willing and able to save all who come to Him through the Lord Jesus, and yet how many refuse to come. Not every sinner is saved, Nevertheless we know the chief of sinners is saved and now in the glory (1 Tim. 1:15), and God also says in the Bible that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13.

ML-07/29/1962

Sandy the Fisherman

PERHAPS because England is an island, many of her people have earned a living by catching fish in the English Channel and the North Sea. Usually they have rather small boats to work with. In them they carry large nets which are spread out on the water and then drawn together again and the fishermen hope they will find a large number of fish, Sometimes the men are caught out on the water in a severe storm and their boats may be driven onto the, rocks or they may sink and the meal be drowned. The work is hard eves, when the weather is bright and sunny and calm.

Sandy Wilkins was one of these fisherman. His face was weather-beaten and his muscles were hard. Sad to say Sandy’s heart was hard toward God. He felt he was as good as any man; he needed no Saviour, and he wanted nothing to do with’ folks who talked about God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and how He died for lost sinners.

Sandy’s wife did not know that she, too, was a lost sinner. But when some gospel meetings were being held in their little town on the English coast, perhaps out of curiosity she decided to go herself. That ye night she heard the wonderful story of God’s love for men and women. She believed God and she accept Jesus as her Saviour. After the meeting she hurried home to tell her husband the wonderful news. What happened then is best told in Sandy’s words: “One day my wife said to me, ‘I am going to the meeting tonight. Mother went there and she is so changed and so is my sister. I would like to see what they do.’

“I felt annoyed but only said, ‘Well, if you go you are a great fool. Go if you want to but they will never get me to go.’ She tried to persuade me to go with her but I would not listen. Then I got very angry but I was afraid to tell her not to go.

“When my wife had gone to the meeting I became most miserable. I could not sit still in the house so went out for a walk. I even went over by the meeting-house but I stayed on the back side of it. I tried to hear what was going on inside without anyone seeing me. The little I heard made me realize that those people were most serious in telling about sinners and hell and how Jesus had died for sinners.

“Soon I went home but I was most unhappy. I went to bed but I could not sleep. At about ten o’clock my wife returned. She came to the side of my bed and said, ‘O, Sandy, I must tell you I am saved.’ She fell on her knees and praised God out loud for saving her. And then she prayed for me! My whole soul was stirred but pride and the devil would not let me admit that I was miserable.

“At last, with perspiration breaking out all over me, I said, ‘What do you feel, Jean?’

"'Feel,’ she said, ‘It’s no feeling, Sandy, that saves a sinner. It’s just believing! I believe that God speaks the truth when He says that Christ died for my sins. The Bible says that if I believe this, He will give me eternal life. Now I do believe it and I will never come under the sinner’s judgment, for another verse says, There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ. Oh believe that, Sandy, and you will be saved and we will then both be so happy.’

“How the devil did try to keep my mouth shut,” Sandy continued. “The devil tried to prevent my owning that the Spirit of God was convincing me that I needed a Saviour. At last I said, ‘Now, Jean, pray that I may be saved.’ She did pray and such a power of the Spirit of God came over me that I thought I saw the Saviour on the cross. I cried out, ‘Oh, Jean, I see my Saviour, and His wounds were for my sins.’

" ‘Hold to that, Sandy,’ she said. Then we prayed together that all my unbelief might be taken away. She thanked God that I was saved, and then I did, too. We slept none that night for the joy of thinking that we would never come into judgment.”

The Bible says, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” Is. 45:22. Sandy Wilkins looked to Jesus and by faith saw Him hanging on Calvary’s cross enduring the judgment of God that really bonged to him. True to His word, God saved Sandy’s soul. Won’t you do as Sandy did?

“This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11.

“He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

Memory Verse: “EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” Matt. 18:3.

ML-07/29/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:41-44

THE WHEAT and the tares are to grow together until the harvest. The Lord will then send His angels to gather the tares — mere professors — and bind them in bundles to be burned. The wheat will be gathered in to the heavenly granary. The tares are being separated now into bundles—or groups in which the vital truths as to Christ and the Church are left out. They are to be cast into the fire, the terrible end of those who while professing Christ yet know Him not as Saviour. “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Earth, where once the Son of man was rejected, is yet to be the scene of the display of His glory. God the Father has decreed that His beloved Son will be honored in the very place where He was cast out.

Before He comes back in judgment the Lord is coming first to receive His own, those whom He has redeemed from earth, to be with Himself forever. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Theirs will be a heavenly portion. What blessing and glory for them, and all because of Him that “loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Well might we ascribe to Him everlasting glory and praise!

In the next three parables we have brighter pictures of the kingdom of heaven, as it is brought before us by the Spirit of God. It is not now a question of man’s responsibility.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 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.” Christ has purchased the field — the world — and thus has established His right to work in the field. He has paid the price by giving Himself as a ransom, and thus has established His rights over this world. He gave all that He had to obtain it. He humbled Himself, laid aside His glories which belonged to Him as the Son of God from heaven, coming down to this earth as a man, God manifest in flesh. But He further humbled Himself unto death, and that the death of the cross. He bore the wrath of God for those who were to become His peculiar treasure, to wash them in His blood and to redeem them to God. God has raised Him from the dead, He has exalted Him above every name that is named, and as such He has the right to seek for His treasure.

This treasure — the Church — was a hidden thing at that time. It was not Israel, for Israel was well known, and His operations in this world, both past and in the time when he was here were well known, being objects of the prophetic word. So having accomplished all this, He is now absent in the heavens, and the Spirit of God is here, hovering over this world and directing these operations of grace, working through the servants of the Lord.

ML-07/29/1962

A Captive Freed

I WAS WALKING along through a lovely garden one summer day when I heard a fluttering and a cry of distress. It came from a cherry tree which grew near a wall. The tree was loaded with ripe, juicy cherries, and to protect the fruit from the birds it had been covered over with a net. However, in spite of the net, the birds had found holes through which they could get inside, and they had many a good feed of cherries that season. When they heard any one coming they would get out quickly as they could and fly away.

It so happened that when I came by a blackbird had been enjoying a few luscious red cherries. He had tried to get away, but somehow his claws had become entangled in the threads of the net. He struggled hard, but to no purpose. He was a prisoner. As I came nearer he made still greater efforts to get free but to no avail.

Now I did not intend to hurt the poor little fellow. I felt sorry for him and wanted to set him free. I took him in my hand and began to undo the strands of net which held him prisoner. The poor little thing cried out more loudly with fear and even tried to peck my hand. He did not understand what I was about, and only thought I meant to do him harm. After a minute or two the strands came off, and opening my hand I threw the little blackbird into the air. Away he flew across the garden and over the wall, as happy and thankful as a bird could be.

Remember:

1. He was a prisoner in the net.

2. He tried to get free, but he couldn’t.

3. He was afraid of the very one who wanted to set him free.

4. He tried to peck me as I loosed his bonds.

5. I set him free.

Do you know what this made me think of?

It made me think of the time when I was a prisoner in the net of sin.

I tried hard to get free, but I couldn’t. The more I struggled, the more firmly I was fixed. I found out I just could not escape. Just as that poor bird was afraid of me, so was I afraid of God. I did not know His heart of love. I did not know that He in His great grace and goodness wanted to save and bless me. I thought hard thoughts of God and believed He was my enemy, when really He was the best Friend I could ever have. I believe that this is so with many, young and old. Perhaps it is true of our reader.

But in spite of all I did, God in His grace set me free from the bondage of sin and Satan. He sent Jesus, His blessed Son, down into this world to go to Calvary’s cross to bear the punishment that my sins deserved. Jesus died to set me free. Now I love Him because He first loved me.

Has He set you free yet? He wants to, and He will if you will let Him.

Perhaps you have a pet bird which, if you open its cage, will come and sit on your hand. It knows you; it trusts you; it likes to be near you. Now God wishes us to know Him, to trust Him and love to be near Him.

ML-08/05/1962

I'm Not Saved

IT WAS just four years ago that a young Christian who worked in our office came in to ask for time off to go to a funeral. He then told me about the young man whose feral he was going to attend.

John was 26 years of age and had been a “church-goer” all his life. While he was swimming during his vacation he felt a very sharp pain in his chest which continued to trouble him until he returned home, so he visited his doctor.

The doctor soon had John in the hospital for a check-up and made the sad discovery that he had cancer. The doctor told John’s wife and his parents that he would have only six months to live. It was decided that John should be told how serious a condition was and that of course Iva a great shock to him.

One day not long after, when his father visited him, John said: “Dad, I’ve put up a good front for a long time and have passed myself off as a Christian, but I’m not saved.”

Are you like John, just a “make-believe” Christian? If so, I hope you will wake up and turn to the Lord for salvation.

Although John had heard the gospel many times his father told him again the old, old story of Jesus and His love. John was in earnest, for six months is not very long to live. It was not long until his sins were cleansed away by the precious blood of Jesus. By faith he trusted God’s Word: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16:31, and he was saved.

John didn’t live for six months, he lived only six weeks and then went to be with the Lord Jesus who died for him.

ML-08/05/1962

Claire's Song

“HAPPY day! Happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away; He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day; Happy day! Happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away.”

Claire is a little girl, three years old, and this song is one of her favorites. One morning she lay in her crib happily singing the songs that she knows. Her mother listened carefully and this is what she heard,

“Happy day! Happy day!

When Jesus taught me how to wash my sins away.

Happy day! Happy day!”

Claire changed the words of the oh song but they remind us of the wonderful news that the Lord Jesu; brought from heaven. He came down to earth to tell lost sinners that they need not go to hell. By simply believing on Him as their Saviour, boys and girls, men and women, are saved forever.

The book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament, was written many years before the Lord Jesus came. There it says (chapter 2:22), “Though thou wash... with... much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God.” Job was a man who lived long before Jeremiah, and although he knew God and was a wonderful man, yet he said (Job 9:30), “If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.”

Jeremiah and Job did not know about salvation through the Lord Jesus for He had not yet come to earth. But you know about Him if you just read the stories in this little paper. And the Bible tells all about Him and how He died for sinners. If your sins have not been washed away, just quietly tell the Lord Jesus that you want to be saved. Then you can put your name in a verse that is in the last book of the Bible, Revelation 1:5, “Jesus Christ... loves me and washed me from my sins in His own blood.” It will be the most wonderful day of your life, when Jesus washes your sins away.

Memory Verse: “FORSAKE THE FOOLISH, AND LIVE; AND GO IN THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING.” Prov. 9:6.

ML-08/05/1962

Bible Questions for August

The Children’s Class

Write in full the verse containing the words:

1. “Every good gift and every perfect gift.”

2. “Receive with meekness the engrafted word.”

3. “He was called the Friend of God.”

4. “Wisdom that is from above.”

5. “God resisteth the proud.”

6. “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow.”

7. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

The Young People’s Class

1. Did David acknowledge before Saul that it might be the Lord which had stirred up Saul against him for some purpose? 1 Sam. 26.

2. What purpose did the Lord have in raising up Pharaoh to afflict the children of Israel? Rom. 9.

3. Does the One who worketh all things after the counsel of His will have a purpose for our lives? Eph. 1.

4. What did Saul say about his previous actions towards David? 1 Sam.

5. Should we be constantly on our guard lest we err concerning the truth? 2 Tim. 2.

6. Did David seek to judge or question the truthfulness of Saul’s confession of repentance? 1 Sam. 26.

7. In our Christian relationships, should we judge one another, or should we rather judge that in our lives that might stumble others? Rom. 14.

ML-08/05/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:45-50

IN THE next parable we have the kingdom of heaven brought before us in a still different manner. Here we learn something of what believers are to Christ, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” This one is a man of experience seeking goodly pearls. He knows the value and beauty of what he is seeking. He is willing to part with all that he has and he does so. Some would have us believe that the Lord Himself is the pearl of great price and that this is the experience of one finding Him as his Saviour. But the Lord shows us that He is the seeker. He knows what a thing of beauty the pearl can become under His care. This parable would tell us of the loveliness of the Church in the eyes of Christ. This is all beautifully brought before us in Ephesians 5:25-27. In verse 25 we have His great love for the Church: “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” In verse 26 we have His present service for us: “that He might sanctify (set apart for Himself) and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” The Church needs cleansing in its passage through this world, which is a defiled place, under the influence of Satan, its prince and its god. The Spirit of God through the Word of God alone can enable us to see this defilement, and the Spirit of God gives us power to walk in separation from its influence.

In the figure of the pearl we have not only the beauty and perfection of the Church, but also its unity. Every believer is precious to Christ, but He also sees us as one in Him — “one pearl of great price.”

The last parable brings before us a fishing scene. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was fun, they drew to shore, and sat down, an gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.” Here we find that those who handle the net are used in separating the good from the bad. They are only occupied with the good and gather them into vessels. It is the same ones who cast the net into the sea — the masses of peoples — that bring the net to shore, and then separate the good from the bad. They know the good fish and that is their business. This parable shows the part the servants of God have in the work of the gospel now. The good are not only brought to shore but are separated into companies for blessing.

This parable does not go beyond this present age into that which takes place after the Church has been caught up to heaven. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the age to come but there will be no gathering in both good and bad then Those who receive the gospel message then will do so amid great persecution from those who will not receive it. Some will suffer death on account of it, but they will receive a heavenly portion instead of an earthly one.

They cast the bad away, but “at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into a furnace of fire.” This is the work of the angels. “There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Such will be the portion of those who have professed to have received the gospel but without any work of faith in their hearts.

ML-08/05/1962

Willie's Trouble

WILLIE was a little fellow, just four years old. His father was a preacher and Willie used to like to sit and listen to his message.

Willie was very fond of singing, as were all the rest of the family. One evening after they returned from the children’s meeting, his mother and sisters gathered around the piano and were singing some of their favorite hymns. Willie’s voice was heard along with the rest. Though so young he had caught many of the choruses, and could join in heartily.

Finally they came to the hymn

"Now I have found a Friend,
Jesus is mine;
His love will never end,
Jesus is mine.”

Though all the rest of the family present united in singing the words, Willie’s lips were closed. Finally he said, “Please, Mommie, don’t sing that hymn; Jesus is not mine yet.” They sang it again after supper, but Willie said again, “Mommie,... Jesus is not mine yet. I can’t sing it.” His father was surprised but said nothing.

Next morning Willie did not come down for breakfast. After waiting for him for some time his father went upstairs and there found his little boy kneeling in prayer beside his bed. When the door opened Willie got up and in most earnest tones asked, “Daddy, when is the next children’s meeting?” “Friday, my boy,” replied his father. “Won’t you ask them to pray for me,” said Willie, “so I can sing with the rest, ‘Now I have found a Friend, Jesus is mine'?”

At the next children’s meeting Willie was present drinking in every word. At the close he pressed his way to his father’s side, and putting his hand in his, he said, “Now, Daddy, I can sing with the rest —’Now I have found a Friend, Jesus is mine'!”

Little Willie, at just four years of age, had decided the greatest question of his life. He realized he was a sinner and needed to be saved. But he had found in Jesus the Friend of sinners and had taken Him into His heart as his Saviour. Happy little Willie! His conduct showed that his faith was real for he lived a consistent life from then on.

Dear young friends, decide for Christ today. " ’Twill save you from ten thousand snares to take Him while you’re young,” so goes an old hymn. The Lord Jesus will wash away all those crimson stains of sin in His precious blood, He will keep you by day, and then take you to be with Him in heaven when He comes.

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

“SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME.” Mark 10:14.

ML-08/12/1962

The Debt Paid

“WE BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again.” 1 Thess. 4:14.

If you owed someone a very large sum of money, and a kind friend said that he would go to the man and pay your debt — if he never came back and you never heard of hire again, you would never be quite sure whether the debt had been paid or not, would you?

But when the Lord Jesus Christ took the sinner’s place on the cross and in the grave, we are sure He paid the full price, because He rose again, He died for our sins and was buried, and rose again, and now He lives in heavenly glory.

The Saviour is not on the cross, now. He was there once. He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us is God, and so satisfied was God with the way the believer’s debt was completely paid in the death of His Son, that He raised Him up from the dead. So now God points us to the Saviour where He now is, and tells us in His word, the Bible, that all who believe in Him are justified (a word that really means “made just") and as free of their sins in His sight as Christ Himself. (Acts 13:39.)

I once heard of a man who owed very large debt and had no money to pay it with. It worried him so mud that he nearly went crazy. A rich friend of his heard of his trouble; hi paid the debt and gave him the receipt. So whenever he thought about his debt, he could look at the receipt and feel quite sure that the debt had been really paid, and paid in full.

So if the believer gets worried about his sins, which God has right!? forgiven, he can look up by faith to the Saviour, where He is. He is the sure that his sins’ debt has been paid and paid in full, because Jesus ow Lord was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification (Rom. 4:24,25).

ML-08/12/1962

A Dream

EACH ONE of us have dreams from time to time, and the Bible tells us that God often speaks to people in this way. It says in Job 33:14, 15 that “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream... when deep sleep falleth upon men.” Of course we have to test everything by the Word of God, the Bible, for every dream is not a message from Him, but sometimes He makes us listen to Him in this way, especially if we do not read His Word.

Many years ago there was a lady who was very careless about her soul, for she loved the pleasures of the world and did not like to think about eternity. She was very fond of new clothes and liked to be seen in a new dress.

One night she dreamed she had put on a new dress, and as she looked down she found there were hundreds of little tags hanging from it. Each one had something written on it and as she looked at the first, then the second, and many more, she found each one had a sin she had committed written on it. She became very upset when she thought about what her friends would think and say. In fact it bothered her so much that she woke up, and then was so relieved to find it was only a dream.

But God was speaking to her and she began to think of how the Lord Jesus knew all about her. She might hide things from her friends, but she could not hide anything from God. The Bible says, “Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” Psa. 90:8.

Not one of us likes to get into the presence of God about our sins, for the light of His presence searches us through and through. But when we realize that the very One who knows all about us gave His Son to die in our place, fear is changed to thankfulness. Yes, God Himself is the One who has undertaken to settle the question of our sins, and through the work of His beloved Son on Calvary’s cross the whole matter is settled for those who will believe. The Lord Jesus, after bearing the awful load of sin, cried out, “It is finished.”

“He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is a terrible thing to die in your sins and meet God in your sins, for then eternal judgment will be your portion, but God is gracious and waits to save you now. Why not come today?

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.

ML-08/12/1962

Wasted, Not Stopped

I READ not long ago, engraved on a sundial, these words: “You can waste me, but you cannot stop me.”

Time is swiftly hurrying us all to eternity. Those that have believed the gospel, who have trusted the Saviour for their soul’s salvation, are soon to be gathered home to the Father’s house of many mansions, to dwell with Jesus forever.

But Satan, “the god of this world, hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel... should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:4. O the awful doom of the lost—to be cast into the lake of fire forever.

O sinner! ere it be too late,

Flee thou to mercy’s open gate,

And join Christ’s waiting band.

ML-08/12/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 13:51 - 14:12

THE LORD closes these parables on the similitudes of the kingdom by asking His disciples if they had understood all these things. They reply that they had. He does not question them further but tells them of a responsibility which goes along with such an understanding. “Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” There were things old and new contained in these parables. The disciples had thus the old things of prophecy, the earthly things of the kingdom, as well as the new things they had learned from the Lord Himself.

His teachings on the kingdom of heaven ended, the Lord departs, and goes into His own country. There He teaches in their synagogue. They are astonished and ask from where could a man of such lowly station in life get such wisdom and power. “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” they ask. “Is not His mother called Mary?...” Thus they stumbled at His lowliness. He was a rock of offense to them. They well knew that He had not studied at Jerusalem as all their men of learning had done. But Jesus tells them, “A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in His own house.” And on account of their unbelief, His works of power and grace in that locality cease. He was rejected not only as their King but as a prophet as well.

The fame of Jesus reaches into Herod’s palace (chapter 14), so that he is forced to own that these acts are works of divine power. Herod’s guilty conscience causes him to think that John the Baptist must be risen from the dead. It is here we learn the circumstances of John’s death. Herod was a false and wicked king who reigned in the land. He had taken Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and John had been both fearless and faithful in speaking out against this unlawful act. Herod had him put in prison. Herod would have had him put to death earlier, but he feared the people would raise a tumult.

But his wife seizes an opportunity to get rid of John, provided at Herod’s birthday feast. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced bore Herod. Herod was pleased and made the rash promise that he would give her whatever she asked. Instructed beforehand by her mother what to ask for, she requested the head of John the Baptist. The king was sorry at the request, but feeling he could not go back on his word in the presence of his distinguished guests, he ordered John the Baptist beheaded in prison. This act in itself only tells out the sad state of things among the professed people of God. —a faithful witness and prophet of God had been slain at the request of a dancing girl.

But it is lovely to see the simple fearless faith of John’s disciples who went and claimed his body and buried it. Then they go and tell Jesus, to whom John had borne witness. To what better Friend could they go to tell out the grief of their hearts? Who could comfort them like He could in the hour of their deepest sorrow?

ML-08/12/1962

"Why Don't You Love Jesus?"

ASUNDAY school teacher had-been seeking to lead her scholars to the Lord, and she had told them how they too might become missionaries at home and bring others to the Saviour. One day the smallest came to her and said: “I asked some children to come with me to Sunday school, but they said their father was an infidel.”

The young child wanted to know what an infidel was, and the teacher went on to explain to her that he was one who didn’t believe God nor the Bible. One day, when she was on her way to school, this infidel was coming out of the post office with his mail in his hand, when the child ran up to him, and said, “Why don’t you love Jesus?”

If it had been a man, the infidel would have resented it; but he did not know what to do with the child, and with tears in her eyes she asked him again, “Oh! please, tell me, why don’t you love Jesus?” He went on to his office, but he felt as if every leer he opened read, “Why don’t you love Jesus?” He attempted to write, with the same result; every letter seemed to ask him, “Why don’t you love Jesus?” He threw down his pen in despair, and went out of his office, but he could not get rid of the question. It was asked by a still small voice within, and as he walked along it seemed as if they very ground and the very heavens whispered to him, “Why don’t you love Jesus?” At last he went home, and there it seemed as if his own children asked him the question, so he said to his wife, “I will go to bed early to-night,” thinking to sleep it away. But when he laid his head on the pillow it seemed as if the pillow whispered it to him.

So he got up about midnight, and said, “I can find out where Christ contradicts Himself, and I’ll search it out and prove Him a liar.”

Well, the man got up and turning to the Gospel of John, he read on from the beginning until he came to the words, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

What love! he thought; and at last the old infidel’s heart was stirred. He could find no reason for not loving Jesus, and down he went on his knees and prayed. Earnest were his prayers that went up to God for forgiveness and ere the morning sun flooded the countryside the once hardened heart of that old infidel was melted with the sunshine of God’s love. He saw what a sinner he had been but he saw too that Jesus had died for such as he. Now peace and love filled his heart.

I challenge any one on the face of the earth to find a reason for not long Christ. It is only here on earth that men think they have a reason for not doing so. In heaven they cry, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” O sinner friend, if you knew Him you would have no wish to find a reason for not loving Him. He is “the chiefest among ten thousand,” “he is altogether lovely.” S. of Sol. 5:10,16.

ML-08/19/1962

Standing in God's Smile

A tiny boy, two years old, stood in a ray of sunshine and said gaily, “Me standing in God’s smile, Mama.” His mother replied, “God grant that my darling boy may so live as always to stand in God’s smile.”

Not long after, God called the mother home, and the little boy was left to the care of others. He grew to manhood and stood in favor with the king. So great was his desire to please the king and to get on, he forgot to put God first. But he was restless and unhappy and no longer did he enjoy the sunshine of His love. One day, looking over some relics, he found a paper parcel, and opening it found a tiny pair of shoes and these lines in his mother’s handwriting: “These shoes were worn by my darling boy when he was two years of age. He stood in a ray of sunlight, saying, ‘Me standing in God’s smile, Mama.’ God grant that my darling boy may so live as always to stand in God’s smile.” Through these lines God spoke to him. It came home to him how he had been long out of touch with God, in fact he had gotten far from Him. The memory of his mother’s faith and the impressions of his tender years came back to hint Humbly he turned back to the God of his mother, confessed the sin and failure of those years, and found the Saviour willing and ready to receive him back; for “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21.

Jesus is calling the weary to rest—

Calling today, calling today;

Bring Him thy burden, and thou shalt be blest;

He will not turn thee away.

“COME NOW, AND LET US REON 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-08/19/1962

A Baked Bible

SEVERAL hundred years ago in Bohemia a law was passed by the Emperor of Austria, to which the country of Bohemia then belonged, forbidding the people either to own or read the Bible. Nevertheless, many of the people did have Bibles and refused to give them up. So soldiers were sent out to search the houses and seize any Bibles which might be found. When the people heard that the soldiers were coming to their locality, they made haste to hide their Bibles in some secret place. So, although the soldiers searched the houses thoroughly and roughly, yet many Bibles were not found.

One day the report came to a house that the soldiers were coming. There was only a young girl there, and she was kneading dough for bread. On hearing the breathless whisper of the sentinel, the quick-witted girl spread out her dough, placed the Bible in the center and, quickly doubling it over, put it into a big pan and slipped it into the oven.

When the soldiers arrived a few minutes later the girl met them at the door, and in answer to their demand for the Bible, calmly told them to search and see if there was one in the house. They looked into every corner of the cottage, but found no Bible. If they opened the stove door they saw only a large loaf of bread baking.

Years afterward the grandson of the heroine of this story immigrated to America and settled in Ohio. He brought with him the Bible which his grandmother had saved from the soldiers. It had been carefully kept as a relic of days when there was not freedom to worship the Lord tether as we now enjoy in this land.

What a wonderful privilege it is to have this blessed Book shed its light in this dark world, for truly “The entrance of Thy words giveth light.” Psa. 119:130. The darkness of heathen lands and the increase of evil in our own country are a witness to the awful result of not having the Word of God or rejecting it.

Recently we learned of the death of two dear Christian men in a Chinese communist prison. Mr. Chang Su and Mr. Chi preferred imprisonment and death rather than give up their faith in Christ. Their sorrows and sufferings forever past, these two brave witnesses are safe home with the Lord, but there are many more left behind in that land suffering hunger and imprisonment, and for them we can surely pray.

How quickly could the liberty we enjoy in this land be taken away! May the Lord give us to value more His precious Word and to seek to walk in its light, for “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.

The Bible is God’s letter to all the human race, telling of His love for lost sinners as shown in the gift of His Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “Here the way of salvation is given, heaven is revealed, hell is described. The cross is its center, eternal life its gift, and God’s glory its end.” Reader, “Read it to be godly, use it to be fruitful, believe it to be faithful, and trust it to have peace.”

Memory Verse: “HE THAT LOVETH SILVER SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH SILVER; NOR HE THAT LOVETH ABUNDANCE WITH INCREASE.” Eccles. 5:10.

ML-08/19/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 14:13-21

THE LORD reads in the death of John the Baptist His own rejection. When the word of John’s death reaches him He departs, for He could not continue His service there under such circumstances. He could not be indifferent to the rejection of one who had borne such a faithful witness to Him in his public ministry. Herod’s murderous act was to Him but a token of a sin of far deeper dye, that awful wickedness in the heart of the people, which would rise to its height in their rejection of Himself. For the religious leaders had also rejected John, yet not openly, for they feared the people who held John in such high regard (see chapter 21:25, 26).

The Lord withdraws and crosses the Sea of Galilee by ship to a desert place apart. But the multitude follow Him there on foot out of their cities. “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.” The rising tide of evil could not stem the outflow of His grace, for He was above it, and would ever act as God. He was ever ready to minister to those that sought Him out in their need.

The evening comes on and the disciples ask the Lord to send the multitude away to the villages to buy food for themselves. Send them away from Jesus? The Lord could never consent to that. He would fulfill that which was said of Him prophetically in Psalm 132:15: “I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.” He tells his disciples to feed the people, but their faith does not rise to such a need. They only look at what they have; they do not reckon on Him. They say, “We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.”

And He said, “Bring them hither to Me.” The Lord would have us in simple faith to bring both our want and what little we have to whose grace is sufficient for every need.

“And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and tool the five loaves, and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He blessed and brake, and gave the loaves to Hi disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, as were filled: and they took up O fragments that remained, twelve baskets full. And they that had eat! were about five thousand men, beside women and children.”

What a peaceful scene this is—there in the wilderness. In His richest grace the Lord spreads a table and feeds the poor multitudes. It makes the feeble disciples themselves to be the dispensers of His goodness as afterward they must gather up what remained. As then, so it is now, He gives His servants the privilege of carrying that which will meet the need of those who feel the emptiness of what this world has to offer.

ML-08/19/1962

The Dying Saint

AN aged preacher of the gospel when dying, said “Bring me Bible.” Putting his finger upon verse, “The blood of Jesus Christ Son cleanseth us from all sin,” said, “I die in the hope of this verse. It wasn’t his fifty years’ preaching nor his long life in the Lord’s service but the blood of Christ upon which he relied. When we stand before judgment seat of Christ we shall pure, even as He is pure, if we washed in the blood of the Lamb.

ML-08/19/1962

The Sleeping Sentinel

ABRAHAM LINCOLN was a man of compassion; he was very gentle, and was noted for his heart of sympathy for the down-trodden and the poor. During the Civil war many poorly trained soldiers, who were court-martialed and condemned to be shot, were pardoned. Finally his people rose up against him, and said that he was too merciful, that if a man was court-martialed he must be shot, and that there would be no reprieves.

A few weeks after this, news came that a young soldier had been sleeping at his post. He was court-martialed, and condemned to be shot. The boy wrote to his mother. “I do not want you to think I do not love my country, but it came about in this way: My comrade was sick, and I went out on picket for him; and the next night he ought to have come, but still being sick I went out for him again, and without intending it I fell asleep. I did not intend to be disloyal.”

It was a very touching letter, and the mother and father said there was no chance; there would be no more reprieves. But there was a little girl in that home and she knew that Abraham Lincoln had a little boy, and how he loved that little boy. She said if Abraham Lincoln knew how my father and mother loved my brother he would never allow him to be shot. So she took the train to go and plead for her brother. When she got to the President’s mansion the difficulty arose how was she to get past the sentinel. So she told him her story, and the tears ran down his cheeks, and he let her pass. But the next trouble was how to get past the secretary and the other officials. However, she succeeded in getting, unobstructed, into his private room and there were the senators and ministers busy with State affairs.

The President saw the child, and called her to him, and said, “My child, what can I do for you?” and she told him her story. The big tears rolled down his cheeks. He was a father, and his heart was full; he could not stand it. He treated the girl with kindness, and then having reprieved the boy, gave him thirty days furlough, and sent him home to see his mother. His heart was full of compassion.

And let me tell you the heart of Jesus is more full of compassion than any man’s. You are condemned to die for your sins. The Bible says so in John 3:18. But if you go straight to the Lord Jesus, like that little girl went to President Lincoln, and tell Him all, tell Him you’re a sinner but that you believe He died for your sins, then He will say, “Go in peace.” for “him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

What a Saviour Jesus is!

O what grace, what love is His!

ML-08/26/1962

Redemption

A FRIEND of mine was in Ireland, and saw a little Irish boy who had caught a sparrow. The poor little bird was trembling and panting in his hand, and wanted to get away. It was evidently very much frightened. The gentleman told the boy to let it go, as the bird could not do him any good. But the boy said he would not let it go for he had been chasing it for three hours before he could catch it.

The gentleman then offered to buy the bird, and the boy agreed to a price, which was paid. He took the poor bird and held it out on his palm, where it sat for a time, scarcely able to realize the fact that it was free, But at last it flew away, chirping, as if to say to the gentleman, “you have redeemed me.”

That is an illustration of what is meant by redemption. Satan is stronger than any man upon earth, and there is no match for him but Christ. Christ Jesus—the lion of the tribe of Judah—is stronger than the lion of hell. When on Calvary He cried, “It is finished!” it was the cry of the Victor. He came to redeem sinners by His death. Sinner friend are you redeemed?

ML-08/26/1962

Why All This Pain?

A LADY was once spending a vacation in Switzerland, and in her mountain walks she came upon a sheepfold. She stood and watched very interestedly, for there was one poor sheep lying there moaning and looking very sick. She saw his leg was broken, and full of pity she asked how it had happened.

“I broke it myself,” said the shepherd sadly.

She was even more pitiful, for she thought it must have been an accident.

“No,” said the shepherd, “it was done on purpose; it was the only way. That sheep will follow me after wards, when I have nursed it an got it better, and it will always come at my call then. But before it wouldn’t. It was always wandering off into dangerous places, and it wouldn’t even come when I called. It would have been killed certainly if I hadn’t done that.”

Yes, sometimes we poor human sheep will all have our own way, will stray into dangerous paths until the Good Shepherd Himself has to send sorrow and pain into our lives, so that at last we will hear His voice and follow Him.

“Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” 2 Cor. 7:10.

How much better to hearken to the voice of the Good Shepherd now, and then to follow wherever He may lead.

ML-08/26/1962

The Little Boy King

HAVE you heard the story of the little boy who was hidden away in the temple?

His name was Joash. He was only one year old when all his brothers were killed by a wicked old queen named Athaliah. But his aunt Jehoshabeath found means to save him, and she hid him with his nurse until he was seven years old. Was not that a long time for a little boy to be in hiding? There would be no nice walks in the country for him, no going fishing, no fun among the hay of the sweet-smelling fields, no gathering of wild flowers on the hills or in the valleys.

Only a few knew that the little boy had been saved; but they knew that he was the true king, and they looked for the day to come when he could be brought forth from the temple, where he was kept, and be crowned. And so six years went by. At last his friends made known that his life had been saved when his brothers were killed; they brought him out and crowned him and cried, “God save the King!”

We believe that Joash is a picture of the Lord Jesus, and Athaliah a type of Satan. While Satan reigns over this world, the Lord Jesus is hidden in heaven, yet the rightful heir and Lord of all. Soon He will come forth out of heaven as King of kings and Lord of lords. Once He died for sinners on the cross. Because He loved us and wanted to save us from our sins He laid down His life. But now He is alive again, and has gone back to heaven where He lives forevermore. Those He loves He never forgets, though we often forget Him. We cannot see Him with the natural eye, but He sees us. But soon those who believe on Him shall see Him when He comes again. He shall call them to meet Him in the air and shall be with Him in heaven forever. When He comes back to reign over this earth they shall be with Him and reign with Him. What a wonderful future for the believer!

When the wicked old queen Athiah heard the noise and the shouting, “God save the King!” she came out to see what was going on. When she saw little Joash dressed in royal robes and crowned as king, she cried, “Treason! Treason!” But the servants of the king quickly drove her out and she was slain. Thus shall all the enemies of the Lord Jesus perish in that day when He comes back to reign.

Put your trust in the Lord Jesus now, dear young friends, live for Him and serve Him here below while you can; then you shall reign with Him above. But how terrible not to take sides with Him now and to be found among those whom He will count as His enemies when He comes in judgment!

Memory Verse: “I CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENNCE. Mark 2:17.

ML-08/26/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 14:22-36

“AND STRAIGHTWAY Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitude away. And..., He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.”

This is a picture of what takes place now while the Lord is absent on high. It also pictures the experiences of the faithful Jewish remnant in a coming day. The storm is a consequence of His rejection. His disciples must cross the stormy sea alone, as the enemy stirs up opposition to their going on in faith. But He is on high in prayer for them. He is not indifferent to their trials. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him... they were troubled,... and they cried out for fear.”

However, at the proper time the Lord comes to His people, He comes walking on the water—He is above the storm, He is the Master of the waves. Yet His people cry out for fear. The remnant in that day cannot be at peace until they own Him as their rejected Messiah.

“But straightway Jesus spake to them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Those comforting words lead Peter to say: “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.” In response the Lord says, “Come.” Peter in faith leaves the accommodation of the ship and walks on the water to go to Jesus. The storm is still at its height but the Lord’s word “Come” is enough for Peter. He pictures to us those in this dispensation who, having heard the Lord’s voice, and owning Him as Saviour, now seek to walk in faith, by divine power, across this world to Him. They walk by faith, not by sight.

Peter’s faith carries him almost to Jesus, but seeing the wind so boisterous, he becomes afraid and begins to sink. As long as he keeps his eye on Jesus and has His word before his heart all is well; but it is when he looks at the waves he begins to sink. In truth it makes no difference whether the sea is stormy or calm—it is not a matter of circumstances—it is a question of faith looking to the Lord who alone can keep us in the storm or in the calm.

When Peter cries out, “Lord, save me,” the Lord immediately stretches forth His hand and catches him, sang, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Peter fails —as many of us have since—but it is to prove the faithfulness of the Lord who never fails.

Peter in this case sees in Jesus One who goes beyond simply fulfilling the promises to the Jews as a nation. The disciples cling to Him personally and so as His sheep they are led out of the Jewish fold. Later on after His ascension they become the Church. Everything centers in Him.

The Lord and Peter rejoin the remnant of the disciples in the ship.

“And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” This tells us of the time when the Lord will come back again bringing His heavenly people with Him. The Jewish remnant, those who are passing through the great tribulation, will be delivered. The storm will cease and they will acknowledge Him as the Son of God.

ML-08/26/1962

The Stolen Puppies

As FAMILY of boys who lived on the edge of our village were thrilled beyond words one day when some one presented them with a basket containing five fat roly-poly little puppies. What fun they had feeding their lively little pets and watching them roll and squirm as they played on the lawn.

But evil eyes were on those doggies as well as admiring ones, and one dark night three of them disappeared from their kennel.

The boys all felt sad, but Mother said, “Never mind, we will tell God about it, and He can, if He sees fit, let us know where to find them. Or if it is His way, He can send them back to us again.”

Three weeks later, on a fine summer morning, to their great surprise and joy the boys found the missing pups playing around their kennel, and they carried them to their mother. “God did it, my boys,” said Mother. “How I do not know, but I’m quite sure He had to do with their being returned. He is a great God, yet He is interested in our little things; He wants us to trust Him to leave them in His hands.”

The boys had confidence in their mother’s faith and were quite ready to believe that the return of the pups had not happened merely by chance.

Imagine their surprise when sometime later, Tom, a schoolmate, told one of the boys that he had been converted at a children’s tent meeting.

He told them that he had bought the pups two weeks before from a tramp for only a few cents. Now that he was a Christian, and knowing what a Christian ought to be and how he should act, he felt he must bring back the pets which he knew to be theirs.

This incident was never forgotten by those boys. Their mother’s conference in God, and the fact that conversion makes people want to be host and to restore what is not their own, Tom’s fine testimony to what the grace of God had done for him, impressed them greatly. It was the means of their being led to the Saviour not long after.

So God turned it all about for blessing. And that is just what God is seeking to do for you, dear young reader. He wants to bless you, to make you happy in His love.

Will you not turn to the Lord Jesus like Tom did and confess Him to your friends as your Saviour? It will make you ever so happy, and you can be the means of making someone else happy. Don’t wait! Decide for Christ today, and you will never regret it.

ML-09/02/1962

What Is Unsinkable?

A SCHOOL teacher was telling his scholars about the Titanic. The great ship was declared to be unsinkable, and yet on her first voyage she crashed into an iceberg. She is now lying on the bottom of the ocean. He asked them if they could tell him of anything that was unsinkable.

One bright little fellow replied, “Yes, sir. The Rock of Ages is unsinkable.” That was a good answer, wasn’t it?

“Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Psa. 61:2.

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God:... He only is my Rock and my salvation.” Psa. 62:1, 2.

ML-09/02/1962

A Mother's Love

AT THE time of the Californian gold rush a man went to the mining country and left his wife to follow him some time afterward. While on her voyage with her little boy, the vessel caught fire. There was a powder-magazine on board and the captain knew that when the flames reached it the ship would be blows up. The fire could not be got under control, so all took to the lifeboats’ but there was not room for everyone.

As the last boat pushed off, the mother and boy stood on the deck. One of the sailors said there was room for one more. What did the mother do? She decided to perish herself in order to save her boy. She, dropped him into the boat, and with a mother’s last look, said: “If you should live to see your father, tell him that I died in your place.” Do you think when that boy grew up he could ever forget the love of his mother who died to save him?

This is only a faint shadow of what Christ has done for you and me. He took our place. He died for our sins. He left heaven for that purpose. Will you go away saying, “I see no beauty in Him.” God forbid that when you come to leave this world, you will be found without Christ, and without God, and without hope!

ML-09/02/1962

After Ten Years

A CHRISTIAN who had been always earnest and untiring tract distributor, became lukewarm and unhappy because he saw no fruit of his labor. Finally he gave up tract distribution altogether for ten long years.

One day, however, as he passed along a certain street, a stranger of offered him a tract. He accepted it, but added with a note of disappointment: “I used to do this sort of thing myself, but no good ever came of it.”

“Sir,” was the earnest reply, “you are mistaken. I remember your face. Ten years ago you gave me a tract in this very street. I read it, and it was the means of my conversion.”

Deeply humbled, this servant again took up his work for the Lord, but with the sad knowledge that ten years had flown beyond recall, and the gifts of time and opportunity allowed to pass unused.

“Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9.

ML-09/02/1962

The Precious Blood

DURING the Civil War a doctor heard a man saying, “Blood, blood, blood!” The doctor thought this was because he had seen so much blood shed upon battlefields, and endeavored to soothe his mind. The man smiled, and said, “I wasn’t thinking of the blood upon the battlefield, but I was thinking how precious the blood of Christ is to me as I am dying.” As he died his lips quivered, “Blood, blood, blood!” and he was gone.

Oh, it will indeed be precious when we come to our dying bed! It will then be worth more to us than all the world! One sin is enough to exclude us from heaven, but “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML-09/02/1962

Bible Questions for September

The Children’s Class

Answers to be found in 1 & 2 Peter

1. “Rejoice with joy unspeakable.”

2. “Should live unto righteousness.”

3. “Be ready always to give an answer.”

4. “Be sober, be vigilant.”

S. “This is My beloved Son.”

6. “Unto the day of judgment.”

7. “Grow in grace.”

The Young People’s Class

1. What did David say in his heart that shows his faith failed in his great trial with King Saul? 1 Sam. 27.

2. What exhortation is needful when tribulations are encountered in the Christian pathway? Acts 14.

3. Should we follow the faith or the failures of those whom the Spirit of God uses as guides in our lives? Heb. 13.

4. Did David speak truthfully to Achish about the victories in battle which he achieved at this time? 1 Sam.

5. If we are walking in the path of faith, will untruths or sound speech have the greatest effect on those about us? Titus 2.

6. Why did Achish think David would be his servant forever? 1 Sam.

7. What is the normal response of a nation to one that calls a wicked man righteous? Prov. 24.

ML-09/02/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 15:1-20

THE LORD had crossed the sea and had entered the land of Gennesaret. Here He was met by “the scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem.” They prided themselves in being superior in holiness, devotion to God and in learning, but the Lord rebuked them for their pretensions and laid bare their hypocrisy. They wanted to know “Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” The washing of hands was but an outward thing, but the Lord goes deeper and seeks to reach their conscience. He shows that their traditions were from man —fallen man—and had their root in the desire to set aside the Word of God and bring in the words of men. But there is nothing from fallen man which is not evil. There is nothing really rood but what is from God.

The Lord cited a case in which they positively set aside the law of God with respect to honoring one’s father and mother. In the law God commanded, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” But these religious leaders allowed, and perhaps encouraged, sons to devote certain of what they possessed, supposedly to God, and then refuse to assist their parents with the excuse that their possessions were “corban,” or devoted. The Lord scored them for this as one of their traditions, by which they made the Word of God of no effect. He called them hypocrites and quotes from Isaiah 29:13: “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.” How many there are in the world today of whom this is true.

The Lord then calls the multitude at this point and tells them: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth"—that which proceeds from the heart. The disciples were concerned because the Lord’s words offended the Pharisees, for even His disciples looked up to them as the leaders of their nation. But the Lord tells them: “Every plant, Which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” These Pharisees were not of His planting, Furthermore He says: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

The Lord then goes on to speak of all the evil things that proceed from the human heart. And it is well to notice that not one good thing does He mention as coming from the heart of man. It is hard for one to believe that there is not some good in him, but it is not until he comes to Christ that he finds out “that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Rom. 7:18. Until this truth is known, the heart is not reached and all is in vain, for the truth of the gospel is bound up with the truth of the utter ruin of man. The Lord then explains that what came out of the mouth really came from the heart, which was far more important watch than whether they washed their hands before eating, according to their traditions.

Memory Verse: “ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH Of THE WICKED, AND GO NOT IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN.” Prov. 4:14.

ML-09/02/1962

The River Spirit: A Story of China

LITTLE fat-faced Chin Wong was sitting on the side of his father’s fishing boat watching the fishing birds. Each bird had a collar about its neck and was tied by a long string to the boat. When they got into the middle of the river, Chin Wong’s father would lift the birds and let them dive into the water.

They caught the fish in their long beaks, but before they could devour them Chin Wong’s father took the fish away and dropped them into his basket.

Now Chin Wong’s father sighed. There seemed to be very few fish in the river, and alas! there was very little money at home. There was a sick baby there, and money was needed.

“Honorable Father,” said Chin Wong. “Let us go further up the river. There may be more fish there.”

The father shook his head. “My son, you know there is an evil spirit further up the river. He might take us and destroy us.”

Chin Wong shuddered at the thought of the evil spirit. Poor little lad. Like so many of his people, grown-ups as well as children, he believed in evil spirits... there were spirits everywhere... cruel and spiteful and unkind. Chin Wong knew nothing of the great and good Spirit whose name is the God of Love.

The father knew that he must find fish, or there would be no money. Presently he decided to take the risk and row to the “dangerous place” or at least a little way towards it. “Well, let us try it, my son,” he said.

Chin Wong did not reply. He had just seen a very interesting sight. Away up the river, on one of the banks was a party of white people. They were having a picnic, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Chin Wong knew that they belonged to the missionaries, the “Jesus Teaching People,” as they called them. He knew too that his father did not like them.

The boat was going slowly up river, and there must be fish, for the fishing birds began to flap their wings and show signs of excitement. They always knew when there were fish.

Then something happened. Chin Wong and his father would have said that the evil spirit of the river got angry and seized the boat and began to pull it about and rock it; the white people would have said that the boat had got into a current.

The boat suddenly toppled over. Chin Wong and his father found themselves in the water.

Chin Wong howled with terror. “My father! My father! The river spirit is holding me. He is dragging me down.”

“Hold on! Hold on!”

Voices, the voices of white people, came from the bank. A man and a boy, not a lot bigger than Chin Wong, were taking off their coats. A moment later Chin Wong’s father was seized and pushed out of the current so that he could scramble to the bank.

But Chin Wong’s father gave a cry of horror; he saw the sleek black head of his little son and the fair one of a white boy, disappearing under the water.

“The spirit has got them,” he shouted in dismay, and trembled as he saw the man who had saved him strike out for the sinking boys.

The next few minutes were very terrible ones, not only for the Chinese farmer, but for the white people on the bank. Other men had jumped in, but the current was strong. Chin Wong’s father, knowing only evil and cruel spirits, had no one to cry to, but even in the midst of his distress he saw that the women on the bank were kneeling and he sensed they were crying to their God to help save” the boys.

It seemed that THAT Spirit helped at once. Two heads came to the surface, two men gripped a boy, two dripping silent forms were brought to land.

The Chinese father made sure his dear son was dead, but he was asked to stand aside. White men knelt by the boys, lifting their inert hands over their heads and laying them down, over and over again.

At another time Chin Wong’s father would have been horrified toy see white people — who taught about, Jesus — touching his boy, but now — but now!

At last there were two groans, and two boys opened their eyes.

“My son!” cried the Chinese father.

“Thank God!” said the white one.

In a few minutes the boys were sitting up and drinking hot sweet tea. Chin Wong’s father turned to his helpers.

“How can I thank you, honorable gentleman? You have saved my son.”

“Our God helped,” said the white man, and then he asked Chin Wong’s father why he had come to such a dangerous place to fish. Chin Wong’s father told how he needed money for his sick little son at home and that he was poor; but the Spirit was vengeful.

“Yes, but there is another Spirit—a good and loving One,” they told him, and they asked him if he would like to bring his sick baby to the hospital. It might be that the Good Spirit would show them how to cure him.

For a moment the Chinese man was silent. He FEARED these people — and yet HOW STRONG their God must be — and how kind trouble about a boy who did not know Him or worship Him.

“I will come,” he said presently.

And so it came to pass that Chin Wong’s father learned about the Lord Jesus whom these people loved and served. Today there is one less peon in China who believes in evil spirits, and one more who loves and serves the Saviour.

Boys and girls, and men and won, in Christian lands like ours need the Saviour just as much as Chin Wong and his father, for “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Ye must be born again.” John 3:3,7. To be saved there must be personal faith in the Lord Jesus as one’s Saviour. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

ML-09/09/1962

Indian Girl's Remark

THE LITTLE Indian girl stood on the station platform, and a group of restless travelers, glad of whatever broke the monotony, had gathered in a circle about her, examining her wares. On every hand the dessert stretched away, meeting the bare, black mountains, their sides scarred by gorges and barren of vegetation. Against their somber background the bright clothing of the Indian maid showed to good advantage.

“You pay two prices for what you buy here,” said the man with his hat on one side, who had the air of knowing it all. “But the tourist is robbed everywhere. You might as well make up your mind to be cheated in the first place.”

“This is not cheat,” the Indian girl protested. “I make the baskets myself and they take many days.”

“Oh, of course, they all declare they are selling cheap,” said the man with his hat on one side. “And why shouldn’t they cheat if they can? I’d do the same in their place.” He looked at a man on the other side of the crowd and winked unpleasantly.

The next remark of the Indian girl was unexpected. " For what shall it profit a man,’ " she said in slow English, " ‘if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ That is what they taught us at the mission school, and I will not lie that I may sell my baskets, even though I go hungry.”

It was a silent company that climbed aboard the Pullman at the conductor’s signal. “It was not long for a sermon,” said the man with his hat on one side, “but it’s the kind of one you can’t forget in a hurry.”

ML-09/09/1962

Redemption

ONCE when I was visiting my native village I was going to a neighboring town to preach. I saw a young man coming from a house in a car, in which was seated an old woman. I felt interested in them, and asked my companion who they were. I was told to look at the adjoining meadow and pasture, and great barns that were on the farm, as well as a good house. “Well,” said my companion, “that young man’s father drank that all up, and left his wife in the poorhouse. The young man went away and worked until he had got money enough to redeem that farm, and now it is his own, and he is taking his mother to meeting.”

In the first Adam we have lost all, but Christ the last Adam has redeemed everything by His death. Reader, have you part with Christ in this glorious redemption? Are you in Christ, or are you still in your sins?

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

ML-09/09/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 15:21-39

IN THE first part of this chapter the Lord showed the evil of man. In the latter part of the chapter we see the display of the goodness and grace of the heart of God.

The Lord leaves behind the scribes and Pharisees with all their reasonings and ritual, and goes to the extreme borders of the land, to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Both these cities had been noted for their hardness of heart and had been especially visited by the judgments of God. A Canaanitish woman comes out of those coasts to meet the Lord and she cries, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” She was a descendant of the Canaanites, that accursed race, whom the people of Israel were to destroy when they took possession of the land. Her case was a desperate one, but the Lord answers her not a word. What had she to do with the Son of David?

The disciples would have liked to have the Lord grant her request just to get rid of her, “for she crieth after us,” they say. But the Lord answers, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she comes up and pleads with Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” The Lord’s answer may seem to have been very hard, but He was really testing her faith. He tells her, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to [Gentile] dogs.” But the woman takes this place too, acknowledging herself to be only a dog. She owns the promises to Israel—“the children"—but her need drives her right to the heart of God Himself. “Truth, Lord,” she says, “yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” How good it is for a soul to be brought to the point where he realizes that he has no claim upon God for anything; that he is a lost sinner, and that apart from the grace of God he has no hope.

But the goodness of God cannot be limited to Israel. This poor woman believes that there is goodness and riches enough in God for even a dog without a title such as she.

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” He granted her desire for her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

After this the Lord departs and comes into the land near to the Sea of Galilee. Going up into a mountain He sits down. “And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and He healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered,... and they gloried the God of Israel.”

In the last of the chapter the Lord again feeds the multitude—a great company of four thousand men, bides women and children—with only seven loaves, and a few little fishes. “And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” No doubt the seven baskets that are left speak of the moral perfection of the One who satisfies the poor of His people with bread. (Psalm 103:5.)

ML-09/09/1962

The Gospel in China

Memory Verse: “I, EVEN I, AM THE LORD; AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO SAVIOUR.” Isa. 43:1 1.

SEVERAL hundred years ago the story of salvation through Christ Jesus was well-known in China.

However it was, after having known about God and Christ Jesus and the Bible, the people of China, for the most part, forgot about these things. About 100 years ago some Christians in England, America, Germany and other lands felt that they should go to China to again tell them the way of God’s salvation in Christ Jesus.

Hudson Taylor was one of the first of these missionaries. Through him a great many Chinese heard the story of God’s love in their own language and many who heard believed and were saved.

One of these was a man named Mr. Ni. He lived in the city of Ninghsien where he bought and sold cotton. Like many Chinese folks then and even now, Mr. Ni worshiped a false god called Buddha. Mr. Ni was deeply earnest about his religion and he spent much time and money in the service of his god. But his heart was not at rest and the more he followed his religious observances the more empty he found them to be.

Passing an open door one evening, he noticed that something special was going on. A bell was being rung and people were gathering together. Learning that this was a hall for the discussion of religious matters, he, too, went in, for there was nothing about which he was more concerned than what would become of him after death. Mr. Ni listened to what Mr. Taylor was reading.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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 3:14, 16.

Hudson Taylor went on to tell how long ago in Israel, when the people had sinned so badly, God had sent deadly snakes among them. Many of the people were bitten by the snakes and died. But God told Moses to make a model of a serpent (or snake) and put it up on a pole so all could see it. And God told Moses to tell the people that if they were bitten by a snake, if they looked in faith at that serpent on the pole they would not die. And this is exactly what happened. All who looked, in faith, did not die.

Mr. Taylor went on to say that sin is worse even than a deadly snake for everyone — men, women, boys, girls — Americans, Canadians, Indians, Chinese, English, French everyone must give account to God for his sins. And everyone who is still in his sins will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. There is nothing in all the world that can make up for what we are as lost sinners; nothing, that is, except the death of the Lord Jesus.

Mr. Ni heard for the first time how the Lord Jesus was put on a cross and there died. He heard too how God says that anyone who looks to Jesus for salvation from the judgment of sin will be saved forever and ever. Just as Moses told the people of Israel to look at that model serpent, now God says look to Jesus on the cross.

The Lord Jesus is not on the cross now. No, after He died he was buried in a grave but after three days He rose from that grave. Soon He went up to heaven and now from heaven God offers eternal salvation to all who confess that they are lost sinners and believe that Jesus died for them and rose again.

There in Ninghsien, China, Mr. Ni heard that wonderful offer and he believed what God said. Just as the meeting was coming to a close, he stood up, and in a voice that all could hear, he said, “I have long sought the truth but without finding it. I have traveled far and near but never found it. In Confucianism, in Buddhism, in Taoism I have found no rest. But in what we have heard tonight I do find rest. Henceforth I take Jesus as my Saviour.”

God’s offer of salvation will soon end. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus is soon coming back from heaven to take away all who have put their trust in Him. The graves will be opened and those who died trusting in Jesus will rise from their graves and we who are living will join them and all together go to heaven. Then God’s offer of salvation will no longer be made. But today you can have it. Don’t delay. Take Jesus as your Saviour now.

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

ML-09/16/1962

Spurgeon and the Irishman

IN ONE of his sermons, Mr. C. H. Spurgeon told the following tale: “One Lord’s Day evening, having returned from the gospel meeting, there came a ring at my front-door bell. I opened the door myself, and there stood a big, burly Irishman.

“ ‘Good evening, yer reverence,’ he began. I said: ‘Don’t call me reverence; but what is it you want at this time of night?’ I took the man into ray study, and there Pat told me that he had been listening to my sermon that evening at the meeting; but he could not understand what I meant by a full and free salvation.

“I tried hard to show him the way of salvation, but he could not understand until I used this illustration. Tat,’ I said, ‘Suppose you had committed a crime, and were sentenced to a long term of imprisonment; and I were to go to the King and get him to set you free, and I went to prison and suffered in your stead.’ Sure,’ said Pat, ‘That would be very kind of you.’ Yes,’ I said, ‘And in the same way Jesus suffered for your sins on the cross.’ "

“I prayed with the man, and after much soul struggle he admitted his condition as a sinner, and accepted the Lord Jesus as Saviour. I saw him many times afterward, and he was still resting on the finished work of Christ.”

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3, 4.

ML-09/16/1962

A Stone Turned Into Bread

A BLACKSMITH’S widow, who was left with the care of a crippled daughter, their only child, was in a wonderful way made to prove the fact that our God is the “living God.” She was not strong herself, and unable to do heavy work. Besides, her child needed her constant attention, so she was forced to stay at home, where the little employment, such as sewing, which she got to do, was not sufficient to keep them, and so one thing and another was disposed of to provide bread. At last all the tools and stock of the blacksmith’s shop had been sold, save an old grindstone, which stood in the fence corner the weeds almost covering it up. In vain had she tried to sell it — no one seemed to want it.

One evening a climax was reached. The money received for some sewing was all gone — of bread and flour there was none. What would they have for breakfast? That was indeed the question. But Mother knew the Lord, and as their custom was, they read their chapter which was Luke 3 for that evening. “Command this stone that it be made bread,” said the devil there to our blessed Lord. But that dependent Man would not take Himself, or His need, out of His Father’s hand.

As the incident was read the little girl asked, “Mother, couldn’t God have turned the stones into bread?”

“Yes, my dear, and He can do the same for us if for His glory and our good.” After a word of prayer they retired for the night.

In the early morning they were awakened by a loud knocking at the door. On opening it, a farmer stood there, and with a cheery, “Good-morning,” he asked, “Do you want to sell that old grindstone?”

“Yes,” was the eager reply.

“All right,” said the man, “it’s just what I want. I’ll give you five dollars for it.”

The bargain being made, he gave her the money, took the old grindstone and the poor woman with tears of joy went back to her crippled child, saying: “He did it! He did it! God turned the stone into bread!” He is still “The Lord who sees and prides.”

ML-09/16/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 16:1-17

IN THIS chapter both the Pharisees and Sadducees come tempting the Lord. These two sects of the Jews normally had no dealings with each other, but their hatred of Jesus unites them here, and they ask Him to give them a sign from heaven. It was only unbelief and disobedience that prompted them to ask for a sign, for what more wonderful token could God give to man than the presence of His Son on earth. What abundance of signs there had been, manifesting the power of God by the miracles and teachings of the lowly Jesus! But on account of the hardness of their hearts, these men had closed their eyes to all this wonderful display.

In their professing to honor God, they had thus manifested the shallowness of their profession. The Lord calls them a wicked generation and tells them that no sign should be given to them but that of the prophet Jonas. For as Jonah had been three days and nights in the belly of the great fish (the figure of death), so Christ would be lost to Israel in the grave — to be given back to them in a future day.

“When it is evening,” He says, “ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” They were unable to see what their unbelief would bring upon them, and at this point the Lord leaves them and departs.

The Lord then tells His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. At first they think He is referring to their not having brought along bread, but He goes on to show that He is referring to the doctrine of these people. In another gospel He adds that the great sin of the Pharisees and Sadducees was hypocrisy.

After this the Lord goes away to Caesarea Philippi which was in the extreme northern borders of the land. Far from Jerusalem, and from the influences of its religious leaders, the Lord speaks for the first time of that which was dearest to His heart — the Church. What wonderful acts of power and grace he had displayed along His pathway that led up to this point, such as earth had never witnessed before, and now He asks His disciples, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” They reply, “Some say that Thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Their answer shows that while men would give Him a place among those honored of old, they had not discerned who He really was, nor the purpose of His mission. Various opinions were formed, but it ended there.

Next the Lord asks the disciples themselves, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter’s answer sets forth that blessed truth which is the foundation of man’s blessing and of God’s glory. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is not only the true Messiah, the King of Israel, but His glory goes far beyond that. He is the Son of the living God, in whom is the eternal power of life, the One who can impart life to those that are dead in sins. This was indeed a glorious confession Peter had made. The Lord then tells him that he had been blessed by God the Father in heaven with this revelation for such knowledge could only come from Him. The natural man could not discern that which was divine.

ML-09/16/1962

The Brazilian Prisoner

FOR OVER ten years, in the foul darkness of a Brazilian prison, Pedro had dragged out a wretched existence. The monotony was only relieved by the shoemaking with which he was able to earn a little money and thus obtain something better than the bare prison fare. Sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment, the prospect of another twenty years of confinement stretched drearily before him.

One day, however, the dead level of life was broken by the small excitement of a visitor from the outside world, an Englishman, who had come with literature to distribute to the prisoners. Pedro was aroused to interest. True, he could not read, but he thought that if he had a book, he might teach himself to read. It would relieve the awful grayness of the long years that lay before him. It would, perhaps, save his reason: many of his fellow-prisoners had lost theirs.

Mr. Frederick Glass, the missionary visitor, was glad to find a man wanting to purchase a Bible. Having secured a copy, Pedro gave himself to the task of learning to read his new treasure. By degrees he did accomplish this, and day by day he pored over the Book, gripped by its contents. He discovered from its pages that he was not only judged and sentenced by the law of his country, but that he was condemned as a sinner in the sight of a holy God. How glad he was to learn also that the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, had borne his, Pedro’s, sins in His own body on the cross at Calvary! In simple faith, Pedro took the Saviour at His word, and, coming to Him, was not cast out. The light of God had shone into the dark heart shut away in that dismal Brazilian prison, and Pedro was a new creature in Christ Jesus. Very diligently he read and re-read the precious Book, and day by day the Holy Spirit taught him its meaning.

A few more years passed and Mr. Glass returned to Goyaz, where the prison was, and settled down to preach the gospel. Several soldiers were converted and began to witness for their Lord. One day a little band of them visited the prison with tracts for the prisoners, and they returned to Mr. Glass with the story of a man in that prison who owned a Bible and appeared to be converted.

At once Mr. Glass remembered the sale of a Bible some years previously, and hastening to visit the prison, he obtained permission to have a talk with Pedro. He was taken to the barred window of the filthy cell where Pedro had lived for fifteen years, in which a dozen or more men were confined.

Pedro, hearing his name called, picked his way across the cell, and came to the window through which, to his joy, he saw the face of the man who had sold him his Bible. The light behind Mr. Glass shone full on Pedro’s face, which was lit with a radiant smile as he put his hand through the grating for a grip of real fellowship from a brother in Christ. What a revelation of the grace and transforming power of God! Who could enable a man to live a Christian life surrounded by hardened, blaspheming criminals!

Mr. Glass visited Pedro as frequently as possible, but at the end of a month he was unexpectedly recalled to Sao Paula, and had to pay a farewell visit to the prisoner.

He found him very troubled, not so much at his friend’s departure, but because of his keen desire to be baptized. He had read of the Lord’s word in his Bible, and the young soldiers had told of their baptism, and Pedro’s heart was set on this thing. Mr. Glass explained to him that God understood that in his case this was, humanly-speaking, impossible and that He would honor him for his desire, but Pedro could not see it in that light, and Mr. Glass had to leave him unsatisfied.

A few hours later, just as he was making final preparations for leaving on the following day, a soldier brought Mr. Glass a note from the prison. It was from Pedro, telling him that shortly after he had left, the head jailer had selected two men to go down to the river the following morning at six o’clock, to carry the sweepings of the prison, and he, Pedro, was one chosen. Could Mr. Glass be there? Immediately the missionary saw that God had thus made a way for the fulfillment of His servant’s deep desire.

Next morning, the little company from the prison wended its way down to the river, where Mr. Glass awaited them. So beautifully had God arrand every detail, that four out of the five soldiers chosen to accompany the prisoners, were converted and baptized men. After the simple ceremony, a radiant-faced Pedro went back to the prospect of fifteen years more of prison life. His life and testimony henceforth in that dark place were such that many were won to his Saviour. Later, like Joseph, God gave Pedro favor in the sight of the head jailer. He was taken out of that terrible cell and allowed to do his work in an old unused building. Eventually his sentence was shortened and he was released, but he remained in Goyaz, an honored Christian and servant of Christ there.

Memory Verse: “THOU HAST IN LOVE TO MY SOUL DELIVERED IT FROM THE PIT OF CORRUPTION: FOR THOU HAST CAST ALL MY SINS BEHIND THY BACK.” Isa. 38:17.

ML-09/23/1962

God Loves You

“HOW DO you know God loves you?” Mr. Clarke asked the Sunday school class. Two hands went up.

“The Bible tells us that God loves us,” answered Margaret.

“Jesus died for us on the cross,” said Nick.

“Both answers are right,” said Mr. Clarke. “It was because He loved us that God sent His Son from heaven to save us by dying on the cross. The Bible tells us all about it.”

What a wonderful thing it is that God loves us and that we know He does! I heard about a little boy who knew that God loved him but he didn’t know how to prove it. However, he had a kind, older brother who explained it to him.

“You are not in heaven, are you?” His brother answered, “No.” “And you are not in hell, are you?” “Oh! no,” said the little fellow, who appeared quite startled.

“Then you are in the world, aren’t you? And God loved the world. So you see that’s how you know that God loves YOU,” triumphantly explained the older boy.

It is true that God really loves you and if you wonder how much He loves you, just listen to what He says in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

How could God love you so much that He would give His only Son to die for you? This question cannot be answered. You may wonder why God loved you that much. The answer to this is found in that same verse in the Bible: “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

ML-09/23/1962

The Jailer's Question

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

The jailer to whom this was said was in a sad plight. He had been on the point of killing himself. This verse is the answer to a question he had asked, and you may be quite sure that he was in downright earnest.

Do you know what that question was? Look it up in the Bible. “What must I do to be saved?” Have you ever asked that same question? In downright earnest?

Supposing you were not feeling well. The doctor came and said that you were very seriously ill, but that he would send up some medicine which would cure you. What would you do? You could do several things. You could refuse to believe the doctor and laugh at the idea of your danger. You could feel your need yet not take the doctor’s medicine. Or you might prefer a remedy of your own. But the most sensible thing would be to realize your need and show your faith in the doctor by taking his medicine.

Now, God tells us these same two things. He tells us we are in danger, and He points us to the remedy. In the Bible, He tells us that “All have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). He also tells us that His own Son gave Himself, an offering for sin, that He died for our sins and that His precious blood shed at Calvary cleanses from all sin.

ML-09/23/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 16:17-23

PETER HAD just confessed the Lord as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Immediately then the Lord unfolds to Peter that there was to be something new founded here on that revelation, and this is what He calls the Church, or the assembly. It was to be built upon the solid rock of Peter’s confession of Himself. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.” Peter (whose name means “small stone") was to be a living stone in this building. Then He refers to the unseen world: “and the gates of hell [hades] shall not prevail against it.” Death could not separate those who were a part of it from its privileges, as it had separated His people of old from their earthly inheritance in the land of promise. Furthermore Satan, who wielded the power of death (Heb. 2:14) could not destroy it. The true Church of God would continue here in this world until He called it away. The devil might confuse the minds of men as to its true character, but it will abide in the sight of God as He founded it. Where Christ is looked at in Scripture as the builder, no false material is introduced into it. But where man is looked at as the builder, there can be a great deal there that is not real. In our chapter Christ is the builder, and not Peter.

Next, the Lord gives Peter a special place for having received this communication — “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” — that new dispensation which was about to begin on earth. There are no keys to the Church. So we have Peter in Acts 2 using one of the keys in opening the door to the Jews to enter into the new order of things. In Acts 10 he uses the other key to open the door to the Gentiles, so that they might enter in on the same basis as the Jews.

After this the Lord tells His disciples not to tell any one that He was the Christ, or the Messiah. This is what He was to the Jews and Peter had confessed Him as such, but He had been rejected by them and so for the time He drops His Jewish title. He was not the Messiah to the Church, but the Saviour. So from that time forth He speaks of His death and resurrection on the third day. This must all take place before He could begin to build His Church. It was still a future thing, and had to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Though Peter had had such a wonderful revelation from the Father as to Christ, he was slow to grasp its real meaning. In His thoughts he still clung to the Lord’s mission as the Messiah, the teacher of the people. So when the Lord spoke of His sufferings and death, he began to rebuke Him, saying, “Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.” Little did Peter realize what sin was, nor did he think that it was for Peter that the Lord was going to the cross. Otherwise he would never had said what he did. The thought he expressed was of man, and of Satan. He stood in the way of the Lord going to the cross and the Lord who had just called him Peter has to say to him, “Get thee behind Me, Satan: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” It shows how that one can be used of God in a remarkable way and then through pride coming in and lack of dependence on the Lord, he can be used of Satan to break down that which he had been used to build up.

ML-09/23/1962

The Baby Snake

A MAN in this country once found a baby snake. He made a pet of it. He took it, and fed it and trained it to do many things.

The snake would come when he whistled. It would eat from his fingers. It would coil around his arm, and let him stroke its head. One day he took it to town to show some of his friends. They marveled at its gentleness, at the way it would coil itself around his arm, how it would come when he whistled and how it would eat from his hand. He took his pet back home with him.

When he got home, suddenly without any warning, the snake became angry. Quicker than lightning that pet buried its fangs in the man’s arm. Quickly he pulled it from his arm and hurled it to the ground. But it was too late! In a few hours the poor man was dead. In one quick instant the serpent had written his death in his own blood.

Dear young friends, that snake reminds us of the deadly effect of sin. And how many there are who are playing with sin. Satan blinds their eyes so that at first it appears harmless. He hides from their eyes the warning of Scripture, the “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

We have all been bitten by sin; for “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12. But God’s good news is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15), and “that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. The Lord Jesus took the sinner’s place on the cross; He bore sin’s penalty. He died that we might live. Those who trust Him as their Saviour are not only delivered from sin’s penalty, but from sin’s power also. “For sin shall not have dominion over you.” Rom. 6:14. Those who won’t have Jesus as their Saviour will have to bear the penalty of their sins in the lake of fire forever.

“The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. Trust Him now; you will be both saved and happy.

ML-09/30/1962

The Power of the Blood

SOME years ago one of our friends, who was a nurse in one of the hospitals, related to me the following incident: A woman who had undergone an operation was brought back from the operating room and put into her bed in one of the wards of the hospital. She had not recovered from the anesthetic and was lying motionless. The nurse happened to be passing at the time and, seeing her in bed, she stooped down and whispered in her ear: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His [God’s] Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” There was not a movement in the bed and the nurse passed on and went off duty. When she came back on duty the next day she went up to the woman’s bed and spoke to her and asked her how she felt after the operation. The woman said: “A marvelous thing happened to me.” The nurse replied, “What was it?” “An angel spoke to me,” was the reply.

“And what did he say?” asked the nurse.

“Oh, he said, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.’ "

They had a brief conversation together and it was evident that God had used this verse of Scripture to bring this soul into joy and peace in believing.

It is wonderful that even when a person appeared to be unconscious of her surroundings, this living voice was heard in her soul. The nurse explained that evidently a messenger from God had spoken to her and confirmed her in her newly-found faith. She did not tell her who it was who had spoken this word, but left her with the sweet thought that an angel — a word that means “messenger"—had spoken to her.

The power of the Scriptures, and the value and efficacy of the precious blood of Christ, are still available for anyone who reads these lines. What other foundation is there for any soul to rest upon but the blood of Jesus? He offered Himself without spot to God, that your sins, my reader, might be forgiven. How do you stand as regards this great question of your sins? You can do nothing to cover them up yourself; only the blood of Christ can cleanse you.

It is the blood alone that makes atonement for the soul and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. God is still saying: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” What a wonderful thing it would be for every reader of these words to be able to say:

“Peace, perfect peace, in the dark world of sin;

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.”

Memory Verse: “THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN; BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH.” Prov. 16:25.

ML-09/30/1962

Her Greatest Wisdom

THIS testimony was written by a senior in high school. Her English teacher asked each member of the class to write a 500-word composition, choosing a title from a given list. Since it would be the last composition she would ever write in high school the writer decided to make it a final testimony for her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, choosing the title, “The Most Commendable Thing I Ever Did.”

The most commendable thing I ever did was to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. I am a sinner — God says so (Romans 3:10, 23), and my own heart admits it. I know there are many things that I have done that were not commendable, and many things that I should have done and did not. Yes, I am a sinner, but, praise God, “I now am a sinner SAVED BY GRACE.” “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9.) “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).

But what does it mean to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and why is it so commendable? To accept Jesus Christ is to believe all that God says about Him: that He “died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4); and to believe it not only with your head, but with your whole heart, so that it affects your life, and makes you want to live for Him who died for you. When you do this the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in your heart forever and enables you to do the things that are pleasing to God (John 7:39; Romans 8:2-4, 8, 9). But remember, it is Christ’s death for you that saves, not your life for Him (Romans 5:6-9; 3:24-28).

And now we can see why it is so very commendable. Commendable? Nay, it is the one important thing every one should do! First of all, it is God’s earnest desire. He would have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He is the only One who can solve all our problems, both national and personal; He is the Friend who can and will help us, if we trust in Him; and above all, He is the only One who can deliver us from the awful penalty of our sins, and restore us to fellowship with God. “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).

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24.

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

ML-09/30/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 16:24-17:4

“IF ANY man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” The Lord had spoken of His going to the cross, now He tells His own that they must be prepared to follow Him, in that path of shame and rejection in this world. They were not to allow the great trials of life to hold them back from following Him. For those who sacrifice everything to make headway in this world will be disappointed. But those who do not allow such things to hinder them from following Him will find comfort in Him.

Then He asks, “For what is a man profited, if He shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” There have been those who have sought to gain a large part of this world, but have also found out too late that they had lost their own soul.

Then the Lord speaks of a time coming when the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward men for their works. This will be after He has taken home to the glory those of this present age who have put their trust in Him. Then He will come back and take up the cause of those who have passed through the great tribulation (Psalm 2).

After this the Lord tells the disciples, “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.” This takes place in the next chapter.

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a nigh mountain apart.” The three disciples who were to be witnesses of His humiliation in the garden were wit nesses of His glory on the mount. It is wonderful to think that not only could the Lord Himself ascend into that glory but He could take others there with Him. For us He went to the cross in order that He might have us with Him in that glory.

Here on the mountain the disciples see the Lord in His glory — the glory that belongs to Him as Son of man when He comes in His kingdom to judge and reign. “His face did shine as the sun” — which speaks of all supreme glory; “and His raiment was white as the light” — His walk, His ways, His manner of life on earth, were such that they shone in all the brightness of the heavenly glory.

“And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him” — they were associated with Him in that glory. Moses represents those who have died in faith and will be raised from the dead, while Elias represents the living who are caught up at His coming. In Luke 9:31 it says, they “spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem,” and no doubt they spoke of what His decease should mean They were not looking back to the law and the prophets, but on to redemption. Their being in glory with Him depended on the redemption that He would accomplish. What privilege for poor sinners to ha been able to gaze upon the Son of God in glory, and to have been manifested with Him in the same glory upon earth; to be His companions, talk with Him, and to know that they have been loved as He had been by of His Father.

ML-09/30/1962

The Star in the Window

IN THIS country during the First World War any household that had given a son to the war was permitted to place a star on the window pane. One night a man was walking down the street with his little boy in New York. The little fellow was interested in the lighted windows of the houses, and clapped his hands whenever he saw a star. As they passed house after house he would exclaim: “Oh Daddy, look, there’s another house that has given a son to the war! And there’s another! There’s one with two stars! And look! There’s a house with no star at all!”

At last they came to a break in the houses. Through the gap could be seen the evening star shining brightly in the sky. The little fellow paused, holding his breath. “Oh, look, Daddy,” he cried, “God must have given His Son, for He has got a star in His window.”

Indeed God has given His Son, as the little boy had rightly said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” to die upon the cross for sin, not for any favored nation, but for all men and women, boys and girls, everywhere, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

But what a difference between the death of God’s dear Son and the death of any other man under heaven. Whoever gave their son willingly to die for their enemies? But God gave His Son to die for us when we were enemies. He knew well how sinful man would treat Him. He gave Him in love for you, for me, and for all.

“That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Have you, dear young reader, believed in Him yet? Are your sins all forgiven, and are you on your way to heaven?

ML-10/07/1962

Christian Courage

DURING the World War a captain noticed a private in the trench reading a pocket New Testament. He hated God, so sneered at the private, saying, “What are you doing with that Book? It will make you as cowardly as an old woman.”

“Not at all, sir,” said the private. “Since I came to read and understand this Book I have no fear of death.”

At that moment a shell dropped in the trench and the private was blown to bits. The captain saw the Book was unharmed, so he took it to his dugout and read it. Light shone into his darkened heart. He turned to the Lord whom he found gracious, and ready to receive him. Then he got leave and led his family to God. When he went back to the battlefield, he took a large quantity of New Testaments along which he distributed to the men in the trenches, and thus became a bright testimony for Christ there.

ML-10/07/1962

Enter, Enter!

A LITTLE girl, only eight years old, coming home with her mother from a gospel meeting, said, “Oh Mother, I don’t think that hymn ends right, because, you see, it leaves the Saviour out at the close.” She was speaking of the hymn the last verse of which runs:

“Knocking, knocking, — what, still there?

Knocking, knocking, grand and fair.

Yes, the pierced hand still knocketh,

And beneath the crowned hair

Beam the patient eyes, so tender,

Of the Saviour waiting there.”

“I don’t think it ought to end like that,” said the child. So, with her mind and heart filled with this thought, she remained for a while shut up in her room. At last she came out and slipped a little bit of paper into her mother’s hand. “There, Mother!” she exclaimed; “I think it ought to have something at the end like that.”

Her mother opened the paper and read:

“Enter! Enter! Heavenly Guest!

Welcome! welcome to my breast.

I have long withstood Thy knocking.

For my heart was full of sin;

But Thy love hath overcome me,

Blessed Saviour! — oh, come in!”

That little child knew and loved the Lord Jesus. She had opened her young heart to Him, and she longed that others should do so too.

Now, you who read this are not too young to let the Lord Jesus enter into your hearts. He is willing to do so. More than that, He is “knocking, knocking,” and saying, “Let Me in.”

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

Memory Verse: “I, EVEN I, AM HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT THY TRANSGRESSIONS FOR MINE OWN SAKE, AND WILL NOT REMEMBER THY SINS.” Isa. 43:25.

ML-10/07/1962

"Don't Wake Daddy"

AT AN open-air meeting the leader asked for the testimonies of any of those present who had found Christ as their Saviour and were on their way to heaven. While this part of the meeting was in progress there passed by a skeptic—one who neither believed in God nor in the power of the gospel.

He would have passed right on, but just at that moment the testimony of a drunkard reached his ears. He paused and listened. The former I drunkard was telling how Jesus had saved his soul and delivered him from the terrible slavery of drink.

The skeptic was unable to hold back a few open remarks, which were heard by all those standing around. Said he, “It is nothing more than a dream, religion saving a man in this manner — just a mere belief and nothing in it,” and so on.

No one at first answered the skeptic; but God had His own special way of dealing with him.

Among the group of listeners who gathered around was a little girl about ten or eleven years old. She approached him timidly.

“If you please, sir,” she said, “if it’s only a dream, don’t wake him—that’s my daddy!”

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

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17.

ML-10/07/1962

Bible Questions for October

The Children’s Class

1. “In Him is no darkness.”

2. “Doeth the will of God.”

3. “We should love one another.”

4. “He loved us.”

5. “Hath both the Father and the Son.”

6. “He that doeth good is of God.”

7. “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”

The Young People’s Class

1. Did the Lord answer Saul when the host of the Philistines caused him to tremble? 1 Sam. 28.

2. Can those who have not lived in the fear of the Lord expect to have a similar experience? Prov. 1.

3. To whom did Saul turn in this extremity? 1 Sam.

4. How had the people of Israel been instructed regarding those that consulted with familiar spirits? Deut. 18.

5. What sin is likened unto witchcraft? 1 Sam. 15.

6. Did Samuel appear before Saul? 1 Sam.

7. What verse tells us of the One who holds the keys of death and hell, Instructing us that Samuel’s appearance was due to a power superior to that of this wicked practitioner? Rev. 1.

ML-10/07/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 17:5-9

PRIOR TO this scene on the mountain top, the disciples had never seen the faces of Moses and Elias before, yet Peter recognizes them perfectly well here. In heaven the redeemed of the Lord will surely know each other. “There none will seem a stranger, though never known before.”

Peter, rejoicing to see His Master in company with two such honored Old Testament servants of God, makes the mistake in thinking that they were on an equality in that glory, and says: “Lord,... let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” He had forgotten his confession of Jesus as the “Christ, the Son of the living God,” of whom no Old Testament worthy could be an equal. But the Father could not allow the suggestion of such equality to stand. Even while Peter was speaking, “Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them.” It was the cloud of Jehovah’s presence. Moses and Elias disappear, and they heard the Father’s voice from the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Whatever might be the honor God had put upon Moses and Elias, they were not to be compared with His beloved Son. The Person of Christ eclipses all. Furthermore it was not the voice of the lawgiver nor of the prophets, but the Son in all His love revealing the Father, whom they must now hear. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.

The disciples were frightened and fell on their faces. “And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only.” The vision had vanished, but Jesus remained. What a comfort this must have been to their hearts! The disciples entered but little into the meaning of this scene then, but afterward the Spirit of God recalled it to them. Peter in his second epistle, speaks of “the Power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” of how they “were eyewitnesses of His majesty... when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory,... when we were with Him in the holy mount.” The vision of coming glory was to strengthen the faith of the servants of the Lord in the sorrows and persecutions they had to endure for His name’s sake.

The wonderful scene the disciples had just witnessed had passed away and now we find them descending the mountain. But the same One in whose blessed company they had been on the mount now goes down with them. And this is the precious portion of the Christian — he has Christ and His glory before him at the end of the journey, and he has Christ as his companion along the road.

The Lord tells His disciples not to speak of what they had seen until after He was risen from the dead. The vision of glory was for them only, and not for the world, for the kingdom of Christ had been rejected.

It was according to God’s counsels that we should be with Christ, like Moses and Elias, in that same glory with Himself. This is our place the Redeemer with His redeemed God has marked us out beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son in order that He might be the firstborn among brethren.

ML-10/07/1962

The Unbarred Door

MR. RICHARD WEAVER, along with others, was to preach the gospel in a big city. It was his first visit there. They were to speak in the open air and a gentleman who occupied the chair gave the speakers only ten minutes each. However, Mr. Weaver declined to be bound by the ten-minute rule. He preached with great power on the mercy of God and of the love of Christ. Many were convicted of their sins and need of salvation. Some were so overcome that they were carried unconscious into a church nearby.

Among these was a young girl who had left her home nine years before. When she came to, she sat up and her first words were, “Christ for me.”

With a sense of pardon filling her soul she started for home. She begged by day and traveled by night. Barefooted, sorefooted, and weary she toiled on, sustained, as she afterwards told the preacher, by the thought of seeing her mother again.

It was late at night when she arrived at her old home place. A light shone through the window of the little cottage on the hillside. She reached the door and knocked, but there was no answer.

Her old widowed mother lay in bed. She didn’t know what to make of that knocking at so late an hour. The girl trembled outside with cold, and knocked again and again. Still there was no answer. At last she put her hand on the latch and lifted it. To her surprise the door opened at once. The old mother cried out, “Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Mother,” replied the wearied daughter.

Her mother sprang out of bed, turned up the light that she might see her daughter better, and in a moment had clasped her in a warm and loving embrace. Soon the poor prodigal was sitting at a little table on which appeared a warm and refreshing supper. Her mother sat near her, her eyes wet with tears of joy.

By and by the daughter said, “Mother, how is it that the door was not locked tonight?”

“My dear girl,” replied her mother, her heart almost too full for words, “that door has never been locked since you left nine years ago. I thought you would come back home to your mother, and I left it unlocked for you.”

This touching story reminds us of how long God has left open the door of mercy, waiting in patience for prodigals, wandering in the fields of sin, to return home.

How often He waits in vain! But oh what joy fills all heaven when a sinner repents and turns to the Lord!

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10.

“Come! the Father’s house stands open,

With its love and light and song;

And returning to that Father

All to you may now belong.

From sin’s distant land of famine,

Toiling ‘neath the midday sun,

To a Father’s house of plenty,

And a Father’s welcome, Come!”

There is now a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, for all who will come. (Heb. 10: 19, 20.)

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

Memory Verse: “THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” 1 John 5:13.

ML-10/14/1962

"My Motor"

A CHRISTIAN lady was visiting an elderly woman one day. She had been there often before and was a welcome visitor. Presently a little boy of three ran into the room. The lady knew him well, as she knew the rest of the family, but she had never learned his name. To her he was “little sweetheart.”

He welcomed her joyfully, and climbed up on her knee, nestling close to her as he loved to do. During a pause in the conversation with Granny she asked the child, “Little Sweetheart, who loves you?

“Mummy.”

“And who else?”

“Daddy.”

“And who else?”

“Granny and Lily.”

“And do you know that the Lord Jesus loves you?”

“Who’s He? Where does He live?”

“He lives up above the bright blue sky, and He loves Little Sweetheart, loves him very much, and takes care of him day by day.” And thinking of Granny sitting and listening as well as the little boy on her knee, the lady told the gospel story.

She told of the One who so loved that He gave Himself — so loved Little Sweetheart, and all those other ones, that He left the glory and His own Father, and came down to the earth to live a poor Man, and die the death of the cross for sinners.

The little boy listened to it all, and then suddenly he sat straight up, his little chin thrust out, his eyes ablaze with determination.

“I’ll give Him my motor!” he declared. “I’ll give Him my bicycle!”

Tears filled the lady’s eyes as she heard the little one’s words. It was apparently the first time the child had heard that story and it had grieved his heart. His most dearly loved possessions were not too great to give to One who loved him like that.

And you and I, who have heard this story so often — have we given anything? Have you given yourself to Him who loves you so dearly? He loves you as He loves Little Sweetheart. He came to this earth, leaving the glory and His Father, and suffered, bled and died that your sins might be washed away. And He wants you to accept His gift, the everlasting life He died to procure.

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” Ps. 95:7, 8.

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

ML-10/14/1962

What Can I Do

ON A STREET in Taiping, Mr. Hudson Taylor, the well-known missionary met an anxious Chinese.

“My name is Dzing,” he said. “The question which distresses me, and to which I can find no answer is, what am Ito do with my sins? Our scholars tell us that there is nothing after death, but I find it hard to believe them. I lie on my bed and think of these things. I sit alone in the daytime and think of them. I think and think, and think again, but I cannot tell what is to be done about my sins. I am seventy-two years of age. I cannot expect to live many years more. I know not what will become of me even tomorrow. Can you tell me what to do with my sins?”

“I can indeed,” Mr. Taylor replied. “It is to answer this very question that we have come to this land. Lien, and I will explain to you what you want to know.”

Hudson Taylor then told him the wonderful story of the cross, how the Lord Jesus Christ there took the place of guilty, lost sinners, and there suffered the punishment that really bonged to us on account of our sins. There God poured out on the Lord Jesus all His wrath against sin. Now —today—God says that if you will simply trust in Jesus as your Saviour, He will never punish you for your sins; Jesus bore it all. All that is left for you to do is to accept God’s wonderful offer. It is free and it is for lost sinners.

Mr. Dzing heard that thrilling news and he accepted God’s offer of salvation. His sins were put away. Now God will never judge him as a sinner.

You can have that same salvation if you will but own yourself a lost sinner and take Jesus as your Saviour.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.

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

ML-10/14/1962

News Not Out of Date

I ONCE asked a man on the train, who was reading his daily paper, what the difference was between a newspaper and the Bible. He looked inquisitively at me, and said he did not know.

“Well,” said I, " you’ll not be reading that paper tomorrow, will you?” “No, sir, I won’t.” “But why not?” I asked. “Why, because it will be out of date,” he replied.

“That’s it,” I said. “The newspaper, which was printed last night, is out of date in a few hours; but the Bible, which was finished nearly nineteen hundred years ago, and which took seventeen or eighteen hundred years to write, is not out of date yet, and never will be.”

“The word of the Lord endureth forever.” 1 Pet. 1:25.

ML-10/14/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 17:10-27

THE LORD had called Peter, James and John to witness that wonderful scene on the mount of transfiguration, where He displayed His glory. Now as they descend from the mountain they witness another scene — the display of the power of Satan. While they were on the mount the other disciples had remained below. A distracted father comes to the Lord saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” The disciples were unable to use the power which the Lord had committed to them. Their faith was not equal to the occasion. The Lord answers with the words, “O faithless and perverse generation,... bring him hither to Me.” He rebukes the evil spirit which possessed the child, the demon departs, and the child is cured.

The disciples want to know why they could not cast out the demon. He tells them it was on account of their unbelief, for “this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” This incident shows that while they had faith as to the Person of the Lord, they did not bring that faith into the circumstances of everyday life. However, the Lord did not allow the unbelief of His disciples to hinder the outflow of blessing. He acts and the faith of the poor father is rewarded.

Whatever power is available to the servants of the Lord, it can only be used in the same spirit that the One who gave it used it. It was only available by prayer, fasting and self-denial.

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Faith brings down the power of God into our circumstances; that faith may be small but if it is in exercise it will avail for present trials. Even mountains, symbol of the world’s power, or whatever may hinder the child of God, will vanish before faith.

It was after this, while they abide in Galilee, the Lord again tells His disciples of His betrayal, His death and His resurrection. “And they were exceeding sorry.”

They now come to Capernaum where Jesus dwelt. The tax-gatherer who received the tribute money for the temple, came to Peter and asked him if his Master paid the tribute. It seems that for the moment at least Peter had forgotten the vision and the Father’s voice from heaven, and desiring that his Master be considered a loyal Jew, answered, Yes. When they were come into the house, the Lord, who knew all that Peter had said, demanded of Peter, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of-whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” Peter rightly answers, “Of strangers.” What wonderful grace there is in the Lord’s words, “Then are the children free.” He is the King and while He is about to prove His divine glory He shows us the place that we have with Him. Peter was to go to the sea and cast in a hook. The first fish that came up would have a piece of money in its mouth—exactly the required amount for both Himself and Peter. This showed His divine power as Creator, for a fish does not hold anything, but swallows whatever it gets in its mouth.

ML-10/14/1962

"Get My Mother in"

A WELL known preacher was about to retire one night when there came a knock at the front door. Upon answering it he found a poor little girl drenched with rain. From the slum district where she lived she had come through the storm to find the preacher. As he stood looking into her thin, haggard little face, she inquired, “Are you the preacher?”

“Yes, I am,” he replied.

“Well, won’t you come down and get my mother in?” she asked.

The preacher wisely answered his little inquirer: “My dear, it is hardly proper for me to come and get your mother in. If she is drunk, you should get a policeman. He is dressed for the occasion.”

“Oh, sir,” she replied in haste. “You don’t understand! My mother isn’t drunk; she’s at home dying, and she’s afraid to die. She wants to go to heaven, but doesn’t know how. I told her I would find a preacher to get her in. Come quick, sir; she’s dying!”

The preacher could not resist the appeal of the little night caller, so he promised her he would come as soon as he was dressed. As he walked with the little girl through the night, she led him into the slum district to an old house, up a rickety stairway, along a dark hall, and finally to a lone room, where the dying woman lay in the corner.

“I’ve got the preacher for you, Mother. He wasn’t ready to come at first, but he’s here. You just tell him what you want, and do what he tells you, and he’ll get you in!”

At that the poor woman raised her feeble voice and asked, “Can you do anything for a sinner like me? My life has been lived in sin, and now that I’m dying I feel that I’m going to hell, but I don’t want to go there; I want to go to heaven. What can I do now?”

On his own confession the great preacher declared, “I stood there looking into that face and thought, What can I tell her? I have been preaching salvation by reformation, but this poor soul has gone too far to reform. I have been preaching salvation by character, but she hasn’t any. I’ve been proclaiming salvation by ‘ethical culture,’ but she wouldn’t know what the word means and bides she hasn’t time for that. Then it came to me, Why not tell her what your mother used to tell you as a boy. She’s dying, and it can’t hurt her even if it doesn’t do her any good.”

So bending down beside her the preacher began: “My dear woman, God is very gracious and kind, and in His Book, the Bible, He says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ "

“Oh,” exclaimed the dying woman, “does it say that in the Bible? My! That ought to get me in. But, sir, my sins, my sins!”

It was amazing the way the verses came back to him. “My dear woman,” he continued, “the Bible says that ‘the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ "

“All sin, did you say?” she asked earnestly. “Does it really say, ALL sin? That ought to get me in.”

“Yes,” he replied, kneeling down beside her. “It says ALL sin. The Bible also says that ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’ "

“Well,” she said, “if the chief got in, I can come. Pray for me, sir!”

With that the preacher bent down and prayed with that poor woman and SHE GOT IN. And in the process, “while she was getting in,” he confessed, “I MYSELF got in. We two sinners, the preacher and that poor woman, were saved together that night in the little room.”

“YE KNOW THAT YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD,...BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.

ML-10/21/1962

"I Am the Door"

THE LORD JESUS says: “I an the Door: by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” John 10:9. Again, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

The Lord Jesus is the Door. He does not say “a” door, for there is no other door. The church is not the door; the Ten Commandments are not the door, neither are reformation nor good works the door, as many would like to believe. Jesus is the only door; and a sinner must have to do with Him to have his sins forgiven and washed away, before he can enter in.

The preacher’s good living didn’t get him in, nor did the poor woman’s bad life keep her out. Both were sinners— “for all have sinned"—and as such they entered through the same Door to life and peace, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One door, and only one

And yet its sides are two:

Inside and outside.

On which side are you?

ML-10/21/1962

The Big Swede and the Irishman

MEL TROTTER was a broken man, a drunkard and a dope addict. Penniless, hungry and cold as well, he had decided to end his life by jumping into Lake Michigan. He was on his way to the lake and was walking along State Street in Chicago. As he passed a Christian mission a friendly voice called to him, inviting him to come in.

Inside that mission Mel Trotter found a warm welcome. He was given a meal, which with the warmth from a stove, combined to fill some of his needs.

The kind folks who operated that mission were glad to do this for anyone but they had something even better. Mr. Trotter was invited to stay and during the evening he heard the story of God’s love toward wicked, lost sinners. He heard how to be saved by simply believing that Jesus had died on account of his sins.

When the preacher had finished the gospel story, here and there in the audience men stood up, and one by one they told what God had done for them when they had taken Jesus as their Saviour. Mel Trotter listened with amazement. One man, whom he later referred to as “a big Swede” told how the Lord Jesus had saved him from hell and saved him too from being a drunkard and a dope addict. This was just what Mel Trotter needed and he thought to himself, “If God can save a Swede like him, He can save an Irishman like me.” Then he cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”

God heard that cry and right then and there Mel Trotter was saved. As with the Swede, the shackles of dope and drink fell from him too. Now all thought of suicide was gone. Joy and peace filled his heart.

Perhaps you feel that you are not so bad a sinner as Mel Trotter or the big Swede. Perhaps you feel that you don’t need a Saviour at all. But God’s Word, the Bible, speaks truly and it speaks to you when it says, “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. At the same time the Bible says, “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

ML-10/21/1962

The Harvest Past

LIFT me up to see the fields once again, Father, the fields in which we reaped the corn a month ago.” The dying man’s request was granted, and then exhausted by the effort, he sank back upon his pillow, and covering his face with his hands mournfully said, “The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.” The closing words were repeated slowly with a trembling voice, and then he lapsed into unconsciousness from which he never woke.

That night he entered eternity, I fear, poor fellow, by the gaping door of procrastination. Once and again he had been awakened to see himself a sinner, in need of a Saviour, but he was so fully occupied with football and other amusements, that he seemed to get his convictions stifled as soon as they arose, and soon forgot all about God and eternity. After a short, unsatisfactory career, he was laid down to die, and passed away into the eternal world as I have told you. What an end for a bright young fellow such as he was! What a death! What an eternity!

Are you following in the same course? How will it be with you when you come to die? Pause a moment and think. He was not ignorant, for his early years were spent in a godly home, where they taught him the truth of God, and sought to lead him to the Saviour. But he did not like to be restrained. He would be his own master; so he left his father’s house, took lodgings for himself, and went in, heart and soul, for pleasures of every kind. Very soon he showed indifference to the things of God, refused to go to hear the Word, and became a scoffer. Then he was brought home to die, and after a short illness, he passed into eternity.

“He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Prov. 29:1.

ML-10/21/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 18:1-17

IN CHAPTER 18 the disciples come to Jesus and ask Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This draws out His further teachings on the kingdom and the Church. The Lord sets a little child in their midst and tells them that they must be converted, or born again, and become as little children to enter into the kingdom of heaven. To humble oneself as a little child was the way to become greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The Lord Jesus, though ever conscious of His glory, on earth took the place of a little child in humility. This was entirely opposed to Jewish thoughts of greatness. In the last chapter the Lord has shown us our place as sons of glory, here He is teaching us that humility that becomes us as well.

The Lord goes on to say, “Whosoever shall receive one such little child in My name” shall be counted as receiving Himself. But He then warns about offending one of these little ones that believe in Him, to turn them aside from following Him. If one did offend one of these little ones, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and he were drowned in the sea. These little ones are the special objects of the Father’s care. They were not to be despised, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” It does not say that they are innocent; every child is born with a fallen nature, but the Lord Jesus went to the cross that they might be saved. He does not speak here as He does in Luke 19:10 — “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” There He is speaking of those of a more mature fallen nature. He has to seek such.

Then we have the beautiful story of the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the ninety and nine, who have not the sense of being lost, and goes after the lost one. He rejoices more over it than over the others. How beautifully He adds: “Even so it is not the will 9f your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” It is a sweet illustration of the interest of the Father and all heaven in those who work among children.

In verses 15-20 for the second time the Lord in His ministry speaks of the Church, or the assembly. With Himself in the midst, it was to occupy the place He had with them during the years of His earthly ministry. Since He was to be no longer present, it was a place where difficulties arising among His people should be settled. “If thy brother trespass against thee...” A case of personal trespass is mentioned, and a course is laid out whereby the offending brother might be gained, and set right. In the spirit of love he was to go to the brother and tell him his fault, and seek to win him. If this failed he was to take one or two witnesses and go to his brother again. Perhaps in their presence he might be humbled and thus gained. But if these means are of no avail and the offending one manifests a willful spirit, refusing to listen to the entreaties given in the presence of witnesses, then — and not till then — was the matter to be brought to the attention of the assembly. There are then entreaties and admonitions by the assembly, and if not received he is to be regarded as a heathen — afar from God; and a publican — who uses his position in the world for personal gain, without considering the cause of righteousness.

ML-10/21/1962

The Friend of the Red-Legged Partridges

BREAKING through the soft earth of a newly-sown field of grain, a man was seen slowly and painfully to struggle out of his grave. He had been seized and stowed away as dead in the larder of a crocodile — a cave in the river bank.

Here is the whole story, as told by John A. Clarke, of Katanga, Belgian Congo: Mr. Clarke had just purchased and handed to his cook a partridge which looked like good eating. A little way from his compound he saw a native coming at the run. Out of breath, the man said: “Bwana, have you just bought a red-legged partridge?”

“Yes,” said the missionary, “What about it?”

" I want to redeem it,” was the reply.

“Too late,” said the missionary, “the cook has just killed it.”

The man’s distress was evident. The missionary was interested, and got his story from him.

Some years before, the African man had been taken by a crocodile, which had carried him off under the river bank and placed him, apparently drowned, with a badly torn leg, on a ledge where the water was only inches deep. (The crocodile is said to like its meat “high” and always has a larder somewhere handy.) He woke up very sick and in great pain, got rid of most of the water he had swallowed, and began to take note of his surroundings. The cave floor was under water and the air was very stuffy. The roof was of earth. As he lay, he heard something tapping on it. Listening and wondering, he decided that he must be under a patch of cultivation which came to the river’s edge. The tapping was made by the red-legged partridges, which were picking up the seeds which had fallen on the hard ground of the river bank. So the roof could not be very thick. He managed to scrape a hole through and was rescued.

“Bwana,” he said, “I’m known as ‘the friend of the red-legged partridges.’ They saved my life, and whenever I can I buy them and set them free.”

We believe the missionary did not lose the opportunity of telling the native man of One who has done far more for us all than the red-legged partridges. It cost those birds nothing, but the African was very grateful. It cost the Lord Jesus His life’s blood to rescue and redeem us from the place of death where sin had brought us. Satan had taken us captives and we would perish had not Jesus come down to save us. The African got out of his prison alone, but no one can ever get free from sin and Satan by their own efforts. No one can escape the judgment of God against sin except they take Christ as their Saviour.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8,9. Those who think they can save themselves only perish in their sins.

Christ alone can save

Break the power of sin;

Christ doth fully satisfy

The heart that cleaves to Him.

ML-10/28/1962

The Letter

JAMES Monson unfolded the paper that was handed him and read the words that were written there.

“JAMES: — I WANT YOU TO COME AND SEE ME AT SIX O’CLOCK, AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT THE FACTORY. YOURS FAITHFULLY,......

Promptly at six o’clock, the young man went to his employer, who had written the above note. When he entered the office, after a pause, the gentleman looked up from his desk and asked, “Do you wish to see one James?”

Somewhat surprised, holding out the note he had received, he said “Here is the letter you sent me.”

“Oh, I see you received my note. When I sent you the message you did as it said. You believed I wanted to see you?”

“Yes, sir. What else could I do?”

“Well, James, you did quite right to come. Now here is another message for you; will you please do what it says.” He handed him another paper. James opened it and there he read.

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

James knew those words from the Bible. He had often been spoken about being saved but he thought there was something he had to do. Now he realized how simple it is believe what God has said. As he looked at the words, he stood there thinking, not knowing what to do. A last he spoke to the gentleman. "Am I just to believe this in the same way I believed your note?”

“Just in the same way,” was the reply.

Then James saw how he could be saved by simply doing as Jesus said in that verse: “Come unto ME... and I will give you rest.” James had read a message from his employer and he did what it told him to do. In the Bible we read God’s message to lost sinners. Won’t you do what it says?

In Isaiah 1:18 we read, “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.” And, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-10/28/1962

How Do You Come to Jesus?

A QUESTION often asked when a sinner is urged to come to Christ is, “How do I come to Him?”

Many years ago a Christian worker, Mr. Stone, made it a practice to speak to at least one person each day about the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. One evening, as he was thinking about going to bed, he realized that on that day he had not spoken to anyone about Jesus. He looked at the clock and saw it was half-past nine. Was it too late? No, it was not.

Out into the dark the gospel worker went, and passing up a quiet street, he saw a man coming toward him.

“Is this the one the Lord wants me to speak to?” he asked himself.

Mr. Stone saw that he was an elderly man and he greeted him with a comment upon what a fine evening it was. They talked together a little and then Mr. Stone asked, “Sir, have you ever thought of coming to Jesus?”

“Well,” replied the man, “this is strange. I have thought many times of coming to Jesus, but I do not know how to come. Tell me, how do you come to Jesus?”

Quickly and silently Mr. Stone asked God for guidance. At once the thought flashed into his mind to take him back to boyhood days.

“Well,” said Mr. Stone, “you remember when you were a little boy.” The old man brightened as his thoughts turned back 60 or 70 years.

“How did you take your first step? You were too young to remember that but probably your mother placed you against a chair, stood off a little, held out her arms, and said, ‘Come, come to mother, come along, take a step.’ She didn’t pull you; she didn’t push the chair away. She waited; she coaxed. You ventured out, you took that first step, and in a moment you were in your mother’s arms.”

“Yes,” said the old man, “that is how I took the first step, I am sure.”

“Then,” said Mr. Stone, “as a guilty sinner in the sight of God, will you here and now take the step, come to the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved? Will you come?”

The old man bowed his head, yielded his heart to the Lord, and then and there was saved with an everlasting salvation.

“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.”

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

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

“HE THAT HANDLETH A MATTER WISELY SHALL FIND GOOD: AND WHOSO TRUSTETH IN THE LORD HAPPY IS HE.” Prov. 16:20.

ML-10/28/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 18:18-35

THE LORD JESUS has been speaking to His disciples about matters of discipline. He shows them that what has been done in His name is very far reaching. Their action in such matters is a very solemn thing and is regarded by Him as the carrying out of His will in discipline. These actions are recognized in heaven. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” How encouraging this is!

Peter then supposes the case of a brother who sins against him over and over again, and he asks the Lord, how often should he forgive him? “till seven times?” This was the limit of grace in Peter’s mind, but the Lord teaches us that forgiveness is always to be in the heart of a believer. “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

This brings out the beautiful parable of the unjust debtor. A certain king had a servant which owed him ten thousand talents — a debt which a servant could never pay. He entreats the king saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” The king graciously forgives him the debt. The same servant goes out and finds a fellow servant which owed him a hundred pence — a small debt compared to that which had been forgiven him. But he takes the man by the throat and demands, “Pay me that thou owest.” The poor man entreats him saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” But he refuses and casts him into prison. When the king heard of it he was angry at the man and denouncing him as a wicked servant turned him over to the tormentors. In a typical way this was true of the Jews. They had accumulated a debt toward God which they could never pay. They had broken the law and had slain the Son of God. However, God in His mercy through the gospel preached by Peter, sent them a message of forgiveness. Yet in spite of the grace shown toward them they acted the part of the unjust servant in their attitude toward the Gentiles. They proved themselves enemies of the grace of God which would go out to Gentiles as well. As a result they are given up to punishment, until the time when the Lord shall say of Jerusalem, “she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Isa. 40:2. The blood of Christ will be applied to their great debt; the believing remnant will be forgiven and set free, while the unbelieving part of the nation will go into everlasting judgment.

But the teachings of this parable surely apply to us individually. We as children of the kingdom, as imitators of God, ought always to be ready to forgive where it is a case of personal trespass. One who has tasted of the mercy of God, if walking with Him, will have that same spirit of grace and be ready to pardon those who have wronged him. When we read of the Lord in the gospels and of how He conducted Himself here on earth, we find that He did not resent in His ministry that which was merely against Himself, but He did denounce in the strongest terms that which affected the operations of God in this world by His Holy Spirit.

ML-10/28/1962

A Little Pig That Needed a Saviour

A FRIEND who goes about preaching the gospel was talking to some Sunday school children about the Lord Jesus. “Sinners can’t save themselves,” he said, “and even angels can’t save them. Perhaps if I tell you a little story it will help you to see what Jesus has done for poor, helpless, lost sinners.

“Several years ago I was visiting on a farm in Ontario. After breakfast one morning I went out to the barnyard to have a look around. I heard a lot of squealing and it sounded to me as though something was wrong. The farmer was busy in the field so I went to see where the noise was coming from. I soon discovered what had happened.

“The farmer had built a concrete pit which he used for cooling milk. The pit was kept full of water and a young pig had fallen in. He was doing all the squealing and the mother pig was all excited too, for she could not get her baby out of the water. The little one was paddling around as best he could, but if he were not rescued soon, he would tire himself out and drown.

“I could save the little pig, so I got down on the edge of the pit, took him by the ears and quickly had him out on the dry ground. Away Piggie ran with his mother.

“A long time ago, the Lord Jesus looked down from heaven and saw poor, lost sinners who could never, never save themselves, from sin and Satan and hell. Then the Lord Jesus came to earth; He was born in Bethlehem, grew up as a boy and became a man. He went about doing good, and then He went to Calvary’s hill, near Jerusalem, where wicked men nailed Him to a cross. There the Lord Jesus died for sinners. God said that because the Lord Jesus died to put away sin, if anyone simply believed in Him and confessed in words something like these, ‘I deserved to die for my sin, but Jesus died for me,’ then that one need not perish but would have everlasting life. There is no other way to be saved.”

No, just as that little pig could not save itself from drowning, neither can you save yourself from sin. Working for salvation won’t do it; waiting won’t do; wishing, hoping, crying over your sins — nothing will save you except faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners. The little pig needed someone much greater than himself and someone came to him just in time. The Lord Jesus came to save you from an eternity in hell. And more than that, He has promised to come again to take all who believe away to heaven to be with Him forever.

But the time to be saved is short for after He comes it will be too late. He is coming soon, perhaps today.

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

Memory Verse: “MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART, AND LET THINE EYES OBSERVE MY WAYS.” Prov. 23:26.

ML-11/04/1962

The Siberian Leper

A MISSIONARY, who had been in Siberia, told this deeply interesting story. He was visiting one day among a collection of Tartar tents. In one he found a poor native lying in the last stages of leprosy. As the missionary looked upon him, he lifted up his eyes and fastening them on his face he said, “I know you.”

“How can that be?” replied the missionary. “Have you ever seen me before?”

“Oh yes, I have,” replied the dying man. “Did you not preach in a bazaar somewhere three years ago?”

“I can’t really tell,” replied the missionary. “I have no particular remembrance of it.”

“Don’t you remember,” said the man in a tone of wonder, “you stood on the steps of a house?”

“Oh yes,” answered the other, “I remember it now.”

“And do you remember what you preached there?”

“No,” said the missionary, “I have no recollection.”

“You told us,” said the man, “about Jesus who died to save sinners, and that men of every nation might come to Him, and He would receive them and save them. Oh, sir, I never heard such things before. I then believed in Jesus, and received Him as my Saviour; but I never heard of Him before or since. Now I am dying, and am looking to no one else but Him to help me.”

How wonderful the love of God to send the gospel to that poor man so that he might believe and go to heaven! And it is wonderful too that he had the assurance of His soul’s salvation before he left this world. All this and much more God gives to those who trust in Jesus, His beloved Son. Soon after, this dear man went home to be with the Lord who so loved him and gave Himself for him.

ML-11/04/1962

What Will You Do With Your Voice?

“WHAT a beautiful voice you have,” said a gentleman to a young lady who had just sung for a group of people. She thanked him for his compliment but when he continued to speak and asked whether she were a Christian and loved the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, she replied with cold indifference,

“I am not a Christian and so I suppose that I do not love the Saviour.”

“Then my dear young friend,” said he, “what will you do with that voice in eternity? Shall it be used in uttering the wailing of the lost forever and ever?”

He said no more, but turned away with a sad heart and left her to her own thoughts. But that solemn question followed her everywhere; it rang in her ears by day and mingled with her dreams in the quiet hours of the night. Nor did it leave her until she found peace in believing in Jesus. Then she was prepared to joyfully sing about the love of God here on earth. And soon she would join the hosts of saved ones in heaven, there to sing the song of the Lamb throughout the ages of eternity.

Reader, what sound will your voice give in eternity? “There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42) if you neglect or reject God’s salvation. Accept Christ today as your own Saviour and then in heaven your voice will join in singing that new song of glory and praise.

ML-11/04/1962

Bible Questions for November

The Children’s Class

1. “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins.”

2. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.”

3. “Redeemed us to God by Thy blood.”

4. “Washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

5. “In those days shall men seek death.”

6. “He shall reign forever and ever.”

7. “Now is come salvation, and strength.”

The Young People’s Class

1. When Samuel appeared before the terrified Saul, was there any suggestion that he welcomed the experience of communicating with those on earth? 1 Sam. 28.

2. What assurance do we have that those who die in the Lord would not desire to be brought back to this scene? Phil. 1.

3. Would those who refuse the gospel be persuaded even if one were permitted to rise from the dead? Luke 16.

4. What explanation did Samuel have for the Lord’s becoming the enemy of Saul? 1 Sam.

5. Will those who do not obey the gospel be considered enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ in the day of vengeance? 2 Thess. 1.

6. How did Samuel signify that Saul and his sons would be numbered among the dead on the morrow? 1 Sam.

7. After the dead are judged before the great white throne, what difference will there be in the final abode of the righteous and unrighteous? Matt. 25.

ML-11/04/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 19:1-22

THE LORD leaves Galilee and begins His last journey to Jerusalem. He is approached by the Pharisees who, knowing His graciousness, would seek to get Him entangled with the law of Moses on the matter of dissolving the marriage tie. He refers them to the beginning of man’s history, of how when the Lord God created Adam and Eve, He had said of man and wife, “they twain shall be one flesh.” The Lord upholds the sanctity of the marriage bond and adds, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

But they come back with another question, Why did Moses give a commandment as to divorce? The Lord’s answer is, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives:” It was not a command, but God allowed it because of the hardness of their hearts. It was not so from the beginning, and there really is only one ground for divorce. It appears that divorce was a very common thing in that day, so that even the disciples say to Jesus, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” The Lord tells them that while there were some who for the kingdom of heaven’s sake did not enter into marriage, yet everyone was not bound to do the same.

Some brought little children unto Him at this time, that He might lay His hands on them and pray for them. A child is a little thing in the eyes of the world, and the disciples in their zeal, thinking little children were unworthy of the Lord’s notice, but rather an annoyance, would have driven them away. The Lord, however, sets aside these unbecoming thoughts of His disciples who had misrepresented Him, and sets forth His own feelings as to little children.

His words on this occasion have ever since been an encouragement to pants and to those who work with children. He says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” “And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence.”

Next there comes to Him a young man who had “great possessions.” Elsewhere we read, “and Jesus loved him,” for he seemed to have been a naturally beautiful character, whose heart was not hardened by sin. But the question he asks shows the purpose of his heart, which only He who searches the heart could bring out. He addresses the Lord as “Good Master.” He had no thought that the One whom He was addressing was God Himself. He sees Him as a good man. “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” He knew the provisions of the law which promised life as long as one fulfilled its demands, but it seems he had some misgivings about that. The Lord answers him, “Why tallest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,” (He doesn’t say eternal life, which can only be had as a gift from God) “keep the commandments.” He refers him to those commandments which have particularly to do with man’s responsibility to his fellow-men. The young man says, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” The Lord then tells him to sell all that he had and give to the poor, “and come and follow Me.” This revealed a covetous heart, for the young man went away sorrowful, unwilling to part with his wealth and to become a follower of the lowly Jesus. This was sad, for we never hear of him again.

ML-11/04/1962

Drummer Jack

A FIERCE battle had been fought, and on the plain the slain and Wounded lay. Moving amid the scenes of suffering and death, there were those who searched the field and bore to the rear the helpless in whom life still lingered.

So it happened that when Cyril Duncan awoke to consciousness, he found himself lying on a narrow hospital bed, badly wounded.

The hospital was very quiet, save for the soft footfall of the nurses, and an occasional sigh or groan from some sufferer. The lamps burned dimly. The night was still. Suddenly a voice, low and intensely thrilling, sounded in his ear: “He loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Cyril Duncan started, and turned on his pillow. Oh, how his head ached when he moved it! His temples throbbed, his tongue was fevered, and his wounds pained him greatly. Presently he heard the voice again, this time singing softly:

“Jehovah lifted up His rod;

O Christ, it fell on Thee!

Thou wast forsaken of Thy God;

No distance now for me:

Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed:

Thy bruising healeth me.”

These words came from the lips of a young boy who lay on the bed next to his own. “Drummer Jack,” as all the regiment affectionately called him, was a gentle, fair-haired boy, about fourteen, with a sweet lovable disposition. He was a great favorite with all, partly owing to the almost heroic bravery he had shown on the field on more than one occasion.

The last line of the verse rang in Cyril’s ears. “What did the words mean?” he asked himself. “Had the Son of God really taken the terrible load of sin on His shoulders, and borne the punishment instead of the sinner?”

His heart grew strangely heavy as the past years rose in review before his fevered vision. Why, oh, why did they come like birds foreshadowing evil to disturb him now? Perhaps he was going to die? Well, he had stood face to face with death many a time, and he would meet it now — if it should come—like a man. But this feeling that somehow or another had crept over him was strangely similar to fear.

Fear of what? Could it be of God? Surely not, when all his life he had prided himself that he could do without God; had boasted that his own strength and manhood were sufficient for him; and now—now that very strength was gone, and he felt so helpless, so weak, as if his very life—aye, and something more than life, his soul, that must live forever —was drifting away into a dark and awful unknown. But his own hands had forged the chain of sin that bound him—a chain that no human hand could break.

A deep groan burst from his parched lips as he realized this, a groan that reached the ear of the boy who had so innocently aroused the unwelcome train of thought and memory.

“Are you in much pain?” asked the boy, looking round.

“Yes, Jack; but I could bear any amount of pain if only my heart and conscience were at rest. Tell me, were those words really true you sang just now?”

“Yes, Cyril, they’re true,” responded the boy, a wonderful light lighting up his countenance. “Soon very soon now,” he continued, “I shall answer to my name in the ‘roll-call’ of Heaven, and I shouldn’t be there at all, if Jesus had not died for me. But there’s room for you, too. I hope you’ll come, old chum!”

Cyril turned on his pillow, and looked long and sadly into the fair open face, so thin and white, yet so peaceful and bright.

“I can’t come, Jack,” he cried in despair. “I’m not one of the right sort. It will be the Devil’s ‘roll-call’ I shall have to answer, no other. How can I meet God when I’ve denied Him all my life? How can I stand before Him and face His righteous judgment all alone? My boy, tell me what to do!”

With an earnest inward prayer that he might have strength sufficient, “Drummer Jack” told his unhappy comrade the old, old story of that wonderful life, triumphant death, and glorious resurrection of the Saviour of sinners. And like a little child Cyril Duncan listened, received and believed his words.

The redeeming love of Christ laid its powerful grasp on his soul. Often did the voice of the brave little “message-bearer” falter and stop, for the sands of life were running low. But he made one great effort to finish his message of divine love and mercy toward him who had wandered so far into sin and unbelief. His voice was very faint and low as he whispered:

" ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of Lord shall be saved.’ Call, Cyril, call! Jesus will hear you. Answer to the roll call, ‘Here!’ "

And the Saviour of sinners heard Cyril Duncan, and as the morning light broke over the distant hills, there came to him the bright, glad dawn of eternal life.

But ere the day again faded to the darkness of night, “Drummer Jack,’ the brave young soldier of the Cross, had gone to answer to his name in the roll call of Heaven.

ML-11/11/1962

I Want You to Know My Saviour

A GENTLEMAN, whose heart was unmoved by the love of Jesus, resisted every effort made by preachers and friends to convince him of that love. At last, all but one of them gave up any hope of his being saved. One Christian man continued to pray for him.

After some time it came into this man’s heart to visit his neighbor, who was a wealthy man and had a fine home. The humble Christian was most anxious to tell about Jesus and in his thoughts he planned exactly what he would say. But when he entered the home and found himself in the presence of the rich gentleman, he forgot everything he had planned to say. His voice broke and tears ran down his cheeks. All he could say was, “Oh, sir, I want you to know my Saviour!”

He turned and left the house, thinking how miserably he had failed in his mission. But where a fine speech might not have reached that man’s heart, the tears of the Christian did. They solemnized him and touched his hard heart. As he thought about the gospel he had so often heard, about the love of the Lord Jesus, and about the longing that others had for him, he realized that he was indeed a lost sinner on the way to hell, but that Christ had died for him. He accepted God’s offer of salvation and took Jesus as his Saviour.

Dear reader, have you ever wondered why the gospel still is preached, why this little paper was prepared and given to you, why friends and relatives are praying for you? It is because we want you to know our Saviour. God wants you to be saved. Christ died so that you could be saved. His messengers plead with you. Won’t you too take Jesus as your Saviour?

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

ML-11/11/1962

"Why Does a Cow Look Over a Wall?"

JOHN WESLEY, it is said, was once walking along with a Christian brother who was telling him about all the troubles he was having. He told Wesley he didn’t know what to do.

Just at this point they were passing a stone fence that went around a meadow. There stood a cow looking over the fence.

“Do you know,” asked Wesley, “why the cow looks over the wall?”

“No,” replied the other, somewhat surprised.

“Because she cannot look through it,” was the answer, “and that is what you must do with your troubles.”

This was good advice. Christian friend, look over your troubles to the Lord, who is on the other side of them. He knows your difficulties; He will bring you through them and bless you on the way.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned.” Isa. 43:2. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear.” Heb. 13:5, 6.

Memory Verse: “LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” Isa. 45:22.

ML-11/11/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 19:22-30

THE RICH young man went away sorrowful. His possessions meant more to him than the lowly Jesus. It is always sad when one who has had to do with the Lord, goes away sorrowful. The Lord would surely have it otherwise, for it is His joy to bless. What greater privilege is there, what pathway so rewarding, than to follow in the footsteps of the blessed Saviour?

The Lord uses this occasion to illustrate the blinding effect of riches on those who would seek to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Verily I say unto you,” He says, “that a rich man shall hardly [with difficulty] enter into the kingdom of heaven.” He doesn’t say he cannot enter in, but it is with difficulty. How often does wealth or anything that gives a man advantage or position in this world, prove a hindrance to the working of the Spirit of God in him. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” The disciples, who evidently were led to regard riches as a sign of God’s blessing on a Jew, are astonished at such teaching, and they ask, “Who then can be saved?” But the Lord goes on to point out to them that what is an impossibility to man naturally is not an impossibility with God. “With God all things are possible.”

Peter then tells the Lord of how they had forsaken all and followed Him, and wishes to know what their reward would be. The Lord gives him a very blessed answer. “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel?” The Lord will work a great change in this world in that day when He sits on the throne of His glory, and the disciples are to have a special place of honor in association with Him in it.

Furthermore, nothing that a believer does or suffers for the Lord will be forgotten of Him in the day of His kingdom. “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Eternal life is the present possession of every believer, but it is also looked at as future as well. It dwells in the heart of the believer now, but here it looks on to the glory where it will be enjoyed in all its fullness. When speaking of sufferings for and with Christ, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle who endured sufferings in a way that perhaps none other has since the Lord was on earth: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18. Again, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Phil. 3:7, 8.

“But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first,” the Lord tells us, for it is not according to man’s estimate, but according to the estimate of Him who has both called and chosen them.

ML-11/11/1962

Too Late!

IN INDIA the greatest sport is tiger hunting. It is an extremely dangerous sport, to say the least. Even though the tiger may be mortally wounded, it might have sufficient strength left to leap on the hunter and maul him to death.

One day in India a hunter went out to hunt tigers. When at last a huge tiger was sighted, he took careful aim and fired. The tiger was hit but not in a vital spot. The hunter fired again and again the tiger was hit. But the next thing, the infuriated beast was seen making for the man. He had three cartridges left and one after the other the first two whizzed through the air, and missed. Taking the greatest possible care the hunter again took aim, hoping his last shot would prove successful. Alas, due to the intense excitement and the rapid movements of the great tiger, he failed miserably.

His next thought was to run for his life. Nearby was a refuge hut, like many others in India built just for such emergencies. To this he sped as fast as he could, the tiger gaining on him at every leap. He reached the hut, and tried the door, but to his horror the door was locked. Oh, if he only had a key! If only the door had been left open as it should have been! But alas, while he tried desperately to force the door open, the savage beast pounced on him. The next day a rescue party found all that was left of the poor hunter.

Thank God, the door of salvation is not locked like that one in the jungle. Sinner friend, “Flee from the wrath to come” — from the judgment against your sins. Flee to the Saviour—the only place of safety. Jesus has died to put away sin, and all who come and put their trust in Him are saved—and safe forevermore. The judgment of God can never touch a soul that is safe in Christ.

The Lord Jesus says, “I am the Door, by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” John 10:9. Perhaps you are just on the threshold, like that poor man in the jungle, but the threshold is no place of safety. One step in faith, though it be ever so weak, will bring you eternal life and everlasting safety. On the other side of that threshold is everything you need for time and eternity. Choose Christ Jesus as your Saviour now, before it is too late. “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Job. 22:21. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

“RICHES SHALL NOT PROFIT IN THE DAY OF WRATH: BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVERETH FROM DEATH.” Prov. 11:4.

ML-11/18/1962

Just on the Threshold

Just on the threshold! oh, why not come in,

Leaving the mazes of darkness and sin?

Forward the light, and the glory divine;

Backward the dangers, and woes that were thine.

Just on the threshold, and joy near at hand;

Yonder’s the gleam of Immanuel’s land!

Refuge and rest are now offered to thee:

Sin or salvation — oh, which shall it be?

Just on the threshold—oh, make now thy choice;

Come with the servants of Christ, and rejoice!

Jesus is calling, oh, turn not aside!

Come! ’tis the voice of the Spirit and bride!

Just on the threshold — and Christ calls to thee!

Come! with the pardoned forever to be!

Just on the threshold—why linger so long?

Sing, with the ransomed, Eternity’s song!

ML-11/18/1962

"I Really Want It"

A LITTLE boy was asked by his mother, one cold morning, to go on an errand. He did not wish to go, and so pretended that he could not find his boots.

His mother saw him looking for them, but he looked everywhere except where he thought they were likely to be found. His heart was not in it. Does he not remind us of those who only pretend to be in earnest about salvation, and who look for it everywhere except to Him in whom alone it is to be found? May you be able, with a sense of your need of the Saviour, to say, as a little girl five years old said, when seeking the Saviour’s blessing, “For I really want it.”

It is worth being in earnest about. If it were only for the joy and peace it would bring you in this world, it would be worth every effort you could make to secure it; but when it is eternal happiness in heaven with Jesus which you may obtain, surely you cannot be too much in earnest in seeking that. And yet, from the way some act, you would think salvation was scarcely worth taking—far less being anxious or earnest about.

ML-11/18/1962

God's Love and God's Gift

MORE THAN 400 years ago, Martin Luther translated the Bible into the German language for the first time. It was first printed in Wittenberg, a little city southwest of Berlin, halfway to Leipzig. Later it was printed at Augsburg, and also at Strasbourg and Basel. Copies of the Bible spread all over the area where the German language was used. They welcomed the Scriptures and thrilled in their hearts as they read of God’s love toward man and of God’s gift to man, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Probably that was the way it was in a printer’s shop in Wittenberg, Germany in the year 1522 when Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible was being printed. The printer set the type and then tested his work. A story is told about a scrap of paper that had some of that printing and we suppose it could have been one of those papers the printer used for testing his work.

One of the scraps of paper fell to the floor and then a little gust of wind blew the paper out the door into the street.

Boys were curious then just as they are now and when one little fellow saw that paper he picked it up and took it home. His parents did not yet have a Bible and they knew little about God. But they could read and so they looked at that paper and there they saw only eight words: “God so loved the world that He gave.”

As the words were read over and over, they could only wonder what it was that God had given. They had never seen a Bible and they did not know that God loved them. They had been told that God was angry with them. They had been told too that God wanted something from people and that to make God happy they must give money and do other things. But on that little scrap of paper they read that God loved the world rather than being angry with it; God had given something instead of asking for things.

Those folks made it their business to find out the rest of the story. Somehow it was learned that this was a small part of the Bible. Soon they obtained a copy for themselves and it was not long until they found the place that told what God had given in His love—His only begotten Son. They believed the wonderful news and were saved.

Now, dear reader, may this great and wonderful love of God in giving His Son to die on Calvary’s cross for us, win your heart to adore and praise Him. Then we shall together sing through the endless ages of eternity, “Unto Him that loves us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Rev. 1:5-6.

ML-11/18/1962

Profit and Loss

A BOY was driving an evangelist home from a meeting where he had been preaching Christ as the Saviour of sinners. The boy was telling the evangelist how he was getting on at school and they had got as far as “profit and loss.”

“Oh,” said the preacher, “I’ll give you a calculation in profit and loss: ‘What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ " Mark 8:36.

The boy was silent. He had never attempted that calculation. But the “word in season” proved to be a nail fastened in a sure place, and led him to think seriously of salvation and the need of his never-dying soul. Not long after he turned to the Lord and found Christ as his Saviour.

ML-11/18/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 20:1-29

IN THIS chapter the Lord further illustrates the grace of God by telling the story of the householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a penny a day. Later on at the third, sixth and ninth hours he hired others. Finally at the eleventh hour he hired still more laborers and sent them into his vineyard. When the evening came he told his steward to call the laborers, beginning with the last, and when they came every man received a penny. Then those whom he had hired first murmured against him for they thought they should have received more, having borne the burden and heat of the day. But he told them that he was only giving them what they had agreed upon, and if he chose to give the same to those who were last, he had the right to do what he wished with his own. Those who were hired later had confidence in their master’s goodness and knew he would deal with them according to his just appreciation of what was due to them. So in the ways of the kingdom of heaven, our rewards will not be according to the length of time of service, but according to the Lord’s abundant grace. Some have been called later in life than others, yet who but He can justly decide what their rewards should be. God is sovereign and will act according to the grace of His own heart.

This was the Lord’s last journey to Jerusalem, and knowing that His time with His disciples was to be short, He talks with them privately. The Son of man should be rejected, delivered over to the Gentiles and crucified. On the third day He should rise again.

It must have been a matter of sorrow to His heart when, after speaking to His disciples in this way, the mother of James and John comes with them with the selfish request: “Grant that my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom.” The Lord meets this request with gracious wisdom and tells them they knew not what they were asking and points out what lay ahead of them as His followers along the path which leads to glory. The cross must come first before the crown. “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of...?” “They say unto Him, We are able,” though it is evident that they knew not what they said. The Lord tells them that they shall indeed share in His path of suffering, which is the highest honor a believer can have on earth, but as to their reward, He leaves that with His Father.

When the other disciples heard of this request they were filled with indignation against James and John. But their strong feelings against their brethren voiced the sentiments of worldly ambitions. Their hearts were no better. The gracious Lord meets this, however, by showing them that the principles of the kingdom were not according to the course of this world. He who would be greatest in the kingdom must go down lowest of all. This place the Lord Himself took. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His lift a ransom for many.”

ML-11/18/1962

Johnnie, the Newsboy

“PAPER, sir? Daily News, Times? Papers,” cried the newsboy at the busy railroad station and the people handed over their coins to pay for the papers. Few folks took any notice of him as they were bent on reading the news. And the boy went quickly from one car to the next selling his papers as fast as he could.

“Paper, lady?” he said, little knowing that her ear had been attracted by the newsboy’s voice, and now she had the opportunity of seeing him. He was a handsome boy. His dark eyes and brown hair added an extra charm to his voice, but his hollow cheeks and sorrowful look in his eye told a tale of woe.

Taking a paper she asked, “What is your name, my boy?”

“Johnnie, ma’am,” he said.

“Can you read?”

“Yes, ma’am, I’ve been to school a little.”

“Johnnie, I had a little brother once. His name was Johnnie, too, and he had brown hair like you.”

The engineer blew the whistle on the locomotive; in a moment the train would start, but there was something that drew the lady’s sympathy out toward the boy and she longed to give him something. She had no time to hesitate; from her purse she took a beautiful little New Testament and handed it to Johnnie.

“You’ll read it?”

“I will, lady, I will.”

In a moment, Johnnie swung off the train as it started to move. The Christian lady, homeward bound on the train, silently prayed to God asking that He would use the little Testament to bring blessing into the home of the newsboy.

Some weeks later she returned to the city, coming in on the train to that same station. As the train rolled to a stop she peered out the window and there on the platform was Johnnie. But how different he looked cleaner, healthier, his eyes brighter and his voice even happier than before. As she alighted from the car, Johnnie recognized her and hurrying up to her said, “I have wanted to see you, lady, to tell you about that little book.”

“Well, my boy, what has it done?”

“When you gave it to me, I took it home and my father looked at it and read it. He was out of work and so he had time to read. Mother read it too, and I noticed she cried. When I saw both my parents so sad over reading the book I thought it must be a very bad one and I wished you had not given it to me. But it’s all right now. Father has stopped drinking and swearing and mother is so kind. And I am to go back to school. All this has happened because of the little book.”

The Christian lady silently prayed again but this time it was in praise to God for what He had done through a little Testament.

Read your Bible daily and heed it as the voice of God speaking to His creatures. God loves you however much you may have sinned against Him. He waits to forgive you. In the Bible God tells how He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for sinners. Now all who will confess Him as their Saviour and Lord will be eternally saved.

“I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to... give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:32.

“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:8, 9.

ML-11/25/1962

Fakir of Kalipator

FAKIR lived at Kalipator, which is one of the 714,000 villages of Bengal. When quite young he joined his countrymen in attending heathen festivals, and instructed by Brahmin priests, worshiped idols of wood and stone. He offered animal sacrifices, and paid the priests to burn incense, in order to keep on good terms with the idols. Fakir went on pilgrimage to several shrines, hoping thereby to merit salvation. He was quite ignorant of the glorious truth of Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”

Under the influence of the priests, his faith in Hinduism increased, and he named his eldest son “Juggernaut,” after the great idol, and his second son, “Baneshor,” that is, the god of the jungle.

One day a missionary came to the village, and Fakir heard from his lips the story of the Cross. He trembled as he thought of his lost condition, and the vain hopes of Hinduism.

It seemed as though a great light from Heaven shone into his dark heart, for he saw Jesus to be the true and only Saviour of poor sinners. Taking refuge in Him, he found peace.

God’s Word became his delight, and after receiving more instruction he confessed faith in Christ and was baptized. A storm of bitter persecution broke over his head, and his own relations became the tools in the hands of the priests to inflict severe punishment. He was made an outcast and looked upon as corrupt, for having dared to forsake the religion of his ancestors.

Fakir continued to witness for Christ, and many heard from him concerning God’s way of salvation. Many years have passed, and though Satan has opposed, and Fakir has been sorely tempted, yet having obtained the help which is from God he continued witnessing (Acts 26:22).

God has done great things in that little village, and many of Fakir’s former persecutors are now preaching the faith they once sought to destroy. About thirty saved ones now gather weekly, and a little gospel testimony is maintained by those who, like Fakir, have been translated “out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son.” This is a district where every village has its idol house and priests. Truly Fakir was a brand plucked from the burning, a trophy of God’s grace, from among the many millions of idolatrous India.

ML-11/25/1962

"God Commendeth His Love"

“WHILE we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

The other day a salesman came into my office, trying to sell me some tools. He kept on commending these tools, telling me what very fine tools they were. But if you turn this verse up in your Bible and read the first part of it, you will find that God Himself commends something to us. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Just think of GOD taking such trouble. He commends His love to us.

He gives the reason too. The salesman in my office wanted me to buy his tools because he said that they were not only very good tools, but they were just suited to my needs. We might be sure that God’s love would be wonderful, but He has made it known in a way that just suits our need. For sin is sin, whether we like to believe it or not, and “the wages of sin is death.” Either a sinner must die in his sins or Someone-able-to-do-it must die for him. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the only One able to do this, and this He has done, blessed be His name. Now “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Some folks (grown-ups, too, who ought to know better) say they will not believe this because they do not understand it. Just think! They cannot even understand how we go off to sleep or how we wake up again. So how can they understand how the death of Christ in the sinner’s place frees him from the judgment of a holy God against sin, nor how it is that “the blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Besides, God does not ask us to understand it. He asks us to believe it. Long before you were born, God took the only way of meeting your need, and because of the death of His Son, God can make His wonderful love known to all men. If they will but accept Jesus as their Saviour, God can forgive their sins and bless them.

Memory Verse: “THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PURSUETH: BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION.” Prov. 28:1.

ML-11/25/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 20:30-21:11

AT THE close of this chapter, as they departed from Jericho with a great multitude following Him, two blind men sitting by the wayside cry out, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David.” Jericho was the city of the curse (Josh. 6:26), and these two blind men are a picture of the nation of Israel—and man naturally — blind morally and spiritually, only Israel was unconscious of it in the presence of Him who alone could help them.

The blind men’s chief desire might be to be healed of their blindness, nevertheless in their cry they address Jesus as “Lord, Thou Son of David.” The Gentile wise men had honored Him as such (chapter 2), but Israel had refused Him this honor. However, in these two blind men God raises a testimony to His beloved Son as the true King of Israel.

“And Jesus stood still.” How wonderful it was! Joshua had commanded the sun to stand still in the heavens, and it “hasted not to go down about a whole day,” (Josh. 10:12-14). But here the Creator of the universe, the Lord of glory, stops still at the cry of two blind beggars. And He who had called children to Himself calls these two blind men to Him, and touching their eyes He restores their sight to them immediately; “and they followed Him.”

This act of power at Jericho, the place of the curse, foreshadows the future restoration and blessing of Israel. When the Lord returns to earth as Son of man, Israel will acknowledge Him as their Messiah, Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49). The Lord will heal their blindness and they will become willing followers of Him whom they once rejected. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.” Psa. 110:3.

As Jesus draws near to Jerusalem He comes to the mount of Olives, Here He sends two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village... and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me.” in Zechariah there was a prophecy which had to be fulfilled: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” “And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.” The lowly Jesus, while not actually owning the animals, nevertheless as Jehovah, the Lord of all, could command them for His use.

“And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, sang, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” This was a fulfillment of Psalm 118.

Apparently they had little intelligence of what they were saying for when they come to Jerusalem, “all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” and the crowd answer, “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” They did not rise to the intelligence of the two blind men.

ML-11/25/1962

The Indian's White Feather

YEARS ago when the Indians were still fighting the white man, a family of Christians left Pennsylvania and settled in a distant place in the West. They had not been there long before a band of Indians, thirsting for blood, started on one of their terrible raids against the whites, and traveled in the direction of the Christian family’s home.

The red men were received with such open-hearted confidence and treated with such kindness by the Christians, that they gave up entirely their purpose of attacking them. They did not come to fight these children of peace who had proved themselves to be their friends, but they were on the warpath against those who had treated them as enemies. It was not in the heart of the Indians to injure that poor defenseless Christian white family. So on leaving, one of the Indian warriors took a white feather and stuck it over the door, to mark the place as a place of refuge and not to be molested by their fellow red men.

The Christian home was unharmed. The war raged all around; the nearby forest often re-echoed to the yell of the savage tribesmen, and many white settlers perished. But over the Christians’ door waved the white feather of peace, and beneath it the family slept without fear.

Those who are sheltered beneath the precious blood of Christ, whereby He made peace with God, can rest secure forever. They have the pledge of God’s own word for He had said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” If the white man could trust the Indian and be safe, how much more can you if you trust the Saviour who died for you, and have the peace of God planted over you in life or death?

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1. Then we are told, " the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7.

ML-12/02/1962

"Take Me as I Am"

A FRIEND of mine told me of a poor Scotch girl who was very anxious about her soul. He told her to read Isaiah, chapter 53. She replied: “I canna read, and I canna pray. Jesus, take me as I am!” The Lord Jesus took her as she was, for she trusted her all to Him, and found life and happiness.

Dear young friends, let Him take you today, just as you are, and He will receive you to His arms; for “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-12/02/1962

Three Questions

MANY YEARS ago Mr. Close was holding some meetings in western Nebraska, preaching the gospel, the story of God’s love toward sinners and how they can be saved. John Scanlon attended almost all the meetings and listened carefully. Mr. Close wanted to find out whether John was saved and he decided that the only way he could talk to him was to go out to the farm where John lived and to talk with him while he worked.

In those days farmers used horses to pull their plows for tractors had not yet been invented. When Mr. Close went to the Scanlon farm he found John plowing in the corn field, loosening the soil and cutting down the weeds. Although Mr. Close was a gospel preacher he also knew something about farming so he took hold of the plow and kept it going straight while John guided the horses.

“Johnny,” he said, as they walked along, “there are three questions I want to ask you.”

“All right, sir.”

“First, Johnny, there is something that has come into the world and ruined everybody. What is it?”

“It is sin,” Johnny answered.

“That’s right. Now there is one thing and only one thing in the whole universe of God that can wash away sin. What is it?”

“It is blood,” and of course, he meant the blood of Jesus, which He shed when He was crucified.

“But, Johnny, our sins are here on earth, and the Bible tells that the blood of Jesus speaks in heaven. What can bring these two things together and make that blood do its work on my soul? In other words, what must we sinners have in order to get the benefit of that blood?”

“Faith!” John Scanlon answered.

The three questions were answered by three little words. SIN tells of our ruin before God for it is against Him we have sinned. The BLOOD of Jesus tells of God’s wonderful remedy for sin. FAITH, believing what God has said and what the Lord Jesus has done, — FAITH is the mighty link that binds the first two together and gives us peace with God.

The man and the boy walked back and forth across that corn field in silence. At last Mr. Close ventured to ask another question.

“Johnny,” he said, “do you have faith?”

“Yes, sir!” John Scanlon answered immediately. The happy smile on the young man’s face gave proof that he had indeed believed God and that his sins were washed away. John Scanlon will never go into a lost eternity, into hell, for God has said, “The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

“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-12/02/1962

What Is Eternity?

ETERNITY—a clock with a pendulum so vast that, as it swung, it said “tick” in one century and “tock” in the next. Imagine what such a clock ticks out! Eternal happiness for the saved, but everlasting misery for the lost.

Weigh, then, the two possibilities carefully. Put into one scale earthly suffering — though it lead even to martyrdom—but, with the suffering, put the certainty of an eternity of joy. Into the other scale cast the handful of pleasures to be gathered in time and to be followed by an eternity of woe. Which scale is the heavier?

Surely it is wise to turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation, to avail yourself of His atoning death, and obtain the forgiveness of your sins, and “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away.”

Oh, reader, let this simple appeal speak to you. Enroll yourself under Christ’s banner and fear not the storm of persecution that may rage against you. Christ Himself will support you amid the tempest, and will soon take you into His presence, where there is fullness of joy, and where there are pleasures forevermore.

Memory Verse: “BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TO-MORROW; FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH.” Prov. 27:1.

“THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” John 16:33.

ML-12/02/1962

Bible Questions for December

The Children’s Class

1. “If any man have an ear, let him hear.”

2. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”

3. “True and righteous are Thy judgments.”

4. “Called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

5. “Reign with Him a thousand years.”

6. “The Lamb is the light thereof.”

7. “My reward is with Me.”

The Young People’s Class

1. How did Saul react when he heard the pronouncement concerning himself, his sons, and the kingdom? 1 Sam. 28.

2. Will the kings of the earth and others who have trifled with the gospel be able to stand in the coming great day of wrath on this world? Rev. 6.

3. Whom did the Lord purpose to have as ruler of Israel after rending the kingdom from Saul? 1 Sam.

4. Where was David at this very time? 1 Sam.

5. Were we too at enmity with God at the very time He sought to reconcile us? Col. 1.

6. Did the Philistine lords and princes want David in their company when some of the glories of his past were made known? 1 Sam.

7. Will the world desire our company if we make known some of the glories of the cross of Christ? Gal. 6.

ML-12/02/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 21:12-28

AFTER riding into Jerusalem and having been hailed as Son of David, the Lord Jesus enters the temple area and casts out all them that bought and sold in the temple. He overthrows the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves, saying, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” In this He was quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

It is remarkable that after thus acting in judgment in the cleansing of the temple, it says, “the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; He turns the selfish hypocrites but receives the poor, the lame and the blind and He healed them.” But all these wonderful happenings, together with the crying of the children, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” only draws out the sore displeasure of the chief priests and scribes. They complain to Him, “Hearest Thou what these say?” In reply the Lord quotes to them part of Psalm 8, saying, “Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?” Yet they were blind to what Scripture had to say of Him.

The Lord therefore leaves them and goes out of the city to Bethany, to pass the night there with those who were the true remnant of His people.

In the morning the Lord returns to the city and being hungry, as He passes a fig tree, he looks for fruit but finds nothing but leaves. Its time for fruit had not yet come. The Lord curses the fig tree, saying, “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth forever. And presently the fig tree withered away!” The fig tree is a type of Israel as a nation, but the time for Israel’s fruit bearing Was long since past. Man after the flesh can never produce fruit for God.

On entering the temple the Lord is challenged by the chief priests and elders who demand to know, “By what authority doest Thou these things?” They would have Him recognize their authority. With admirable wisdom the Lord answers them by asking them a question: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” This would prove either their dishonesty or their blindness. They had rejected John’s ministry and so they reason among themselves, saying, “If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe Him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all held John as a prophet.” Their consciences told them only too well what the truth really was, but they refuse to admit it however, and attempt to cover up their hypocrisy by pretended ignorance and answer, “We cannot tell.” To have given them an answer would only have sanctioned their iniquity, so the Lord refuses to tell them from whence came His all authority.

Whatsoever ye do, labor at it heartily, as doing it to the Lord and not to men. (Col. 3.23.)

The mercy of God is never separated from the Cross of Christ.

If you wish to be identified with Christ in the future, you must be identified with Him now.

If Paul had not had the thorn in the flesh, perhaps we should not have had the blessed text, “My Grace is sufficient for thee.”

ML-12/02/1962

The Erring Son

A CHRISTIAN farmer, who lived near Chicago, had an only son, whom he dearly loved, and who was most useful to him in helping to manage and work his big farm.

One morning he said to him, “John, I want you to go to Chicago tomorrow with that big load of grain and sell it for me. So be up early, and get off right after breakfast, so that you can get home again before the night falls.”

John did as his father wished, and started the next morning with his load of grain on his journey to the big city.

John was a capable fellow, and soon sold his grain, getting a very good price for it. But although he was capable, John was not too steady, and before leaving town, he thought he would try his hand at winning some money at one of the gambling houses, with which the city abounds. Instead of winning, however, poor John was duped, and lost all—first the money he had been paid for the grain, and finally his wagon and two fine horses.

What was he now to do? He was ashamed to return home, almost penniless and alone. How should he ever meet his father, and bear his reproaches and anger? Suddenly he remembered he had some friends in a distant town, and finding he still had some money in one of his side pockets, he took the train there, thinking that his father would never find him.

Imagine the sorrow of his father at the disappearance of his son, as day after day he watched, and waited, and wept for him. No tidings, however, could he get of his dear boy, and he mourned for him as one dead.

At last he thought he would go and seek high and low for him; and as he used to preach the gospel, he went from one place to another, offering to preach in any mission hall or other building that would open its doors to him. At the close of each service, he would take the audience into his confidence and, telling them of his lost son, give a minute description of him, and ask that if any of them came across such a boy, they would be sure to tell him that his father still loved him, and was ready to forgive him if he would only come home again.

One night, at the close of a gospel address near San Francisco, he saw a poor-looking fellow in the gallery, who strangely attracted his attention. Again and again he fixed his eyes on him. At last it dawned on him that this stranger might be his prodigal son. He hurried to the spot where the boy was seated, and what was his joy to find that he was indeed his long-lost son.

The poor father there and then fell on his neck, and covered him with tears and kisses. John broke down and wept like a child, confessed all to his father and asked his forgiveness, which was gladly given. Father and son then started for home, a happy pair, and this was the end of John’s follies. Ever afterward his delight was to please his father who had so lovingly sought him, and freely forgiven him all.

Dear young friends, the love of this father for his erring son is but a faint picture of the love God has for you. Oh! how He loves each of us, and how He longs that we should be reconciled to Him! He has mule forth in the Person of Jesus, His beloved Son, to seek and save us, for “All we like sheep have gone astray!, Are you still one of the stray ones, “afar off,” and “a child of wrath"? Oh! I entreat you, do not longer rain at a distance, but turn to God in repentance and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ WHO DIED FOR YOU. Thus will you be brought to rejoice in the love of God, and to know the sweetness of the words— “The Father Himself loveth you.”

ML-12/09/1962

Jim's Obedience

JIM WAS A little boy whose mother had died while he was quite young. On this occasion he was sailing a boat on the pond with a playmate much older than he was.

The boat had sailed a good way out in the pond, and the big boy said, “Go in, Jim, and get her. It isn’t over your ankles, and I’ve been in after her every time.”

“I daren’t,” said Jim. “I’ll carry her all the way home for you, but I can’t go in there; she told me not to.” “Who is she?” asked the elder boy. “My mother,” said Jim, softly.

“Your mother? Why, I thought she was dead,” said the big boy.

“That was before she died. Eddie and I used to come here and sail our boats, and she never let us come unless we had string enough to haul in with. I’m not afraid to go into the water, you know I’m not; only she didn’t want me to, and I can’t do it.”

Wasn’t it a beautiful spirit that made little Jim obedient to his mother even after she was dead? Children, there is a blessing in being obedient to your parents. The Bible says: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.” Prov. 1:8, 9.

Again, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Eph. 6:1-3.

ML-12/09/1962

What Clement Wrote in His Bible

HOW LITTLE did the children think that bright stormy day, as they sat around the dinner table in their home by the sea, that one of their number, then full of life and health, would never more take his place among them.

Yet so it was! When supper time came, the eldest brother, the one who used to cut the bread and set the chairs and see that everyone was helped, was absent. They might call ‘Clement! Clement!” but no Clement came, and it was not till his body was brought home, cold and dripping as it had been found cast up by the sea, that they knew his end.

“How did it happen?” they asked; but no one could answer. He had been noticed walking along the sands, watching the waves roll in, for it was a spring tide, and very grand they looked; after this no one saw him alive.

His parents knew their boy’s love for the sea, and how often he would sit for hours on the shore, busy with book, little heeding how quickly time passed. He must have been thus engaged the stormy April day of which we speak. Clement had not noticed, in his sheltered nook, the flowing tide, ever coming nearer and nearer, till, when too late, the water locked him in, and all hope of escape was gone.

There was nothing left for Clement but to wait till death should roll in upon him. We know that the same Lord Jesus who came to His disciples walking across the dark waters, and who stilled their hearts with His word, “It is I; be not afraid,” was present; for Clement loved the Lord Jesus as His Saviour, and He has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

While the water was gathering around Clement, the Lord gave him courage and calmness to think of those who loved him, and he wrote for them words more precious than I can tell.

His parents went mournfully along the shore the evening of their boy’s death, searching for anything that might have belonged to him, and their search was not in vain, for they picked up a Bible and one or two of his books, all soaked with the salt water. It was not till the next day that they noticed some pencil writing on the fly-leaf of the Bible; it was like a message from heaven to their hearts as they read, “In danger, I now declare that I do trust in Jesus my own Saviour.”

Dear children, see how safe and happy in the storm and “in danger” was this dear boy whom Jesus loved.

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

Memory Verse: “IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN.” Psalm 118:8.

ML-12/09/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 21:28-46

THE Lord then asks the chief priests and the elders, those religious leaders, a question. He tells the story of the two sons in which he convicts them of being farther away from God then the publicans and harlots, whom they scorned. “A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; and went not.” The Lord asks them which did the will of their father, and they answer, The first. Then He says to them, “The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom before you.” These leaders covered up their pride and self-will with a cloak of religiousness, which made them harder to reach than the most depraved, whom they despised. The latter had believed the preaching of John the Baptist and had repented. But the leaders had not received the testimony of John, and now after hearing and seeing the testimony of Jesus, they still refused to believe.

Next, the Lord gives them the parable of the householder and the wicked husbandmen, in which He describes with wonderful exactness the conduct of the nation of the Jews toward the messengers of God, even His own Son. He makes them pronounce their own sentence. “There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard,... and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants... that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, 1;1 sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them like. wise.” How patient God had been to them — “daily rising up early and sending.” Jer. 7:25.

“But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.” It was a last hope. But alas, His presence brought forth their crowning act of iniquity, for when they saw Him they planned to kin Him, thinking that having done so the vineyard would be theirs. “And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew Him.” This was the climax of man’s sin. All was over as far as man under responsibility to God was concerned. Not only had the Jew — the natural man — failed to bring forth fruit for God, not only had he failed to appreciate the mercy and goodness of God by whom he had been blessed, but he slew His Son who came in grace.

The Lord then asks those leaders, “When the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” They reply rightly, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” Thus they pronounce their own sentence.

Jesus then goes on and quotes to them from Psalm 118:22: “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.” The rejected Saviour would be the exalted One in that coming day. “And whosoever shall fall on this stout shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” These leaders saw that He spoke these parables of them and would like to have laid hands on Him but were afraid to do so for they feared the people.

ML-12/09/1962

A Tale of a Storm

WE WERE boys together David and I — living in the same seaport town. My father was a merchant, his was a doctor—a fine Christian man.

A dangerous epidemic broke out, and the doctor had more than enough to do. After he had cared for a number of patients, he took infection, and although his young wife and their faithful servant girl nursed him, he died.

David was left fatherless, and his mother poor. He and I, like boys at a seaport, were fond of boats and ships. Our great amusement was to climb the masts, and our best friends were the captains of some of the traders and whalers.

David knew that it would go hard with his mother, and that the education he had hoped for was now impossible, so bracing himself up, he declared that he would go to sea, and be able to help his mother with the education of his brothers and sisters. His uncle’s ship was chosen as the one in which he should sail, and we parted.

At the end of long voyages he came to visit us. Once the vessel came into a port where I was living, when I had several pleasant hours on board with him, and he spent the evenings when ashore with me.

I had found the Lord then, and felt it to be my duty to speak to David of my decision for Christ, and he, with tears of joy, told me how that he too had sought and found the Saviour. His experience seemed very interesting to me. I could never forget it.

It was one terrible night at sea, he said, the ship rolling amid waves that every few minutes threatened to swallow it up. Occasionally the deck was swept by a breaker, and it was with considerable difficulty that even the best sailors kept themselves from being washed overboard.

The captain in a commanding tone, ordered David below to stow away some things that would be rolling about. Down into the darkness, through a hatch below the level of the waves, he went. As he did so, he imagined that his uncle believed the ship would flounder, and that he had better be below when it went down. A heavy lurch just then rolled him over in the darkness, and he felt as if the ship would never right herself. A terrible feeling that he would be drowned like a rat, along with the rats about him, came over him. He thought of his mother, left without husband or son, to fight the battle of life alone. Then there came the thought of his father in heaven, and a fear that he would not see him or be with him, and the fear brought before his mind’s vision all his sins. They seemed hopelessly many and great. Then his mother’s teaching and the many times she had entreated him to seek the Lord came to his help. Falling on his knees in that dark chamber, with a broken, contrite spirit, and a strange sense that, even there, God would hear him, he cried for mercy.

“O God, forgive me for Christ Jesus’ sake,” he whispered amid the din of waves, and cracking, creaking timbers and sails, and rolling cargo—unheard by any living soul, but heard by the Lord of glory. Speedily was his prayer answered, for scarcely had the words been uttered, than the dear fellow felt as if the light and joy of heaven had flooded that darkness, and it seemed that the Lord was there. His work done, he went again on deck, and felt like a new boy. The flood of light was within his soul—the joy of heaven was in his own bosom, and he knew now what it was to be a saved, forgiven, redeemed soul.

The waves had not the same terror to him as he felt that God loved him, and that He had the sea in the hollow of His hand. What if he were to be drowned? He would be where his father was in the glory, and how sweet came the thought that he would be with the Lord Jesus Christ, who had died for him, who had now saved him and washed him from his sins in His own blood. The storm passed away, but the sweetness of a new life remained, and at the first opportunity David wrote home to his mother, to tell that her fondest wish was realized and her earnest prayers answered, for her dear boy was saved and on his way to heaven.

Dear young friends, come to Jesus while you’re young. He says, “Those that seek Me early shall find Me,” Proverbs 8:17, “and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-12/16/1962

A Sunday Scholar

CHARLIE was a little boy who went to a Sunday school in Philadelphia. One day he met his Sunday school teacher in the street, and told him he was going into the country to spend the summer.

“Well, Charlie,” said the teacher, “and what are you going to do there?”

“Oh, I’ll run around and play in the fields, and have good fun.” “Very well for you,” said the Teacher; “but what else do you expect to do?”

“Why, I’ll try and help the farmers, perhaps.”

“Very good for the farmers,” replied the teacher, “but what are you going to do for your heavenly Father?”

“What, me?” said he, “Why, what can a boy like me do for God?”

“You may do a great deal if you only try. Here is a bundle of tracts; suppose you take them, and give them away in the country.”

“Oh, I can do that,” said Charlie, and he took the tracts.

Well, he went to the country, and after he had been there some days, a boy living in the neighborhood asked Charlie if he would help him to gather the cows together and drive them home.

He said he would, thinking at the same time that this would be a good chance to give away one of his tracts.

On their way down the meadow he said to the cow-boy, “Here’s something for you,” at the same time handing him a tract.

“What is it?” said he, looking it carefully over.

“It’s something good to read,” said Charlie.

“But I can’t read,” replied the boy, “yet I’ll take it home; they can read it there.”

It was a week or more after this before Charlie met the boy again. The first time he saw him, he said, “Well, Charlie, that little book you gave me made quite a stir at our house.”

“Did it though,” said Charlie, “how was that?”

“Why,” he replied, “Dad and Mother read the tract, and then they got out the Bible and started to read it. Then when Sunday came they decided that we should all go to the preaching.”

Charlie told his teacher about it when he got back home. Sometime later he learned that some of those folks in the country had found the Lord as their Saviour and were going happily on their way to heaven. And all through the gospel message in that little tract!

ML-12/16/1962

God Loves Me

TWO MEN were taking a ride on horseback together. As they were about to separate, one of them said to the other, “Do you ever read your Bible?”

“Yes, but I get no benefit from it, because, to tell you the truth, I feel that I do not love God.”

“Neither did I,” replied the other, “but I found from the Bible that God loved me. And He loves you, too, my friend.”

This was something that gentleman had never thought of before. It had a great effect upon him. As he said afterward, in speaking about it, it made him feel “as if he had been lifted off the saddle up into the skies.” He began to read the Bible, as he had never read it before. He learned the great lesson that God loved him; and the sense of that love brought him to the Saviour whom he found loved him and had given Himself for him on the cross. That was but the beginning of a new life of blessing and fruitfulness, for he became a devoted servant of the Lord.

Memory Verse: “ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPENED UNTO THE EYES OF HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO.” Heb. 4:13.

ML-12/16/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 22:1-14

IN THE last chapter we had how man under responsibility failed utterly and went on to slay the Son of God. But, wondrous grace! God would still act in grace for He is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4), and in the next parable we have the way in which grace goes out to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. He likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who made a marriage for his son — the King acts for the glory of His Son, “and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” Thus the kingdom was announced while the Lord was Himself here below; but it says, “they would not come.” However, after Jesus had died and risen He sends a new appeal by other servants, saying, “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.” But the gospel was not appreciated by the Jews and grace was only despised. “They made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise.” Then growing bolder in their slight and opposition, “the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.” Not only had they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they also rejected the ministry of the apostles and others, as we read in the Book of the Acts. “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their cities.” Many were imprisoned while many more were slain and finally the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

The parable proceeds with the king saying to his servants, “they which were bidden were not worthy. Go therefore into the highways, and at many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” This no doubt is the gospel call going out to Gentiles — to all men everywhere. “So those servants went out into the highways, ai gathered together all as many as they, found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” It wasn’t a question of character one might have a bad character like the dying thief, or a good character like Cornelius; grace not only inviter sinners but makes them fit for the presence of the King.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” The King doesn’t inquire whether the man were a good character or bad; he might have been morally upright in every way like the rich young ruler. But this is not the ground of acceptance for a sinner. The man had no sense of the grace which invited him nor of the holiness which the presence of God requires. How many there are who hear the gospel but only receive it partially, and thinking they are not as bad as others, they do not receive it into their hearts. But such will not find acceptance because they have to do with One who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The king says to him, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having I wedding garment.” And he was speechless. Men may boast of pleading their own case before God, but they too will be speechless in that day. “Then said the king to the servants Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

ML-12/16/1962

Joe Conlee

JOE CONLEE was the son of a prosperous Christian farmer in Iowa. While Joe was still young his father hoped that his boy would become a preacher of the gospel.

Joe was a brilliant student and soon earned a college degree. Then he went to another college where he came under the influence of an infidel professor who encouraged him to read the writings of Darwin, Huxley and other infidels—men who did not believe in God and treated with contempt the Holy Scriptures. On coming out of that school Joe found a battle in his soul of reason against faith. He became a “free thinker” and was soon denying the teachings of the Bible. However, instead of being free, as he thought, he was really bound tighter in the chains of Satan.

Joe was also a gifted writer and in a short time he became editor and owner of a large newspaper. This he sold for a fortune and bought another. But, alas, he lost all through drink. He gambled and went from bad to worse, going from one city to another and spending much of his time in taverns. To get a few dimes for drink he would entertain visitors by giving lectures against God. So hard a master is Satan that the once promising fellow was now reduced to a poor, wasted, ragged despised drunkard.

One day he met a kind doctor who helped him join in the gold strike up in Alaska. But before her daddy left home, Joe’s little daughter had put a Bible in his bag, quite unknown to him.

Up in Alaska Joe, with two other friends, Wally and Jimmie, stayed in a little log hut on the "40 Mile,” spending most of their time drinking. Then one day one of his chums took sick and while searching for some medicine in his bag, Joe discovered the small Bible his little daughter had given him.

It was Christmas day and the three drunkards began reading the Bible in turns. They kept it up saying “it would pass the time.” After a few days one of the three remarked, “Haven’t you noticed a kind of change coming over us?” They had actually stopped swearing and drinking.

January came, and they started reading the Gospel of John. Then arrived the eventful day, February 14, when Wally read:

“Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1, 2.

Joe’s hand brushed across his eyes. “What’s the matter, Joe? Are you crying?” asked Wally.

“Yes, go ahead,” returned Joe. “I’m thinking about my little girl. I’m not crying because of the Bible.”

Then Wally said, “For the last five days I’ve been wanting to pray and I was scared you fellows would laugh at me.”

“Well,” Joe continued, “my heart has been broken for the last week. I can hear my dear mother back in Iowa praying—though she is now in Heaven.”

“If you fellows want to pray,” joined in Jimmie, “I’ll pray with you.”

And there those three men in their lonely cabin got down on their knees to pray. Suddenly Wally Flett jumped to his feet crying, “Praise the Lord! Jesus heard me.” While he Was shouting, up jumped Jimmie and Joe in similar sincere happiness. As sinners they had cried to God for mercy and He had heard their cries. They had trusted Christ for forgiveness and found salvation.

It was two o’clock in the morning when into that lonely cabin came the Son of God, the blessed Man of Calvary, and those three men were “horn again” by the Spirit of God. Not long after Joe returned with his two friends from Alaska. What a day of rejoicing it was when he was reunited with his wife and daughter. Later he became the well known and honored Dr. Joseph Conlee, Dean of a College.

As he told me his story of God’s saving grace, he wept and prayed. Not too long after this, he went to be with his Lord in the glory and his last words were praise to that blessed One who had found him in that lonely cabin on the "40 Mile.” God had done a permanent work in the hearts of all those three men and while this was being written Jimmie and Wally were out preaching the gospel.

Dear young reader, God can do the same for you, if you will only let Him. Do not go into sin as Joe did. How gracious God was to him, yet think of those wasted years, the lonely hours, the sorrows and heartaches he brought not only upon himself but also to his dear wife and little daughter.

God has provided for your salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to put away your sins and mine. “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.

Surrender to Christ and claim Him as your Saviour now!

ML-12/23/1962

"I'se so Happy!"

LITTLE HARRY was playing with his toys one day, when he stopped and looking toward his mother, with his face all lighted up, he said, “I’se so happy! I’se so happy!”

“And what is it that makes my little boy feel so happy?” asked Mother.

“Irse been thinking that Jesus up in heaven loves me. I love Jesus, and Jesus loves Harry.”

Harry was such a little fellow, yet he seemed to be enjoying the sunshine of Jesus’ love. We hope he continued to walk in that love as he grew older, and that he really knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.

“To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” Eph. 3:19. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21.

ML-12/23/1962

"Come Along, Little One"

WHEN I WAS in Ireland one Sunday afternoon I was invited to speak to the children. Such a crowd of children came that we had difficulty in finding seats for them all.

After the service began, I noticed the door open and two tiny little girls dressed in white walked in, holding each other by the hand. They came slowly up the middle aisle, looking into each row, but the people only shook their heads which meant “no room!” “no room!”

At last they had walked right up to the front and could not find a seat, so I paused for a minute and asked for some hassocks. Then the dear little sisters sat down just at my feet.

At the close of the service a Christian lady talked to these little ones in the after meeting. Presently one of the two, who was only four years old, looked up brightly and said to her, “I know what Jesus will say if I come to Him!”

“Well, dear, what will He say?” asked the lady.

“He will say, ‘Come along, little one; I am so glad to see you,’ " she replied.

Yes, that is what Jesus will say to any poor sinner, whether a little boy or girl, or a grown up, who comes to Him. When the Lord Jesus was on earth He said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14. And He is still the Same.

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

“For there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10.

Memory Verse: “IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES.” Psalm 118:9.

ML-12/23/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 22:15-46

HVINGA heard the Lord’s parables, the Pharisees felt the power of His word cutting beneath their hypocrisy and pretentious ways. Accordingly they band together with the Herodians, with whom they normally would have no dealings. The Herodians were those who took part with Herod and his successors in bringing in among the Jews, the manners and corruptions of the Romans and Greeks. As such they were opposed to the Pharisees who were the strict champions of the law. However, they unite in opposing Jesus, seeking how they might entangle Him in His talk. With flattering words they ask the Lord, “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” They thought that as a loyal Jew He would speak against it and so get Himself in trouble with the authorities. But the Lord sees through their wickedness and with marvelous wisdom answers their questions and silences His adversaries. He says, “Show me the tribute money.” And they brought unto Him a penny, which carried the image they owned to be Caesar’s. However, neither felt the sin and disobedience to the Lord which had brought them under the yoke of Rome. The Lord tells them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things which are God’s.” They were unable to stand before such searching words, and so they go their ways.

Next, there came to Him the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. They put to Him what they think is an unanswerable question. “Master... there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven?” The Lord again in admirable wisdom proves to their own shame that their difficulties sprang not from overlooking the power of God but from their ignorance of their own Scriptures. For long after the death of the patriarchs Moses had spoken of Jehovah as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He therefore was not the God of the dead but of the living, for they were still alive before Him. When those around had heard His teaching, they were astonished at His words.

“But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.” One of them, a lawyer, tempting Him, puts to Him the question, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” In His answer the Lord sets forth that man’s first responsibility is toward God: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God..."; then his responsibility to his fellowman: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The Lord Jesus was the perfect expression of this — and much more.

After this the Lord asks them a question about the Messiah. “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?” They answer, “The son of David.” Then He asks them further, if the Messiah is David’s son, how can David speak of Him in Psalm 110:1, calling Him his Lord. How was He both? But they could not answer Him because they refused to own the Messiah as a divine person. He must be divine to unite both in one blessed Person. He was the Root and the offspring of David. (Rev. 22:16.)

ML-12/23/1962

The Story of Jim

MY DAD was an engineer on the Chicago and North Western Railroad. I called him Dad because my real father died when I was but a small boy, and years later my mother married James C. Davis, a splendid Christian railroad man, who not only loved the Lord Jesus, but loved his family as well. I felt as if he loved me as much as my own father could, and I loved him. Why? I do not know; perhaps it was because we both loved Jesus. It makes a lot of difference in a home when the head of the house loves the Lord Jesus.

Dad was not ashamed of Him, though at first he didn’t have the courage to confess Him. He wanted to, and tried to, but failed. Determined to, however, at last he succeeded.

When he came off his run one night he said: “Boys, I want you to have made for me a golden button about the size of a penny, with my name Jim on it.”

“What for?” we asked.

“To wear,” he answered. “You get the button and charge the same to me.”

So we ordered the button. It was a large gold and enameled button, with the letters “JIM” on it. We spent several dollars and much time to see that it was just right. As happy as a dog with two tails, Dad took his button and sure enough put it on his coat lapel and went to work. When he came home off his run, there was the button.

“Dad, did you wear that button?” we inquired.

“Sure,” he replied. “Why not?” “Well, Dad, what is it for?” “Would you like to know?” he asked.

“Why, certainly,” we responded. “Well,” said he with a smile, “so does every one else that sees it.” “What did you tell them?” we asked.

“Just what I am going to tell you.

“Jim stands for Jim, my name, and also my testimony. J stands for Jesus. I stands for Is. M stands for Mine. JESUS IS MINE. You see, boys, I wanted to let the men on the road know that I loved Jesus. I knew that I could carry on a conversation if started, but somehow I could not start it. Now when they ask me what the button stands for, that opens it up, and I head in, and tell them. It’s just my way of witnessing for Christ.” God used that button to open up a heart-to-heart talk with many a man.

Needless to say, after wearing the JIM button a few weeks, my Dad reached the place where he could talk about Jesus, button or no button.

Let me ask: Can you say JESUS IS MINE? If you cannot say “Jesus is Mine,” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-12/30/1962

Satisfied With the Best

I WAS GOING down town in a Fourth Avenue car one day, said a New York business man, when I heard somebody cry out, “Halloa, Mr. Conductor, please stop your car a moment; I can’t run very fast.”

The car stopped, and presently there hobbled into it a little lame boy, about ten or twelve years old. I saw from the nice clothes he wore, that he was the son of well-to-do parents; but oh! his face told such a tale of silent suffering! and yet, he Was bright and cheerful. He put his little crutch behind him, and placing his poor withered limb in a more easy position, he began to look round at his fellow passengers. A happy smile played over his pale face, and he seemed to take notice of everything, Presently I got a seat next to him, and as he looked around him, I heard him humming in a low tone the words of the hymn—“Hark, I hear in heaven singing—.”

Then I had a little talk with him, and found that he knew and loved the Saviour, and it was this which made him so happy and cheerful. He told me he was born lame, and that the doctor said it never would be any better.

“Well, my dear boy,” I said, “under these circumstances, how can you be so happy and cheerful?”

His reply was, “Jesus, my Saviour, has sent this trial for me to bear. Father tells me He would not have sent it, unless He knew it would be best for me. And don’t you think, sir, that I ought to be satisfied with the best?”

This touched my heart, and brought tears to my eyes. I was just going to get out of the car then. So I shook hands with the little fellow, and thanked him, for the lesson he had taught me, which I told him I hoped I should never forget as long as I lived.

ML-12/30/1962

Pitchforks

PITCHFORKS are one of the many tools used on a farm. They have sharp points and if used carelessly they can cause injury. A family of boys was visiting at the John Fuhrer farm near Salem, Oregon. The farm had a fine barn, one which was especially attractive to city boys as visitors.

After dinner one day, the boys asked to be excused from the table, and hardly taking time to thank Mrs. Fuhrer, they ran out to the barn to play hide and seek. Walter Fuhrer ran ahead followed by his guests, With Butch, the youngest boy, trailing behind.

Inside the barn it was getting dark, for evening was coming on. In the darkness Butch stumbled. As he fell, there was a sharp stab of pain in his hand. A pitchfork had been carelessly left lying on the floor, and one of the points had gone right through his hand.

Butch got his hand off the fork and ran back to the house to his mother. Mr. Fuhrer, seeing the injury, quickly wrapped Butch’s wound up with some medication. A dreadful disease can result from a wound like that but God was kind in not letting it develop. Butch’s injury healed nicely but he never forgot that accident.

Some folks think about pitchforks when they hear about Satan. Perhaps they have seen pictures showing Satan with a forked tail and holding a pitchfork in his hand. But the only things we really know about Satan are what God tells us in the Bible, and it says nothing like that. Rather it tells us that Satan was once a beautiful angel, but he sinned against God in a most awful way and he became wicked in all his ways.

Satan may try to frighten you and tell you that if you take Jesus as your Saviour you will have no friends and you will have no pleasures. But this is not true. Satan is a liar (John 8:44). Jesus is the best friend you could ever have for “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8. If you take Jesus as your Saviour you will find you have a host of friends in all those who have been saved in the same way.

Perhaps people think they must escape from Satan who is pursuing them with a pitchfork to cast them into hell. But this is not the case. Lost sinners will be cast into hell, it is true, but this will be because of their sins, not because Satan caught them. Revelation, chapter 20, tells us what is going to happen, both to Satan and to lost sinners. It is most solemn to read what God says there: “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night forever... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

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

Memory Verse: “WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU... FOR IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL.” Ex. 12:13; Lev. 17:11.

ML-12/30/1962

Victory Through the Blood

IT IS SAID of old Dr. Alexander, that when he parted with the students who were going to preach the gospel, he would take them by the hand, and say, “Young man, make much of the blood—MAKE MUCH OF THE BLOOD.”

May God help us to make much of the blood of His Son. Oh how much it cost Him to make good to us the cleansing value of that blood! Let us go to the sin-sick and the dying and hold up to them the Saviour who came to seek and to save them, and died to redeem them by His blood.

ML-12/30/1962

Bible Talks: Matthew 23:1-24:2

THE Lord in chapter 23 instructs the multitudes and His disciples concerning their attitude toward those who were in the place of authority. He acknowledges the scribes and Pharisees as being in that place. They were attempting to rule the people by the law of Moses, though they themselves were not walking according to it. The disciples were to yield obedience to all they commanded; “but do ye not after their works: for they say, and do not.” They liked to pretend that they were doing what was commanded and to be acknowledged by the people as devoted, godly men. Also they loved the chief seats in the synagogues. They liked to be called Rabbi, or Master, but the Lord commands His disciples not to desire such titles, “for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Furthermore they were not to call any one father on earth, “for One is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Then the Lord pronounces woe upon the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites because of the things they were doing. “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” Here the Lord evidently means the apostles and prophets who went about among the people, as we get in the Acts.

After this the Lord mourns over Jerusalem, His own 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 together, even as a hen gathereth her chicken under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” It was no longer His house, but theirs, and it is left unto them desolate. They in their lack of faith had placed themselves under the Romans for protection, and it had proved to be a heavy yoke. But in their delivering up the Lord to Pilate, they had said, We have no king but Caesar. The Romans did come some forty years later and destroyed Jerusalem. It is said that over a million Jews at that time were either slain or sold into slavery.

Nevertheless there is hope in the end for faith, for the Lord tells them that when they had done unto Him as they wished, they would see Him no more until they shall say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Israel will yet see their King, but not until a remnant are converted to welcome Him back. Yet they will not be ready for this until they have passed through the great tribulation.

Then in chapter 24, as has often been noticed with the disciples (who had not yet received the Holy Spirit), they failed to enter into the Lord’s most solemn teachings. They now dire to show Him some of the magnificent buildings of the temple. The Lord has to tell them, “Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

ML-12/30/1962

Messages of God's Love: 1962

Table of Contents

The Time Is Now

Which Shall We Sell?

Converted Through a Lamp

Faithful Sowing

Bible Questions for January

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:1-6

Saved Through a Dog: A True Story

Only a Child

Receiving, or Refusing

Talks on Bible Animals

Christ in the Heart

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:7-15

A Shepherd Boy

Hearing and Believing

A Changed Boy

God's Boundary

Bible Talks: Matthew 2:16-3:6

"Out of the Mouth of Babes"

The Only Way

The Great Napoleon's End

Bible Talks: Matthew 3:7-17

Come Just as You Are

Daniel

A Safe Hiding Place

What Winnie Thought

Bible Questions for February

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:1-4

Two Snow Storms

Jesus Has Got Me Now

Birds of the Air

God's Word

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:5-10

Mary's Wish

The Barrels From Renfield

Hell

A Simple Conversion

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:11-22

The Dead Raven

Wandering Sheep

"Bible Sparrows"

Books

Bible Talks: Matthew 4:23-5:16

Crossing the Ocean Without Money

Nothing to Pay

Little Broomstick

"He Died for Me"

Bible Questions for March

Bible Talks: Matthew 5:13-1 6

Spinning

The Hobo

A Nest by the Way

Too Good to Hear Alone

Bible Talks: Matthew 5:17-48

Johnny and the Candles

A Great Forest Fire

"He Love Me, Daddy"

Bible Talks: Matthew 6:1-18

The Withered Rose

Livingstone's Gloves

At School

Gospel Lessons

The Invalid's Lowly Service

Bible Talks: Matthew 6:19-34

The Faithful Shepherd

The Withered Rose

Why He Let Down the Blinds

Taken at His Word

Bible Questions for April

Bible Talks: Matthew 7:1-14

Among the Indians

The Happy School Boys

Influence

Bible Talks: Matthew 7:15-29

Faithful Ned: He Died for Me

Saved and Happy

No Power

He Suffered for Us

Bible Talks: Matthew 8:1-4