Young Christian: Volume 8, 1918

In an upper room are three young men—two are brothers, whose mother, a pious woman, had departed to be with Christ some years previously, and since then they have been living together in apartments. These are both strangers to grace and to God; the third is a Christian, who has just come in to stay the night, and leaves by an early train in the morning.

He has been there before, but, through lack of courage, had failed to speak to them of Christ. He has confessed this to his Lord, and once more he has an opportunity. It is getting late, but he has not yet spoken to his companions of their need of salvation, although earnestly desiring to do so. He is distressed lest the opportunity be again lost, so he silently asks help of the Lord to speak. A hymn presents itself to his mind, and, almost surprising himself at the peculiarity of the step, he sings aloud these verses:

“We’ve no abiding city here:

This may distress the worldling’s mind,

But should not cost the saint a tear,

Who hopes a better rest to find.

“We’ve no abiding city here:

Sad truth were this to be our home!

But let the thought our spirits cheer—

We seek a city yet to come.

“We’ve no abiding city here:

We seek a city out of sight;

Sion its name—the Lord is there;

It shines with everlasting light.

“O sweet abode of peace and love,

Where pilgrims freed from toil are blest!

Had I the pinions of a dove

I’d fly to thee, and be at rest.

“But hush, my soul, nor dare repine:

The time my God appoints is best;

While here to do His will be mine,

And His to fix my time of rest.”

Weeks and months passed away, and the three friends met again, when the younger of the brothers reminded their friend of the hymn, saying he could not forget how happy he appeared to be while singing it. “And,” said he, “I am the fruit of it, for I am rejoicing in Christ as my Savior.” And he recognized the answer to his mother’s prayers, long ago presented at the throne of grace, but not forgotten by the Hearer of prayer!

Shortly after the interview the young man removed to a town on the south coast, where he was used to the conversion of several. A few extracts from his letters will interest the reader: “I am thankful I have a Friend to whom to take my trouble and ask advice; if I had not I think this stroke would have taken my life.”

He refers to a heavy trial, occasioned through the gambling of his brother. “My heart bleeds for my brother—would to God that my former life had not been a hindrance! Remember him in your prayers.”

Speaking of gospel service, he says, “I love the work; one of the meetings was the best, I think, I have attended. My soul seemed in raptures!”

Seven months later: “My health changes with the weather; one day I seem almost at death’s door, and the next, almost well; but I thank God from the depth of my heart I have no fear of death before my eyes. The blood of Jesus Christ avails for me.’ I can never express my feelings, but the thought of being with Christ fills my soul with unspeakable joy.

“I can truly say that the things I once hated now I love, and what I once loved now I hate; but the longer I live the more I see my utter weakness and helplessness, my full dependence upon God.

In the last letter received he writes, “What advantages the Christian has over those who know not God as their Father! Though I am at the present time in sorrow, and my hopes seem blighted, yet I can rejoice, for I know that my Father will cause all things to work together for good to them that love Him.

“How near the Lord seems. Sometimes we speak and almost expect to hear His voice in return, and feel His touch drawing us nearer to Himself; and so we do, in a voice so gentle and sweet that we feel our souls going out after Him, and the more we know of Him the more we want to know, and I don’t think we shall ever be satisfied with our knowledge of Him in this life.”

Present Forgiveness of Sin

What joy and blessedness, overflows the heart of a poor sinner when, by faith, he gives ear to the sweet and soft sound of grace—to the voice of Jesus, which says to him, “Thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace!”

We know that sins are often represented as debts: our creditor is the God of Justice, who has a right to demand of us even to the last farthing. And by nature we are all insolvent debtors; very far from being able, even in the smallest degree, to diminish aught of this mighty debt: man can only increase it each day, and each moment of the day.

What would have become of us if God had not had compassion on us—if God, in His great love, had not given us His Son, who has paid all for us, who offered up Himself a ransom for us? It is “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:7). We have to do with a compassionate Master, who has freely forgiven us all our debt. (Matt. 18:27).

The death of Jesus has been, so to speak, the payment of this debt; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; He voluntarily took it upon Himself. This was why He tasted death and passed through the prison of the sepulcher.

“Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.” (Rom. 4:25).

When a debtor comes out of prison, it is a proof that he has satisfied his creditor; much more so if he comes out of his prison with glory. Thus Jesus, who was considered a debtor in our place, has fully satisfied the justice of God, who raised Him up and glorified Him.

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

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38).

O Grace Divine

O Grace Divine! the Savior shed

His life-blood on the cursed tree;

Bowed on the cross His blessed head,

And died, to make the guilty free.

Through suffering there, beneath His feet

He trod the fierce avenger down;

There power itself and weakness meet,

Emblem of each, you thorny crown.

Fruit of the curse, the tangled thorn,

Showed that He bore its deadly sting;

The crown, ‘mid Israel’s cruel scorn,

Marked Him as earth’s anointed King

O blessed hour! when all the earth

Its rightful heir shall yet receive;

When every tongue shall own His worth,

And all creation cease to grieve.

Thou, dearest Savior! Thou alone

Canst give Thy people rest;

And, Lord, till thou art on the throne,

This groaning earth can ne’er be blest.

My Conversion

For a long time I had known my natural state before God—that I was lost, condemned already, dead in trespasses and sins, without hope and without God in the world. I knew that I justly deserved God’s judgment, and that I had not a rag to stand in in the presence of a holy God, who will have nothing less than a robe of spotless righteousness. The question of eternity gave me much uneasiness, whenever I thought of it, and that was very often.

I went with my dear brother—now with the Lord—to a meeting where he was to preach. I shall never forget how he spoke; it seemed as if every word were addressed to myself. He said that however much he, or anyone, might love us, or desire our salvation, “none can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him” — “powerless, dear friends,” he continued, “am I myself to help you; if your salvation depended upon any fellow creature, you would perish.” Again he quoted his text, and his face grew paler than usual, and I felt that he was yearning over my soul. Then he lovingly set forth the truth as expressed by the latter part of the verse: “Deliver him from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransom.”

Much as I felt the power of that address, I still remained in darkness. I lingered in the building, and several of the Lord’s people came and spoke to me after the meeting, but without effect.

One old gentleman, seeing one and another in conversation with me, asked what was going on. Someone answered, “A soul seeking Christ.”

“O!” said he, “the seeking sinner and the seeking Savior will not be long apart.”

“But,” said I to him, “suppose I were to die tonight?” He looked very straight at me through his spectacles, and turned away without another word, O! my friends, who read this, and are workers for the Lord Jesus, do not be so ready to leave an anxious soul as was that old man!

As we left the building, my brother walked home with a friend, and as I followed them my thoughts kept me company. I well remember standing outside the house, looking up into the clear, starlit sky; when, as though spoken to me by the Son of God, by whom those stars were made and held in their places, His words came into my heart— “He that believeth on Me hath, everlasting life.” (John 6:47.) “Yes,” I exclaimed, “I believe on Thee, Lord Jesus—but I have not everlasting life.” Again the passage recurred to my mind. “But I am not converted,” I argued in my unbelief. A third time the glorious statement was pressed upon me. Then, to put it from me as being too unlikely, I reasoned, “I don’t feel in any way different from what I did this morning, or last week, so I cannot have everlasting life.” The Holy Spirit once more brought home the same words of Jesus to me, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” But still, in my miserable unbelief, I continued to reason that it was impossible. At last I was brought to this: “God made me, and He knows better about me than even I know about myself. He says if I believe on the Lord Jesus I have everlasting life, and I do indeed believe, therefore I must have it if He says so. Thank God, there’s joy in heaven over me, a sinner that repenteth tonight.”

I managed somehow to tell my story to my dear brother when he rejoined me, and he did indeed rejoice with and over me. My joy the next day was increased; and as some of the beautiful passages in Romans 8, came to me, I found myself striking the table with my fist, as though I were repeating them emphatically to an audience.

Reader, notice God’s wondrous grace, abounding over my unbelief. When alone with Him I dared to argue, reason, and question; still He did not leave me in my ignorance to perish; but, in deep compassion, condescended to plead with me in His tender, gracious manner, until He overcame all my unbelief and shed the light of His love into my soul. When I think of that night, and of my former life, I feel what a wonder that I shall be in heaven with Jesus! Blessed be God so it is, all through the riches of His wondrous grace. Jesus bore the awful judgment for me—and I am saved, praise God!

It has been my happy privilege to tell others of Him for about twelve years. I would urge, on my reader to accept now the same precious. Savior, and to rejoice in His Word. “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life,” because God, the Son, says it.

Never Forgotten

When a child is born into a family it becomes at once the object of care and love. Its little wants are always heeded, and its very weakness is thus its strength.

And is it otherwise in God’s family? When a soul is born of God, it becomes the care of the Father—never left, never forgotten, but always, in every state, the object of the Unwearied, unvarying love of God.

“He careth for you.” “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (1 Peter 5:7; Matt. 6:32).

Scripture Study: Luke 10:1-24

Verse 1. The Lord sending the seventy, two by two, before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come, marks another step in His path. He feels and knows that the heart of man rejects Him, though come in grace to them, but His untiring love will not cease to minister where need comes before Him.

Verse 2. Therefore said He unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He may send forth laborers into His harvest.” Thus He enlists their hearts’ interest in His own interest toward a needy world, though it is opposed to Him.

Verse 3. “Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” They must be so to be His suited messengers. A lamb cannot fight for itself. It is not a wolf fighting with wolves; they must take suffering at the hands of those whom they came to bless, if they serve after His pattern.

Verse 4. Dependence is to mark them. “Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes.” And they were not to spend time on salutations by the way. Devotedness to their mission is seen here.

Verses 5-9. Their reception, or rejection, would be the test of those to whom they came. If the house was friendly to the Messiah, whose servants they were, they were to share its hospitality as His laborers, and not go from house to house, but to eat what was set before them, and to heal the sick, and announce the kingdom of God as come nigh to them.

Verses 10-12. Tell the responsibility and condemnation of those who refuse Him.

Verses 13, 14. Assume that these cities had already rejected Him. Great wickedness had been in Tyre and Sidon, but they were not so hardened as the cities favored by the Lord’s teaching and works.

Verse 16. Puts them as representing Him. To receive them was to receive Him, and the Father who had sent Him. To despise them was to despise Him and the One that sent Him. How blind were the mass of the people to this.

Verse 17. The seventy returned again with joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.” They were elated because of the power put in their hands, but the Lord directs them to what was higher and better.

Verses 18-20. He speaks anticipatively, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Satan is to be cast down, it is written, and it will come in God’s time. As yet, like Job 1, Satan presents himself as a servant before the throne of God. Not in the abode of the saints. And we know that “the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20). The power and protection of their Messiah was in their hand, but in this they were not to rejoice, but in the new truth He now presents—“but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” This new blessing was theirs, and brings an altogether new order of things—a place in heaven, instead of a kingdom on earth; to know God as our Father, instead of subjects of the King.

Verse 21. “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit.” How significant! Outward rejection, inward joy in the Father’s love and purposes.

And He gives thanks to Him as the Lord of heaven and earth, that not to the wise and prudent, but to the babes this revelation was given. It was the Father’s will and He bows implicitly to it, and is in full fellowship with Him in what He is doing.

Verse 22. In this verse the mystery of His person is brought before us; we cannot comprehend it. We hear Him say, “All things are delivered to Me of My Father; and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father.”

“The Father only Thy blest name

Of Son can comprehend.”

He can reveal the Father to us, and this, blessed be His name, He has done, and brought us into the children’s place: our portion with and in Him, fully entered into when the Holy Spirit had come. (Rom. 8:16).

Verses 23, 24. The disciples now have the place which (in vain) prophets and kings had desired to see. The One whose coming had been so much the subject of Scripture, was now on earth, had come at last, and though rejected by the many, their eyes and ears were open to see and to hear Him, but privately. not publicly manifested, as when every eye shall see Him. May we now have our eyes anointed to more fully discern all that is of Him, and the ways of God He has so perfectly displayed.

(Continued from page 328)

(To be continued)

Who Loved Me, and Gave Himself for Me

Who loved me, and gave Himself

The burden of my guilt to bear—

Atonement for my sins to make—

And rescue me from every snare?

Loved me with such a pitying love,

That when undone, and vile, and lost,

He shed for me His precious blood;

And ransomed me at highest cost.

And gave me an abode in heaven,

Cleansed me by His atoning blood;

His name I will with gladness own

Jesus, the Lord, the Son of God!

Himself, the holy, spotless One,

Left that bright home beyond the sky;

Was humbled e’en to dust of death,

That I might never, never die.

For me His life a ransom gave,

And died for me upon the tree:

What shall I render to the Lord

Who loved me, gave Himself for me?

Lord, Thou hast given Thyself for me;

Help me to yield myself to Thee,

And love Thee with a boundless love,

Till Thou shalt call me home above.

The Blesser and the Blessing

A young Christian once said to me, “When my heart is inclined to grow cold, I think of what I am saved from. Through the wondrous love of God, I am saved from hell!”

Another said, “I love to think of what I am saved for—to be near Christ, and like Him. When I am cast down in my soul, I seek to dwell upon what I am brought to, through the grace of God.”

Of which do you think the most, dear young friend, the wrath to come from which you have been delivered; or the blessings which are yours as a saved one?

Let me suppose a kind and rich man walking through the streets of a city upon a dark and cheerless night. It is bitterly cold, and he wraps his ample overcoat about him, as he hurries to the brightness and warmth of his gladsome home. Yes, his is a joyous home; it is not only wealthy, but the riches of contentment and peace are there, and even the humblest among his many servants is satisfied.

As the rich man hastens on, his eye lights on a kind of bundle in a dark corner of the street—he approaches it, asking himself, What can it be? Ah! it is a poor ragged little child, starving and freezing in the pitiless night. Touched with compassion, the good man brings the little wanderer to his house, and saves him from the death he was so near. But more, such is the goodness and love of the man’s heart towards the child, he adopts him into his own family as a son, and bids the boy call him father.

Now tell me, dear young friend, what will the boy’s heart he occupied with most? Will it be the street, the rags, the misery from which he was saved? Surely he will never forget these—never. But he will be chiefly occupied with his father, his house, its wealth, its treasures, its glories. And he will study his adopted father’s character, and seek to be like him, and to walk worthy of the high and noble calling wherewith he is called.

This is the kind of spirit we so much need, and you will find that there is a great deal more said in God’s Word about what we are saved for, than what we are saved from. I think some Christians find it easier to think of the misery from which God has rescued them, than of the blessedness which He has bestowed upon them. Perhaps they have not yet been through all the rooms of the house. Maybe they are not quite at home in their new place; possibly they are timid, and hardly bold enough in God’s love to say, “Abba Father.”

“But if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,” and “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father!” (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 4:6).

Now what a word is this, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.” Can you write down any of the spiritual blessings with which you are blessed.

“All (or every) spiritual blessings,” not three or four; no not ten or twenty, but all.

Then how many can you count up? Notice, this text does not speak of what we are saved from at all. It does not describe the pitiless street, but draws out the heart to the glorious house, and the Father there.

You will find it a happy and profitable occupation to seek to write down some of the blessings which the first chapter of Ephesians describes, and the more you think about them, the brighter you will grow.

The once ragged boy, by continual heart and mind occupation with the rich man and his home, loses all traces of the dirt and manners of the street whence he came, and grows like his father. Thus let us be occupied with what God has done for us, and we shall find such wealth and gladness in His Word, that the world will be only like the dirt and the street to us. A growing Christian has his face turned toward heaven, and shines with its light.

Stephen looked up steadfastly, and said “I see Jesus,” and all who looked upon Stephen saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Fix your eye of faith upon Christ, the One through whom we have received “every spiritual blessing;” the One who loved us and gave Himself for us; the One who washed us from our sins in His own precious blood; the One who is risen and now sits at the right hand of God for us; the One who is soon coming to take us to be with Himself forever—yes, let us be occupied with Him and our hearts will rejoice, and we shall desire to please Him in all our ways.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1).

Insensibility

Alas! how many perish, utterly dead to the sense of sin, altogether indifferent to the love of God! A patient greeted his physician with a smile, “Doctor, I shall get well now: I feel no pain.” The physician mournfully shook his head; the fatal symptom had showed itself—mortification had set in.

I feel no pain! I do not feel my sins, I am dead to the mercy of God, insensible to the sufferings of Jesus for sinners. Ah! these are fatal symptoms of being dead in trespasses and sins!

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

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25).

The Lord Our Shepherd

Psalms 23; John 10:14

The Lord has made and does make Himself known to us in many ways, all precious to our souls, supplying our temporal and spiritual needs. He has made Himself known to us, first of all as our Savior, and the knowledge of His love to us, in that He died for our sins upon the cross, gave us much joy, and caused us to love Him. Those who believe in Him should be certain of having eternal life, of having the forgiveness of sins, of being complete and accepted in Him, and they may be sure of being with Christ forever in glory: (John 10:27-29; Eph. 1:6, 7).

This is a settled matter, and is now, and ever will be, our theme of praise. Besides this, it is blessed to know and to enjoy Him as our Shepherd, supplying from His fullness all our needs, and meeting us in all our varied states of soul. There are, at least, two things noticeable about the Lord as our Shepherd and His ways with us, “the sheep of His hand.”

First. The Shepherd’s loving care for His sheep.

Second. The Shepherd’s presence is with His sheep in all the circumstances of their whole journey through this world to their home with Him.

Perfect, gracious, and complete is the Shepherd’s care. We are all loved by Him with an eternal love, and He calls us, “My sheep,” and none but Himself can call us that and He forgets not the least nor the feeblest; in fact, the weakest are the especial objects of His care, for He gathers them with His arm, carries them in His bosom, and gently leads them. (Isa. 40:11; John 10:27; 1 John 4:10; Rom. 8:28-39). What confidence in Him it gives us to he assured from His own lips that He knows our names, and goes ahead of us, meeting every danger and every trial along the way before we come up to it.

“He calleth His own sheep by name.... He goeth before them.” (John 10:3, 4). Many a snare laid by the enemy of our souls to entrap us He has seen and thrust aside. Many a pitfall His watchful eye detects and carefully He leads us safely over them. Many a by-path, which would have taken us out of the way, He has conducted us past, and led us safely along “the straight and narrow way.” Such is our Shepherd’s loving and faithful care of us! With such a Shepherd we shall not want. He tends His sheep; He does not leave them to a hireling. We are His flock and not the flock of any man. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” These pastures are not an enclosure built on man’s opinions and doctrines; and neither the intellect and natural mind, nor the pursuit of worldly pleasures and pastimes are green pastures.

The Lord our Shepherd makes us to lie down where we can feed upon His love, His grace, His goodness and glory, yea, upon “the things concerning Himself” from the Word of God, which the Holy Spirit delights to show unto us, because we are beloved of Him. It is important to heed the exhortations, inspired by the Holy Spirit, of the apostles Peter and Paul, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2). “Meditate upon these things, give yourself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take, heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim. 4:15,16).

The place where the Shepherd guides His flock is “beside the still waters.” The Lord would not have us to be unhappy and restless, He would have us to enjoy His peace under all circumstances. “My peace I give unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” He has said. (John 14:27). In these perilous times how much we need that word. What restfulness of spirit, and what contentedness of mind it gives us to lean confidingly upon His love and care. Nothing can separate us from His love. And if, because of the sorrows and roughness of the wilderness journey, or by reason of the rapid progress of infidelity and worldliness, our spirits have drooped in sadness, and we have become discouraged, let us cheer up, there is enough in Him to make the heart rejoice. He is the same all-powerful, loving, gracious and tender Shepherd. His glory has not been tarnished a bit. He is the Brightness of Eternal Glory.

“He restoreth my soul,” or rather the meaning is, “He invigorates,” or reviveth, “my soul”; it is like a good tonic to a person whose health is run down, it invigorates. The Lord can do this when we get discouraged, as He revived the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, and restored their souls, first, by drawing out all that was on their heart, and then, in His love, removing their mistrust, and banishing their discouragements by ministering the Word and comforting them, causing their hearts to burn within them as He spake to them by the way. (Luke 24).

We have another instance of this when Paul was imprisoned in the castle, and in the stillness of night, “the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul, for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness of Me at Rome.” (Acts 23:11).

Occupation with our circumstances will not invigorate us, because they are variable, nor can we turn to ourselves, “for I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing,” and the heart, the Lord has told us, is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” (Jer. 17:9). Although all things, even the foundation of the earth and “the heavens shall perish and wax old as doth a garment,” the Lord, our Shepherd, is the Eternal and Unchangeable God.

The Shepherd's Presence

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. (Psa. 23:4). Many believers, it is feared, do not come to that valley, in the which the conscious presence of the Lord is realized and enjoyed, until death; but we should, and if we go on in daily communion with the Lord, we shall find this world to be the valley of the shadow of death. Nothing can affect our standing in Christ, thank God! not even our state of soul can ever affect our standing; but we ought to live according to our standing. May we be more like Christ and less earthly-minded! It is often only when a saint has to depart from earth that the world is given up. It is a glorious privilege, as well as a blessed responsibility, as saints of God, to be counting ourselves as we are in God’s sight dead with Christ; this would separate us from the world altogether just as though we were dead to it and it would then be to us the valley of the shadow of death. But we shall have His presence with us in it and be able to say, “I will fear no evil.” This is the confident expression of one who realizes the Shepherd’s sustaining presence.

We are in God’s sight dead and risen with Christ just as though we had passed out of this world altogether and are left to live here on earth as a heavenly people waiting to be taken up to heaven where Christ is. This world is like an inn to the believer to tarry in as a pilgrim and a stranger for a little while, at the expiration of which the Shepherd will take him to His home, which is our eternal dwelling-place. In the meantime, we have His presence with us, for He will never leave nor forsake us, and we need not fear, and “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

Yet a Little While

(Heb. 10:37).

Only “a little while,”

A moment it may be,

Ere I shall see Him face to face,

Who died, who lives for me.

Only “a little while,”

The wilderness to roam,

And then the Father’s house above,

My dwelling-place, my home.

Only “a little while,”

To walk by faith alone,

And then without a veil to see,

And know as I am known.

Only “a little while,”

To tread the path He trod,

And then the home of rest and joy,

The dwelling-place of God.

Only “a little while,”

Then watching will be o’er,

And we shall see Him face to face,

And worship evermore.

Only “a little while,”

O, precious, cheering word!

It may be ere this day shall close

I shall behold my Lord.

Then not “a little while,”

But through eternal days,

To sing the never-ending, song

Of tribute to His praise!

In Season and Out of Season

“To everything there is a season,” and the season for the gospel worker is this present moment; “the night cometh, when no man can work.” Never again will he have a better opportunity for working for eternity than this day offers. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the period which may be brought to a close at any moment, for when the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, this “now,” this day of salvation will be over, Now, the golden present, the opportunity which will never return. Therefore, let us heed the Scripture exhortation, “Be instant in season and out of season,” remembering that in and out of season means always everywhere.

Nor is it only because the day is far spent and the night is at hand, that we need exhort one another to the work, for a deep desire after reality in divine things abounds in many hearts, and calls for the, loving energy of every true servant of God. The only ease infidelity offers is “a leap in the dark,” and the only balm formalism presents is an undefined shadow of a substance which may or may not be found when life is passed! The no-belief of the skeptic covers unrest of soul; the ceaseless effort of the formalist to reach to rest evidences that the desired end is not attained. But the true Christian has rest, for he has Christ, and Christ dwelling in the heart by faith fills the breast with life, light, and liberty, and it is the unanswerable witness to theories of darkness and doctrines of unrest.

Christians, you have “the treasure” (2 Cor. 4:7); in you is the fountain of living waters (John 7:38), and you are set here upon the earth to bestow of the treasure and to communicate of the living waters to others. Men, women, and children around you thirst: they are poor, they need Christ, and God has given you His salvation not merely for your own blessing, but that you may be a blessing to others—even as He said to Abraham, “I will bless thee... and thou shalt be a blessing.” And certain it is that the nearer a Christian dwells to the source of all blessing—God himself—the fresher, the sweeter, the richer are the streams of blessing that, through the Spirit, flow out of his heart to the refreshment and blessing of others.

Let us then arise, and shake off the dust from the earth from our souls, and go forth as from Christ to the christless world, with hearts and hands laden with Divine bounties to the unsaved and the unsatisfied. Be instant in season and out of season, for always do men need Christ, and peace, and rest, and joy.

Correspondence: Faith; Matt. 8 vs. Luke 7; 1 John 5:1-2; Luke 10:33

Questions by U. A. N.

A.-What is the difference between “faith” and “the faith”?

Answer: “The faith” in such scriptures as Acts 6:7; Rom. 14;1; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 1:23; Phil. 1:27; Col. 1:23; 2:5; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:7; Titus 1:1,13; Jude 3,20, means the truth that we are to receive and hold.

B.-1 Cor. 12:9. “Faith” is the personal exercise of our mind in receiving, holding and obeying the truth. (for example, 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:3). 1 Cor. 12:9. “Faith” in this verse is not that of every believer; it is a gift to be exercised is some special way.

C.-Why does Matthew 8, leave out that the Centurion sent elders to Jesus, while Luke 7, tells us of them?

Answer: Matthew wrote by the Spirit to show the Jews how far behind in faith they were to this Gentile, so to humble them before the Lord; while Luke, by the same Spirit, wrote to the Gentiles, and there honored the Jews by whom salvation came. (John 4:22). This should tend to keep the Gentiles humble also.

D.-Explain 1 John 5:1, 2. The divine nature is love. If any one believes that Jesus is the Christ, he is born of God and so he has this nature, and loves God, and also those begotten of God. Obedience is another trait of the divine nature. The proof that we love the children of God is, that we love God and keep His commandments, for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous.

E.-Luke 10:33. Why is the Lord pictured here by a Samaritan?

Answer: The Jews did not want any dealings with Samaritans and called the Lord a Samaritan, (John 8:48), reviling Him.

They did not want anything to do with a God of grace either, nor does any natural man. So it reminds us that “the carnal mind is enmity against God.” (Rom. 8:7). Yet God has come down in the person of His Son to poor, lost, rebellious man, and all unasked, has brought salvation. to him, asking the sinner to receive the gift of love that cost God so much. (Titus 2:11).

“‘Twas love unbounded led Thee thus

To give Thy well-beloved for us.”

A Free Ticket

“Well, I cannot understand why a man who has tried to lead a good, moral life should not stand a better chance of getting to heaven than a wicked one,” said a lady while talking with others about the matter of salvation.

“Simply for this cause,” answered one. Suppose you and I wanted to go into a place of interest where the admission fee was one dollar. You had fifty cents and I have nothing. Which would stand the better chance of admission?”

“Neither,” was the solemn reply.

“Just so, and therefore the moral man stands no better chance than the out breaking sinner. But now suppose a kind and rich person, who saw our perplexity, presented a ticket of admission to each of us at his own expense! What then?”

“Well, then, we could both go in alike, that is clear.”

“Then, when the Savior saw our perplexity, He came, He died, and thus ‘obtained eternal redemption for us,’ (Heb. 9:12) and now He offers you and me a free ticket. Only take good care that your fifty cents do not make you proud enough to refuse the free ticket, and so be refused admittance at last.”

Dear young reader, there is a solemn moment coming! Have you the ticket of admission?

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

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

“To whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Heb. 3:18,19).

What God Has Done for Me

The Lord Answers Prayer.

“What God Has Done For Me.”

What I have done for God, alas!

Can never be my plea;

But I rejoice in knowing this—

“What God has done for me.”

Yes, done for me, who could not do

For Him a single thing;

For, “dead in sin,” I never could

To Him one atom bring.

He knew it; and in purest grace,

His choicest gift He gave—

His Son—to die the bitter death,

My ruined soul to save.

Unasked he did it! wondrous love!

And more than this, ‘tis mine

To call Him “Abba,” as upon

His love I still recline.

Yes; ‘tis what God has done for me,

That fills my soul with joy,

As on I haste to reach my home—

The Father’s house on high.

There all His wondrous grace I’ll prove

As I the glory see,

And know more fully then, than now,

“What God has done for me.”

The Lord Answers Prayer

James was a young mechanic of much intelligence, upright and well-behaved, a Sunday-school teacher. He was what the world called a respectable young man; but, alas! he knew nothing of the truth as it is in Jesus.

His wife was a true believer in the Lord Jesus, and she earnestly desired her husband’s salvation; on one occasion she tried by every means in her power to induce him to accompany her to some mission meetings, which were being held in their village, but her entreaties were of no avail. She asked the evangelists to come to the house, when he would be at home, so that they might get an opportunity of speaking to him, but James was determined not to come in contact with them. But, though he could get away from man, he could not escape from God. There was no fleeing from His presence, and the fact often appalled him that he must have to do with Christ now as a Savior, or by-and-by as a Judge. Still he tried to put off all such thoughts, and to occupy himself only with present things.

James kept persistently from the village meetings and laughed at his wife when she begged him only just for once to accompany her; in fact, he began to get angry, and threatened not to allow her to go, and abused her and her religion, as he termed it.

The last night of the meetings had come: the evangelists were to leave on the morrow. Scoffingly he said he would go and see what the magnet was that induced so many people to spend their time at such a place. So, taking up a hymn-book in his hand, he opened it and read one hymn after another until he came to these most touching words,

“O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!

Our load was laid on Thee;

Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,

To bear all ill for me.

A victim led, Thy blood was shed:

Now there’s no load for me.”

He read and re-read the hymn from beginning to end, and the truth dawned upon him that he was a guilty sinner. He tried to dismiss the thought from his mind, but no. As he trod that dusty road the solemn thought possessed his soul, the solemn words kept ringing in his ears, till he neither heard nor saw anything around him. He walked on, he knew not whither, until he found himself at home! Lifting the latch, he heard a voice, and paused at the threshold. It was the voice of his wife, pleading with the Lord for him. He entered softly, and, kneeling beside her cried aloud, “God, be merciful to me!” The Lord never turns a deaf ear to that cry when it comes from the depths of a truly contrite heart, and as James knelt there he heard the gracious words of love, “Thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace,” spoken even for him. He had believed his own utterly lost condition and he accepted Christ as his Savior, and there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over one more sinner brought to repentance.

Reader, does your load of guilt rest upon you? Or can you say in faith, “The Lord hath laid on Him” —the blessed Son of God who came to do His will—that terrible burden?

And for us who know the Lord, let us continue to plead with Him for lost souls—that they may be saved for His honor and glory.

Reading

“Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:28).

“Blessed is he that readeth.” (Rev. 1:3). “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” (1 Tim. 4:13, 15).

“Continue in the things which thou hast learned.” (2 Tim. 3:14).

Dear young Christian, I beg of you to consider, whenever you take up anything to read, as to what is the character of your book or paper.

What are you going to feed your soul upon—the Word of God, which will cause you to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? or the poison of trashy literature?

You will never get an end to the Word of God. Also the Lord has given His servants who have unfolded to us the deep and precious truths contained in it through their writings. There are many valuable books which will be of help to us in our study of the Bible.

Let us store our minds with His Word, and learn more of our blessed Lord during the little while that He leaves us here. Surely His coming is very near.

The following is an extract from a letter by James Hudson Taylor to his younger sister, Louisa, whose spiritual welfare was much on his heart.

“There is one thing I would specially warn you against... one of the greatest causes I believe of the present day—the practice of novel reading. If you value your mind and soul, avoid it as you would a dangerous serpent. I can not tell you what I would give to be able to forget certain novels I have read, and to efface their influence from my memory. And I firmly believe, though some would deny it... that no Christian ever did or ever will read them without injury, very serious injury too, if the habit is indulged in. It is like opium-smoking, and begets a craving for more, that must be supplied.
Better books are neglected, and no one can estimate the mischief that results.
None, I believe, could honestly ask God’s blessing upon the reading of a novel, and few would venture to assert that they read them to the glory of God.
The only safety lies in avoiding them as one of Satan’s most subtle snares.”

Scripture Study: Luke 10

Concluded.

Verses 25-29. We now learn some of those ways toward men, and the contrast between law and grace.

A lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He did not know himself as a ruined, helpless sinner, but wise in his own eyes, he tried to confound the Lord. He is in the presence of One who knew his inmost thoughts, and He teaches him by that very law of which he was the professed exponent. “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” The letter of it he knew: “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.” The Lord replied, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” Yes, but this only condemns him, for his inward consciousness tells him he had not done this, and he would like to justify himself. He was altogether mistaken in thinking the law could give life or righteousness. It was a good thing to live by on earth, but it could not give a title to blessing from God, that only comes by grace; but being willing to justify himself, he says, “And who is my neighbor?” His filthy rags of self-righteousness are exposed to himself, (Isa. 64:6,) and he does not like it. The Lord will not argue with him, but tells him a story to illustrate his need of grace as a ruined, helpless sinner on the downward road.

Verses 30-32. The man is going downward, from the city of blessing, to the city of the curse, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Can the priest with his ordinances or the Levite with his service, do the helpless sinner good? Ah no! the Savior alone can do helpless sinners good. This poor man had no strength. (Rom. 5:6).

Verse 33. “A certain Samaritan,” whom the Jews hated, (and the carnal mind in all men hates God), “as he journeyed, came where he was.” This reminds us of (2 Cor. 8:9) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who though He was rich in glory with the Father, yet for our sakes became poor. What a journey from that eternal glory, to become a man that He might glorify God and accomplish redemption. They might call Him a Samaritan, (John 8:48) but He loved them and came to save them from their sins. (Matt. 1:21). To do this, He must needs suffer. (Isa. 53:5, 6). He must take the sinner’s place.

“Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,

Confessed and born by Thee;

The gall, the curse, the wrath were Thine,

To set Thy ransomed free.”

And this He has done. What divine compassion filled His heart, and as He looked upon us in our sins, His compassion was drawn out.

Verse 34. Now He comes right to the sinner bringing salvation. (Titus 2:11). The wounds are bound up by the good news that He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree and He has poured in the oil and the wine. We have the assurance and the joy of knowing His forgiving love. Still further, “He set him on His own heart and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” What riches of grace are here; we are the objects of His care; He lifts us from the roadside, He carries us along, He has put us in safe places. It is only an inn yet, but soon it will be the Father’s house. (John 14:3).

Verses 35-37. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him; “Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Our blessed Lord has gone to heaven now, to the glory He had with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5). There He has prepared a place for those whom His grace has made His own, but His (two pence) sufficiency—all that He is for us, as our great High Priest and Advocate, is ministered to us by that faithful Comforter in whose care we are left. And we are constantly reminded of what He said in love that our hearts might respond. “I will come again,” and “quickly,” makes us say, “Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.” (John 14:3, Rev. 22:20). O, what a neighbor He has been to us! What grace! what mercy! to lost, ruined sinners!

Did the lawyer ever hear of a neighbor like this? Good was it for him if he was robbed, and then if he was saved, the object of sovereign grace and mercy; then indeed could he go and do likewise. This is service above all law, in which we that are saved can have a share in the Lord’s work of grace; telling sinners of their ruin, of God’s salvation for all men, and also comforting His people; and we can find encouragement in the words of our Lord, if we serve Him, “And what thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee.” Our blessed Lord and Master loves His own which are in the world, (John 13:1) and loves them to the end; that means, all the way through. It is our privilege to follow in His steps in this also. And if it costs us a little hard work, or self-denial, or both, let us remember what it cost Him to redeem us and them, and that it was His love which made Him say, “Take care of Him; and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again, I will repay thee”

Verses 38-42. Martha was one of those that Jesus loved, (John 11:5), and she received Him into her house. She has that privilege, as well as the toil and care of the house. Her service we see in John 12:2 is specially mentioned, taken notice of as of equal worth with Lazarus’ fellowship, and Mary’s worship. And this the Lord does not find fault with; it is the spirit in which she is, that rather grieved him, while Mary is spoken of as one who also sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His Word. This was her characteristic attitude of soul. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” Martha’s service was very important in her own eyes; her state of soul was more important in His. She tries to tell Him His duty, and finds fault with Mary. That is the way when we get out of communion. We think nobody is so important as ourselves. Our work should be the first thing. It is self again. Our blessed Lord rebukes her firmly, though gently. “Martha, Martha thou are careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, (not the better part) which shall not be taken away from her.” How much the Lord appreciated this attitude of soul, and how Mary learned the mind of the Lord as she sat there so that when the time came, she had her sweet savor ointment ready, and poured it upon Him for the day of His burying.

Waiting for the Glory

I’m waiting for the glory:

Are your thoughts with me too?

It is the old, old story

But all most sweetly true!

I’m waiting for the glory:

JESUS Himself is there;

He’s gone on high before me,

Calls me with Him to share.

JESUS, the Lord, did love us,

Will love us, to the end;

And lifts our hearts above us,

To love that will not end!

For the day is nearing, nearing,

When we shall see His face;

Each step the way endearing,

Which leads to that blest place.

For JESUS comes with power,

To change these bodies vile,

Or raise them, in that hour,

From where they rest awhile:

Then shall His soul’s deep travail

Find its love-fraught reward;

Nor joy, nor promise shall fail,

With Him, like Him, their Lord!

But who’s this all-glorious Lord,

To Whom each knee doth bow?

The Sorrower, once abhorred!

The Lord in His glory now!

Art waiting for the glory?

Thy thoughts go with me, too!

Yes! ‘tis the old, old story:

But all most sweetly true!

The Writing of the Old Testament

It is said that someone once asked a servant of God to write something in defense of the Bible. He replied “Defend the Bible! I should as soon think of defending a lion. Let it out. It is well able to defend itself.”

The following pages were written somewhat from this point of view. It is to be hoped that the Bible needs no defense to the young Christian. And, on the other hand, in taking up this outer and historical study of the Bible, may we not be actuated by curiosity, or even love of knowledge, but by love of the Word of God, which makes us treasure all facts connected with it.

There are scarcely any extraneous sources, or even traditions, to tell us anything about the sources of the Old Testament, but a great deal may be learned from the Bible itself.

During the first 2500 years of the world’s history, there was no written Word of God, but God revealed Himself to the patriarchs in a simple and intimate way. On comparing the ages of the patriarchs given in Genesis 11, it will be seen that Abraham was over a hundred years old at the death of Shem. From Shem, of whom Noah said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem,” no doubt Abraham had heard at first hand the story of the flood, and the preceding history of the world.

Seven faithful persons would be sufficient to hand down the history of the creation from Adam to Jacob, that is, Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

But the lives of men becoming shorter and shorter, the Lord chose to commit the revelation of Himself to writing. The first instrument chosen for this purpose was Moses who wrote the Pentateuch or first five books about 1500 years before Christ.

We read in Exodus 17:14 “And the Lord said to Moses, write this for a memorial in a book.” In chapter 24:4, “And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord.” In Numbers 33:2, “And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord;” and in Deuteronomy 31:19-22, “Now therefore write ye this song... Moses therefore wrote this song the same day.”

It is wonderful to think of this man, Moses, the scholar, the shepherd, the law giver, writing books which are the voice of God. Is there not in inspiration something which is akin to the incarnation of the Blessed Lord? As He is God and yet man, so the Bible is divine and yet human. As someone has said, “It is authoritative, because it is the voice of God; it is intelligible because it is the language of men.”

When the Scriptures consisted only of the five books of Moses, they still had all the characteristics of the whole Bible. Joshua was to find blessing and strength in obedience to, and meditation in, the law of God. (Josh. 1:7, 8). Zephtha quotes from them. Later on, Asaph When oppressed by the enigma of life, cast down and full of doubts, turned to the Scriptures, the first five books of Moses. Psalm 73; 77; 78.

After the five books of Moses, we are not told who are the authors of the historical books from Joshua to Chronicles.

The Jews divided the books of the Old Testament into three classes, i.e., the Law, the Prophets and the Sacred Writings. This division is also used in the gospels, for example, Luke 24:44. The books are distributed usually in the following manner.

The Law.

The prophets (consisting of)

Joshua.

Judges.

Ruth.

1, 2 Samuel.

1, 2 Kings.

Isaiah.

Jeremiah.

Lamentations.

Ezekiel.

Daniel.

12 Minor prophets.

Hagiographa or Sacred Writings.
(consisting of)

1, 2 Chronicles.

Ezra.

Nehemiah.

Esther.

Job.

Psalms.

Proverbs.

Ecclesiastes.

Song of Solomon.

There is a passage in the. Talmud which seems to embody a very old tradition which asserts that Moses wrote the book of Job; that Joshua wrote his own book and the last eight verses in the Pentateuch; that Samuel wrote his own book and the books of Judges and Ruth. Jeremiah wrote his own prophecy and the books of Kings and Lamentations.

Hezekiah and his friends wrote, or rather collected or edited, Isaiah, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

But apart from any tradition, there is internal evidence that the historical books were written by prophets. Insight is as much prophetic gift as foresight, and how marvelously accurate those historic books, portray the motives and actions of men! Consider also the very important part played by prophets at that time. Remembering that “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,” we may expect to find types of the Lord Jesus throughout these books, and we shall not be disappointed in our search.

Reviewing briefly the period of the Old Testament. we may note that it began with Moses about the year 1500 B. C.; that David and Solomon lived and wrote from about 1050 to 1018 B. C. Then came the long period of the kingdom ending about 588 with the captivity and the group of prophets who lived at that time, that is, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, Isaiah and six other prophets, that is, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Jonah, Micah and Nahum had prophesied some years before during the later kings. After the return from Babylon come Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai and Zechariah about 450 B. C. Malachi is later still. With Malachi the divine revelation to man closes for awhile. It is remarkable that although other books, as for example the book of Jasher, were written during this epoch, none were received by the Jews as the Word of God, but the 39 books of the Old Testament. Nor were any of the books written after this period, and now known as the apocrypha, admitted to have the same sacred character. The testimony of Jewish writers is very full and unanimous on this point.

A few words may be interesting in connection with the language of the Old Testament. Almost the whole of it is written in Hebrew, the language of the Israelites up to the captivity. During the captivity, however, they seem to have adopted the language of their conquerors, Syriac. This explains why in Nehemiah 8, the book of the law had to be read very distinctly, and even explained to the people. They had become unfamiliar with their own language, Hebrew. In the time of our Lord, the same language, Syriac, was spoken in Judea. A small part of the Old Testament was written in this language. The first passage occurs in Jeremiah 10:11, where it is announced to the nations that their gods shall perish. The second passage is Ezra 4:8-16; 18-22; and 7:12-26 where the oppressors of Judah are told in their own language that God will take care of His people. The third place is Daniel 2:4 to chapter 7 where the origin, prosperity and destructions of the Gentile powers are described.

The Ungrateful Child

Some years since, a little boy, named E— was placed under the writer’s care.

From a babe he had been brought up by some friends who lived a long distance from his mother; and as the duties of her situation were of such a nature that they could not often be delegated to others, she seldom had the opportunity of seeing him. The consequence was, that he grew up in almost utter ignorance of the one by, whom he was much beloved, and who well deserved, and ought to have had his love in return.

She fondly hoped, as he became older, to succeed in winning his affections; and to this end, as soon as he was able to read and write, she commenced a correspondence with him. But though her letters breathed nothing but affection, apart from what they contained, it gave him no pleasure to receive them, and his replies were written in such a brief and heartless manner that they were scarcely worth reading. Indeed, after he had thanked her for pocket-money, which she so frequently sent him, he seemed to have nothing to add, as though, while he valued her gifts, he had little or no love for the giver. Often would she plead with him in the kindest possible manner and ask for a long letter or beg that he would write more frequently; but it was all in vain. And, when at her request the writer sought to awaken within him the claims of a mother’s love, and urged him to do what he knew would give her joy, so feeble was the response, that if aroused for the moment to consider his obligations, he soon relapsed into his former state, and became as indifferent as before.

Had it been for want of ability, there would have been some excuse; but it was not so. The lack of filial affection was the sole cause of his apathy, nor was it to the writer’s knowledge ever removed. Poor fellow! after blighting all his mother’s hopes, and disappointing all her expectations, he sank into an early grave.

It is to be hoped that none of the youthful readers of “Young Christian” are like the subject of the foregoing narrative; but the moral instruction that may be obtained from it is well worthy the attention of young believers, and even older ones may profit by it. If “ye are all the children of God by faith is Christ Jesus, “you are, as such, the objects of a love far exceeding that of E—’s fond mother; for its height, and depth, and length, and breadth pass knowledge. Now it is the will of God concerning you that the love wherewith you are loved should so fill your minds and occupy your thoughts that you might never forget the intimacy of the relationship into which you have been brought; and unless you do realize the tenderness of the tie by which your Father’s love has bound you to Himself, that love, so to say, will be lost upon you, and get little or no response from you. You may indeed value God’s unspeakable gift so far as deliverance from hell is concerned, but without a close and constant walk with God, the giver of His own Son, you will be like the ungrateful child who, because he knew so little of his mother, was unable to appreciate her love, and whom so many believers in our day resemble. From first to last they are so fearfully selfish that they think of nothing else but their own salvation and comfort; they never enter into the happy thought that God has His own joy and delight in them, and that He rejoices over them; nor do they know Him as the One who ought to be the source of all their joy, the object of their unceasing meditation, and whose desire is that they should be so habitually near Him as to hear the very whispers of His love and to be guided by His eye. O, if the mother of the ungrateful child was sorely pained when she found that she could not win the affections of her dear little E— as she was wont to call him, who need wonder at the touching language addressed by God to Israel when they would have none of Him, and forgot Him “days without number”? Surely the words, “O, my people, what have I done unto thee? Wherein have I wearied thee?” proclaim in language that cannot be mistaken that His soul was deeply grieved when the objects of His everlasting love slighted Him and disregarded His voice.

Guard then, beloved readers, against a distant walk from God; for the farther you live from Him, the more scanty and imperfect will be your knowledge of Him. The sweet confidence and simple trust which become you “as dear children” will be unknown; you will have no “joy in God” nor any more delight in “the word of His grace,” than E— had in the perusal of his mother’s letters; and if you keep up a form of prayer it will be cold and irksome, and almost as breathless as death itself. And though the pleadings of infinite, tender, and unchanging love may arouse you for a moment to “consider your ways”, and the thought that there has been nothing in the Lord’s dealings with you but kindness from beginning to end awaken within you the sense of your ungrateful returns, you will soon recede into your former condition, and be content to live days and weeks without communion with God, unless you learn to make the Lord Himself the source of your delight and contemplation, and to know Him as the One who is infinitely more to you than all gifts He has bestowed upon you.

The Knowledge of God's Word

The fact that we do not know the Scriptures has brought about many evils.

The reading of the Scriptures is a great preservation from sin; and to be ignorant of them is a mighty precipice, a deep gulf. It is this which has brought forth heresies, evil doctrines, introduced corruption of life, and has turned everything upside down.

The Peerless One

O Thou, Jehovah’s fellow, Man!

JESUS, my Lord, God’s Son:

Human perfection at its height—

But found in Thee alone.

To Abba’s love, to God’s high claims,

Thou cam’st not short at all;

Perfect in everything art Thou

Alone since Adam’s fall.

O matchless, peerless Man! shall we

Begrudge to Thee this praise?

Perfect, alone Thou cam’st in love

To glory us to raise.

Peerlessly spotless One! ‘twas Thou

The wrath did’st bear for me:

Peerlessly righteous One! I’m made

God’s righteousness in Thee.

Peerlessly glorious One; how soon

Shall I be like to Thee!

Thy very glory then reflect,

By perfect beauty see.

The Growing of the Gospel

“The word of the truth of the gospel.... bearing fruit and increasing.” (R.V. Col. 1:6). Producing fruit and growing! Such is the character of the word of the truth of the gospel, when it is sown or planted in the world. The divine seed springs up, bears fruit, and extends its sphere of growth. The seed falls into one human heart, and then that person becomes the means for its propagation among others. In the natural world, one seed wafted over miles of waters, and falling at last upon a desert reef, will in time become a forest. The seed produces fruit and grows; the seed has in itself a reproductive power which the Creator has bound up in it. Thus did the word of the truth of the gospel come to Colosse of old; brought there by human hearts and lips, by the power of God the Spirit it sprang up and produced a church of God, in the midst of the waste of waters of paganism. And such is the character of the gospel throughout the world still. It is seed which bears fruit and increases.

If in us and in our hands the seed, which is the Word of God, does not grow and increase, we must look to ourselves for the cause. Plant an acorn, and in time there will be an oak, and the tree will not cast its acorns to the ground in vain. The years of life of the tree are spent not only in the tree becoming fully grown, but also in the reproduction of itself; such energy, if in vain, would be contrary to nature. Not only does the tree grow, but it increases the number of oaks as it grows: one seed becomes one tree, and one tree becomes a forest. If in the Christian the seed of divine truth does not make him fruitful in every good work, and increasing in [or, by] the knowledge of God, there is something in him which calls for immediate self-judgment, for, if he be a growing tree, by him there will be an increase of Christianity. The gospel is a fruit-bearing power, a divine power to save souls, and to make them become in their turn fruit-bearers by the gospel.

The growth and increase of infidelity should exercise every Christian, and cause him to bestir himself afresh in order to the diffusion of the gospel. If we may suppose oak trees so feeble that they bear no acorns, then we may understand the species dying out. The dying out, the diminishing of a given company of Christians, has some decaying principle in it, some fatal principle which militates against the true character of the word of the truth of the gospel. We have seen whole forests blighted and apparently perishing, bearing upon them the evidence of a destructive influence, and such forests are a parable to ourselves.

Let Christians allow in their souls that decay in Christian life and work is the effect of an evil cause, and something has been gained. It is ever a difficulty to recognize a spiritual condition in which we move as being a faulty one, for we are usually in it or of it ourselves; and it is more difficult still to judge ourselves as contributors towards it, for the moment we do so, we have in spirit separated ourselves from the condition.

Is it neglect of prayer, or indifference to the Scriptures, or love of ease, or spiritual pride that is the worm at the root of the tree, or the secret cause that has robbed it of its vigor? If we have perception from God to recognize what the evil is, we shall have the grace in the first place to recognize the evil in ourselves. We cannot take the mote out of a brother’s, eye, while we have a beam in our own.

When there is, to begin with, real self-judgment and true faith in God, and then a humble and prayerful spirit, it is amazing what may be effected by even one believing Christian. What wonders have been wrought by one truly disinterested and devoted spirit—by one believer disinterested save for God’s praise, and devoted to His glory! How marvelously has God wrought in reviving grace through the instrumentality of some insignificant servant of His, while the prayers of two or three unknown persons have often brought down showers of blessing upon a whole district, and transformed a wilderness into a fruitful field. “Growing and increasing” has become the description of what had been formerly like waste lands.

Let the Christian, who laments the poor spiritual growth and sorrowful crops around him, encourage his heart in the Lord, and pray without ceasing.

Christ's Interest in His People

The Lord so counts upon His people’s interest in Himself, that He wills that we should be with Him where He is to behold His glory. What a blessed reflection that I shall see Him perfectly glorified, and shall dwell in the presence of that glory as my home, entering into God’s delight in Christ, the divine object of His own love.

Correspondence: Exo. 15:11; Rev. 20:4; Phi. 2:17; Matt. 25:21,23

Question: What does “Fearful in praises” mean? (Ex. 15:11.) L. B.

Answer: The word fearful is sometimes translated reverenced. So we might read it, “Reverenced in praises.” This was drawn out from Moses and the children of Israel’s hearts as they witnessed the mighty power of Jehovah in their deliverance from and in the swallowing up of the Egyptians in the Red Sea. Psalm 89:7 uses the same word.

Question: Will the Lord with His saints reign on the earth during the thousand years? (Rev. 20:4.) M. E. J.

Answer: All the Old Testament saints, with all believers of this present age, and all those who suffer martyrdom during the tribulation period, will reign with Christ, not on, but over the earth. Revelation 5:10 should read, “And they shall reign over the earth.”

In Zechariah 14:4, we are told that in one act of judgment His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives.

Question: How could Paul be offered upon the sacrifice and service of the Philippians’ faith? (Phil. 2:17)
H. M. F.

Answer: His joy in their faith and service was so great that he was willing that his life should be poured out as a drink offering upon it. To see Christ so evident in their lives, was a joy to his heart, and worth giving his life for.

Question: Will the Lord be able to say to any of His own: “Well done, good and faithful servants”? (Matt. 25:21, 23) H. M. F.

Answer: The Lord did say to His disciples amid all their failures: “Ye are they which have continued with Me in all My temptations,” (Luke 22:28), where they could not impute faithfulness to themselves, He, knowing their hearts’ earnest desire to please Him, though hindered by weakness and all that belongs to the flesh, could say it of them. We are His servants and His friends also. It is ours to serve in the intimacy of friends. And in glory “His servants shall serve Him.” (Rev. 22:3). No mixture of self in it then. But notice how Matthew 25:21, 23, reads “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” It does not say that any one was faithful in everything. What encouragement this is to seek to please Him in all that we can. (1 Cor. 4:5).

Living Water

An aged gentleman was on a visit to one of the noted watering-places. While taking a drink of water one morning at the spring, a lady came up to take her usual glass at the same time. The gentleman, turning towards her, asked in a pleasant yet thoughtful manner, “Have you ever drunk at that great fountain?” The lady seemed confused, and turned away without making a reply.

In the following winter, the gentleman was at a place where he was attending a meeting for religious conference and prayer; and at the close of the meeting he was asked to visit a lady who was dying. As he entered the sick room the lady fixed her eyes intently upon him, and said with a smile, “Do you not know me?”

“No; are we not strangers to each other?” was the reply.

“Do you not recollect,” said she, “asking a woman at the spring last year, ‘Have you ever drunk at that great fountain?’”

“Yes,” said he, “I do.”

“Well, sir, I am that person. I thought at the time that you were very intrusive; but your words kept ringing in my ears, and they followed me to my room and to my pillow. I was without peace or rest till I found Christ. I now expect shortly to die, and you, under God, have been instrumentally the means of my salvation. Be as faithful to others as you have been to me, and never be afraid to speak of Christ to “strangers.”

What a blessing was granted to this short but faithful word? Little do Christians know how God owns His truth. Let them scatter the precious seed, and He will give the increase.

Secure in Christ

Jesus His holy soul poured forth

A sacrifice for sin,

Enduring all Jehovah’s wrath

Our souls to win.

His spotless life, death could not claim,

The living One was He,

Who bowed in grace to death and shame,

Upon the tree.

Believers now in Him are seen;

No condemnation theirs,

No hand can separate between

Christ and His heirs.

One with the risen Christ they stand

In righteousness and life;

A justified and heavenly band

With blessings rife.

Behind them death’s dark Jordan flows

Its depths are past for aye;

Before, the golden Canaan glows

In God’s own day.

O, God! we would Thy love adore,

Triumphant o’er the fall.

Blest is the heart for evermore

Where Christ is all.

The Work of Christ

The believer sees in Christ the One who has been judged for all his sins—the One who, when He hung upon the cross, sustained the entire burden of his sin—the One who, having made Himself responsible for his sins, could not be where He now is if the whole question had not been settled according to all the claims of infinite justice. So absolutely did “Christ take the believer’s place on the cross—so entirely was he identified with Christ—so completely were all the believer’s sins imputed to Him, there and then, that all question of the believer’s liability, all thought of his guilt, all idea of his exposure to wrath and judgment, is eternally set aside. It was all fettled on the accursed tree between Divine justice and the spotless Victim. And now, the believer is as absolutely identified with Christ on the throne, as Christ was identified with him on the tree. Justice has no charge to bring against the believer, because it has no charge to bring against Christ. Thus it stands forever.

If a charge could be preferred against the believer, it would be calling in question the reality of Christ’s identification with him on the cross, and the perfection of Christ’s work on his behalf.

“No condemnation” —precious word!

Consider it, my soul;

Thy sins were all on Jesus laid

His stripes have made thee whole.

Be of Good Courage

Do not be ashamed of your colors, young Christians. It may be more difficult for a young Christian to show his colors than for an older one, because the older is recognized as what he is, whereas the younger has to fight his way into a position. But the difficulty should but add intensity to the appeal—do not be ashamed of your colors. Your young friends will make their bids for you, no doubt—the society in which you move will try to win you for itself; but you cannot serve two masters—you cannot serve God and mammon.

It is the fashion in our day for religious people to salute every religious flag—to be ready to dip the colors of the Lord Jesus Christ to those of His enemies, and to call such treachery charity. But there are disguised rebels in the ship, whose advice produces this false peace. On such lines the day must come when Christ’s enemies will get the command, and then woe to the professor of His name.

Such time-serving ways take the very heart and soul out of true religious conduct, and make men, who ought to be firm for the truth, limp and worthless. True, it is no easy thing for the young to go against the fashion! “Why should I be peculiar?” “Why should I do what others object to do?” are questions of very great weight with young people. All the more need, then, not to be ashamed of your colors.

One thing is certain, where there is devotion to Christ and love for Him, the fashion of the day will have but little effect on the conduct of the Christian. What! be loyal to Christ and allow your friends to ridicule His Name, or to make light of God’s Word in your presence! To joke over texts of Scripture and take the sacred Word of God—perhaps part of a verse—to make a riddle out of in order to raise a laugh! No; such behavior would be impossible to the loyal heart. But this kind of thing is one of the small and low fashions of our day, and one from which the young Christian does not always find it too easy to clear himself. Therefore, all the more need to show your colors.

“Be of good courage” is a divine exhortation to us. So long as this world has Satan for its god; and Jesus, its rightful King, is rejected, let us quit ourselves like men and be strong. If strong and brave for Christ, our path in life as Christians will be comparatively easy, but if weak-kneed and feeble-hearted, our Christian life will be a sorrowful one—one ever of attempt at compromise, and always a compromise of Christ’s glory, and of our own integrity of conscience.

My Way

They told me of a way

That I must go,

Whether ‘tweer long or short,

They did not know.

I did not listen then,

Nor understand,

Until my Father came

And took my hand.

“I am the guide,” He said,

“Leave all with Me;”

And so I went with Him

All trustingly.

And now I journey on

Day after day,

I have no need of care;

He knows the way.

My sandals are His strength,

And His great love

The staff that helps me toward

The home above.

He holds my hand in His:

How can I fear?

It is not hard to trust

While He is near.

I do not know how long

The way will be,

I only know it is

The best for me.

And when no longer here

He bids me roam,

I shall behold with joy,

My Father’s home.

Scripture Study: Scripture Study

The Word of God and prayer necessarily go together for the spiritual life and progress of the soul. As we read the Word it is the voice of God to us. And prayer is our soul link of communion with God. We cannot do without these in our every day life. Here, as in other parts of Scripture, we get them together. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word; then follows this lesson on prayer.

Verse 1. Jesus Himself was praying in a certain place and when He ceased one of His disciples said unto Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Verses 2-5. It is not a form of words to repeat, but words given that lead their thoughts in true, earnest desire up to God. The words of this prayer in the (R. V.) are: “Father, Thy name be hallowed, Thy Kingdom come. Give us each day our needed bread. And forgive us our sins, for we forgive every one indebted to us, and lead us not into temptation.” “Father,” expresses their place as children. “Hallowed be Thy name,” is the desire to have Him glorified, whatever it may cost us. It puts the Father’s glory first in all things. “Thy Kingdom Come,” —the desire to have all in accordance with the will of God, and that everything be removed that would hinder it. “Give us each day our needed bread,” expresses our dependence on God for every day. “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one indebted to us” —this is the desire for grace to forgive others as we have been forgiven. “And lead us not into temptation:” in this we admit our weakness and that we cannot stand, because the flesh is in us, except His grace is with us.

This prayer is intentionally different from Matthew 6:9-13, this one being more in keeping with the Christian position, but now, that the Holy Spirit is come, we know our place as children better. (see Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). And we learn from John 16:23, 24, to ask in the name of the Lord Jesus; and we learn from Romans 8:26 to depend on the Holy Spirit for words to utter.

Verses 5-8, encourage us in earnest persevering prayer. (see Acts 12:5; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6,7; Col. 4:2, 3,12). Supplications prayer intensely earnest. This man was heard for his earnest importunity that implored and persevered till he received what he needed. What encouragement for us to persevere in our supplications.

Verses 9-13 still presses this home on our hearts. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” This reminds us of the Father’s goodness that delights to bless His children. Now that the Holy Spirit has come, we cannot ask for Him to be sent, but we can ask His help, and guidance, and teaching, and that we may be filled with the Spirit, for though He dwells in us we are not always filled, we should seek to be filled (Eph. 5:18,) with the Spirit.

Verses 14-16. His power is here manifested in grace in casting out the dumb devil, so that the dumb spake and the people wondered, but the enmity of the natural heart of the religious leaders imputes to Him the power of the prince of devils, while others seek a sign of Him from heaven. Could there be greater blindness! and this is from the cultured pharisee, but it is man’s heart all the same.

Verses 17-22. The Lord answers their thoughts and proves that their opposition is to God; that He was against Satan and Satan was against Him. He could not build up Satan’s kingdom, but He had brought the Kingdom of God to them. Satan was the strong man, but the Lord was the stronger who overcame Satan and took his armor wherein he had trusted, and divided his spoils. The delivered man was a proof of His power.

Verse 23. But he that was not with Him was against Him. And this was plain with them; they did not gather with Him so they scattered.

Verses 24-26. They were outwardly cleansed from pollutions, yet they did not receive Him. And with all their profession, they would go back to seven times worse idolatry than before, and the last state of such an one would be worse than the first—the sad result to every one who rejects Christ.

Verse 27. As He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and spoke of the blessedness of being His mother, but that was only a natural affection, though wrought by miraculous power.

Verse 28. He tells of greater blessing. “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” This brings abiding blessing and pleasures for evermore.

Verses 29-36. Curiosity brought a thick crowd together, but He began to say, “This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; but there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.” Jonas preached to Nineveh without any other sign. The Ninevites heard and repented. The queen of Sheba came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and a greater than Solomon and Jonas was there.

The Son of Man was there bearing witness by Word of God and miracles of grace, yet they would not believe. God had sent Him, and He was the light set plainly before them, but their eye was evil, they were guided by a false light of their own; it was darkness. If God and Christ were before their eye, the whole body would be full of light, as when the clear shining of a candle doth give the light. Self was in their eye while they professed to serve God. How often we need to search our hearts and to see that we are seeking only Christ’s glory. We may be little, but if Christ is before us, how happy our souls can be.

Verses 37-44. A Pharisee besought Him to dine with him. He goes, but it is to Witness to the truth, and thus to give them a lesson. The pharisee wondered to see Him sitting down without first having washed as was their custom: (Mark 7:3, 4). The Lord uses the occasion to expose the hollow hypocrisy of outward cleanness and inward filthiness: a show of religion while their inward parts were full of ravening and wickedness. They would tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs growing in their garden, and rob widow’s houses at the same time, passing over judgment, and the love of God, and loved to exalt themselves before men, in the synagogues and markets.

They were as graves that appear not: a fair show outside, inside full of dead men’s bones.

Verses 45-54. The lawyers felt His scathing judgment on the Pharisees and protested that this condemned them also. And He pronounces judgment on them likewise, as men that laid burdens on others which they would not touch with one of their fingers. Also they rejected the prophets’ teachings while they professed to honor them, their fathers had done the same. And now the wisdom of God said that when God sent them the truth by apostles and prophets, some of them they would slay and persecute, and bring upon themselves the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world. Alas! the blood of Christ they were guilty of also, and it shall be required of them. They also took away the key of knowledge; they entered not into the true knowledge of God themselves, and others who would enter they hindered.

The Lord had gone in to dine at the request of the Pharisee, but it was a stormy meal, for He told them the truth. And they vehemently tried to urge and to provoke Him to say things they could find fault with, that they might accuse Him. How, little they knew who was there! And that He was manifesting their satanic opposition which He in mercy to others denounced unsparingly.

Far Above

Far above the highest heaven,

We behold Him there,

Shining in effulgent glory,

Fairest of the fair.

Far above all thrones and every

Name that can be named,

Principalities and powers,

Lord of all proclaimed.

When He stooped to bear our burden

On the cross of shame,

Man despised Him and disowned Him,

Scorned His lowly name.

Crucified Him there in weakness,

Laid Him with the dead,

Like a lamb oppressed, afflicted,

To the slaughter led.

Sorrow like no other sorrow

Filled His lonely path,

Deepened into bitter anguish,

‘Neath Jehovah’s wrath.

‘Twas for us He felt that darkness

Round His holy Head;

‘Tis for us He lives in glory,

Firstborn from the dead.

Far above all might, dominion,

In the highest place,

Soon we shall with adoration

See His blessed face.

Running With Patience

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Run with patience! This means constant energy, continual progress— “not as though I had already attained!” —not a pausing in the career of the Christian life, as if the race were over and the goal won. What a heart-searching exhortation lies in these words— “run with patience”! There is full energy on the one hand, and the ballast of faithful steadiness on the other. There is but one way to reach to such a state, and that is having the heart full of the object to be gained—Christ Himself. Having the soul filled with Him gives both the energy and the stay we need.

Between the Testaments, and the Septuagint

From the building of the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah, to the birth of our Lord, is a period of about 450 years. To most persons this interval between the Testaments is an utter blank. That it was a time of many changes among the Jews, we conclude from studying the New Testament. We find the promised land of Canaan now divided into three Roman provinces—Galilee and Samaria, representing the old kingdom of Israel on the north; and Judea, the kingdom of Judah to the south.

In New Testament times the first three great world empires of Daniel’s vision had passed away, and the fourth, the Roman dominion, was in the height of its power. All the known civilized world was gathered into one great empire which was ruled and administered from the city of Rome. Centurions, that is, officers of the Roman legions; and publicans, that is, tax collectors, represent this Roman Empire.

Among the Jews themselves we find the new and important classes of Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes, and Herodians. Synagogues have been built in every city, and already there had begun to grow up about the law that cumbrous and hypocritical body of traditions, which today is known as the Talmud.

The main authorities for the history of the Jews during this period which is so interesting and instructive to the Bible student are the first book of the Maccabees, (in the Apocrypha,) and Josephus’ history of the Jews. Just a word in passing about the Jewish historian, Josephus, He was born A. D. 37 and died after 97. Thus in his autobiography we have a picture of the Jews written at the same time as the New Testament. He was of priestly descent, and evidently a student of the beliefs of all the Jewish sects. He himself passed through the terrible siege of Jerusalem by Titus and in the sad times which followed, he devoted himself to writing the history of his nation.

During the captivity, the Jews began their wanderings all over the known world. In Esther’s time, Haman could describe the Jews as “a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy (Ahasuerus’) dominion.” “This is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.”

In New Testament times they had wandered farther still. The 2nd chapter of Acts tells of Jews who had come to keep the feast in Jerusalem from almost every part of the Roman Empire—Persia, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt and North Africa and Rome.

After the return of the Remnant to Judea in the days of Zerubabel and Ezra, the history of the Jews divided into two distinct paths—fist that of the Remnant in Judea, and second that of the Jews scattered over the world, and known as the Dispersion.

Judea remained under the Persian dominion for almost a hundred years. In 332 B. C., Alexander the great, king of Macedon, marched through Judea. The priests recognized in him that king of Grecia who as the rough goat of Daniel’s vision, was destined to destroy the Persian dominion. They therefore went out from Jerusalem to make submission to him, and he made a league with them and passed on. There followed a period of about a hundred years of Greek supremacy in the East. At Alexander’s death his vast empire was divided among his four generals. Babylonia, Syria, and Judea fell to the lot of Seleucus Nicator. Under his descendants the Jews lived unmolested till about 178 when Antiochus Epiphanes seized Jerusalem, sacked and defiled the temple and caused a pig to be offered on the altar of burnt offering. His aim was to absolutely root out the worship of the Lord. He destroyed the sacred books wherever he found them, and threatened with scourging and crucifixion those who remained faithful. The Lord sent a savior to His people in a family of priests, called the Maccabees or Asamonaeans. The old father Matathias and his sons continued the heroic struggle for their liberty and religion till they actually gained their independence. The descendants of the Maccabees governed the Jews for about a hundred years, till Judea fell under the shadow of the Roman power and Herod the great received the kingdom about 37 B. C.

During the last period of comparative quiet and independence there was a great development of Jewish thought, and the various religious sects arose. The Sadducees represent Greek influence. They looked for freedom of human thought, and were the skeptics and higher critics of their age. The Pharisees were the reaction against all this. At the beginning they stood for orthodoxy, but this soon degenerated into dogmatism and ritualism.

But in the meantime other influences had been acting on the Jews of the Dispersion scattered among the Gentiles all over the world, It was inevitable that living among strangers, they should lose much of their Jewish prejudice and narrowness. Far from the land of their fathers they were cut off from performing the ceremonies of the Jewish law. For them there were no sacrifices, no temple worship. But in place of these outward and visible things, prayer and the Word of God became increasingly important. There were, no doubt, many who, like Daniel, were praying at the time of the evening oblation. Synagogues were built everywhere, places for prayer and the reading of the Scriptures. “Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach Him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day,” said James. (Acts 15:21).

The scattered Jews loved Jerusalem, and thousands went up every year to the feasts, but in their far away Gentile homes, their divinely given law and their scriptures stood to them more and more in place of an inheritance.

Greek had become the language of the civilized world, and no less the mother tongue of the Jews of the dispersion. The Scriptures, therefore, were translated by them into Greek. This Greek version is called the Septuagint, or work of the seventy.

Josephus gives an interesting account of the translation of the Septuagint.

Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, desired to have every book in the world represented in his library at Alexandria. Hearing of the sacred writings of the Jews, he wrote to the high priest and desired that he would send a copy of the law to be translated into Greek for the Royal library. Eleazer sent the law by the hand of seventy elders. Ptolemy received them with great honor and admired their wonderful manuscript written in letters of gold on skins scraped as thin as paper and exquisitely joined. After seventy-two days of labor the seventy two elders completed the Greek translation of the Old Testament, (which was on that account called the Septuagint,) and returned to Jerusalem with their treasured manuscript.

Some doubt has been thrown on the details of this story by modern historians, but there is no doubt at all that about 300 B. C. there was a Greek translation made of the Old Testament, which was carried out in Egypt, and was known and read all through the East. The Septuagint version still exists, and may be read by anyone who understands New Testament Greek. It is a very uneven translation. The five books of Moses are translated almost literally, word for word from the Hebrew. The prophets on the other hand are in some passages more like a paraphrase than a translation of the original. But whether from the Law or the Prophets, practically all the quotations from the Old Testament found in the New are from the Septuagint version. It was evidently the version that the apostles knew. This fact explains some slight differences between the same passages in the Old and New Testaments. Example, Hebrews 10:5, and Psalm 40:6. It is also very encouraging to feel that God has, as it were, set His seal of approval on the translating of the, Bible; and though it is a great privilege to read the Scriptures in the original tongues, we may have confidence that our English version is no less the inspired Word of God.

It is impossible to estimate the influence of the Jews with their Greek Old Testament on the Gentiles throughout the world. The old religions of Greece and Rome were breaking down; there was much skepticism, and many weary souls turned to the synagogues where they found a testimony to one true God. Some became Jewish proselytes, others without actually embracing the Jewish religion accepted many of its teachings, and when the gospel was presented to them how simply and thankfully they received it!

In those last days at Jerusalem before the Passover we read of Greeks who came to Philip desiring to “see Jesus.” But not till that precious corn of wheat had fallen into the ground and died, was the door fully opened to the Gentiles. Then what numerous examples we have of devout Gentiles who were already praying and seeking the light. Cornelius, the Ethiopian eunuch, Lydia, Justus, the Gentiles of Antioch in Pisidia, and many others come to our minds.

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.” It is a most wonderful thing to see how the history, not only of the Jews, but of the whole world, leads up to this supreme event. Persians, Greeks, Romans, heathen kings and Greek philosophers were unconsciously subject to Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

The Great Question

Many learned and religiously-instructed men, who were accustomed to put difficult questions, were assembled together—in their midst was Jesus, and He became the questioner. He asked them not of their points, but by one simple word, laid bare the state of their hearts, silenced their questions, and taught them to fear to ask Him more. “Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ?”

“What think ye of Christ?” Eternity is near, its issues for you depend upon your answer.

The rapid and fatal increase of unbelief threatens, like a rampant weed, to choke the growth of the pure gospel in this land, and to turn our country into a wilderness of infidelity and superstition; and more than ever do we need personal, heart-searching tests, and surely there is no test to the heart like this—“What think ye of Christ?”

The Bible may be in the hand, the knee may be bowed, the voice may be lifted up in strains of worship, with the heart utterly at enmity to God. The professor may spend a life in the outward things of religion, yet never be for one hour alone with God as to what he thinks of Christ. Thus it was, not long since, with a venerable man, who, hearing that his days were numbered, cried out, piteously, “Tell me, how am I to be saved? I have been an elder of a congregation, but I have not been to Christ.”

What think ye of Christ? Do not inquire of your heart for warmth or for coldness, for light or for darkness; turn off the eye of the soul from self and all that is within, and, in the presence of God, ask yourself what you think of His Son—of that Jesus who died for sinners, and who is now upon the throne of God. Escape the searching question you cannot. You may evade it now, but hereafter it will find you out. In hell, Christ will be hated; in heaven, He is loved. And now upon the earth, the difference between being saved and lost may be discovered by what the heart thinks of Christ.

“What think ye of Christ,” anxious and distressed soul? Why is it that you are in doubts and darkness? Have you ever considered that the reason is simply because you have such poor thoughts of Christ? You reply, “It is not so; my darkness arises from the sense of my own state.” But the truth is, the state of your soul, which begets the darkness, is occasioned by your thoughts of Christ. Did we ever hear a troubled soul saying, “It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?” No, dear reader, with such God-given thoughts of Christ, doubts and darkness would be impossible. Christ in the heart and mind and dark thoughts of God’s salvation cannot dwell together.

“What think ye of Christ,” as the Sin-bearer? Hear the Word of God in reply— “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“What think ye of Christ” as the One-offering? Thus saith the Lord— “After He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12).

“What think ye of Christ” as the Life-giver? These are His own words— “This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life” (John 6:40).

“What think ye of Christ” as the preserver of His Sheep? “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

May the Spirit of God make the thoughts of both reader and writer to agree with the Word of God respecting Christ!

“Unto Him who loves us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev. 1:6, 7).

The Source of Power

If in conscious weakness and self-renunciation we lean on Christ, His strength will lift us above all circumstances, as we read, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” No matter then what evil comes against us, even if it be to suffer and die for Him, as many have done, we are, through Him, superior to the circumstances. The power over every circumstance depends on being near Christ.

In the Midst

John 19:18.

“In the midst” upon the tree,

Dying thieves on either side;

What a sight for faith to see!

Thou, the sinless, crucified.

O how fearful! one who hung

Railed on Thee with venomed tongue:

Blessed he who called Thee “Lord,”

Finding in Thee faith’s reward.

John 20:19.

“In the midst” on that blest eve

Of Thy resurrection day:

When, in fear, Thine own did grieve,

Thou didst drive their grief away.

We, too, seeing Thee are glad;

In Thy presence, who is sad?

Sweetly Thou dost utter “Peace,”

Givest joy, yea, joy’s increase.

Matthew 18:20.

“In the midst” saidst Thou, O Lord,

Where are gathered two or three

In My name with one accord,

There am I, for faith to see.

Gathered thus we oft have been,

Thee, O Lord, have known and seen;

Hearkened to Thy faithful word—

Thee have worshiped—Thee adored.

Revelation 5:6.

“In the midst,” Lord, of the throne

Of the high and holy One:

Thou, the Lamb, wast seen alone,

Who redemption’s work hadst done.

Thee the ransomed hosts adored,

To Thy sweet name incense poured;

Harps resounding to the strain!

“Thou art worthy—who wast slain!”

Hebrews 2:12.

“In the midst,” Lord, of Thine own,

Thou Thy Father’s name wilt praise;

While we bow before the throne,

And our blissful anthems raise.

What delight, O Lord, to Thee,

When Thy brethren Thou shalt see

In Thy glory brightly shine;

Answering to that heart of Thine!

Correspondence: 1 Cor. 2:6-7 - the Meaning of Perfection and Wisdom

Question: What is the meaning of “perfect” in 1 Corinthians 2:6, and what is the mystery of wisdom spoken of in verse 7? M. S.

Answer: “‘The wisdom of God in a mystery’ is all that is unveiled of God’s counsels in Christ; everything that God has done in Christ.” And this hidden wisdom can only be received by the spiritual mind. Those who are perfect here, are those who can take in what the apostle had to communicate. The Corinthians were full of the wisdom of the world; they had to learn that the cross of Christ set all that aside. Christ and Him crucified he set before them. He tells them these things are revealed by the Holy Spirit, (verse 10), and received and known by the Spirit, (verse 12), and communicated by spiritual means, (see New Trans. verse 13), and not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth. “The mind of Christ,” (verse 16), is the qualification each believer has to receive what God teaches.

Not of the World

Ephesians 1.

We get here the whole scope of God’s thoughts and purposes. The Epistle to the Ephesians takes in two things: the presence and power of the Holy Spirit on earth, and the condition that we are in as the result of it; and what this is founded on, the exaltation of Christ at God’s right hand. Ephesians does not speak of the coming of the Lord, because the way our glory is brought about is not its subject, but the present blessing of the saints. There is a distinct part at the end where our conflict with Satan comes in, but the general scope is what I have said: the basis, the exaltation of Christ; then a purpose, what is in God’s mind; and then the knowledge of it, by the Holy Spirit come down. “He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand;” this was needed for us to know our place and the most important consequences flowing from it down here. The presence of the Holy Spirit who has come down from heaven, the seal of our being heirs, and the earnest of the inheritance, is our present condition, based upon Christ raised to the right hand of God. A Man is sitting at the right hand of God: a wonderful truth for us. “His delights are with the sons of men.” (Prov. 8). Being a man, and having died and therein perfectly glorified God, God has raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand; and thereupon the Holy Spirit is come down here, so that we are associated with Him and the things that are on high, in heart and mind, though not yet there as to our bodies. This is where the heart has to be; “our conversation in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), for the Lord is there, not here; He is coming to make our bodies like unto His glorious body, but at present we have the Holy Spirit associating us with the place where He is.

God has “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” That is God’s mind. We are not yet there in fact, but it is the thought of God about us, and we ought to have it always before us. Blessings of the Jews in earthly places under Christ will be fulfilled in time, but for us it is “spiritual blessings,” and “in heavenly places,” and “in Christ” Himself; and our present connection with it all comes through the Holy Spirit.

We next get, in vs. 4 and 5, two aspects of these spiritual blessings: they are brought before us in connection with the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, Christ is looked at as Son and looked at as Man. The Father owned Him in manhood, as the Son (Matthew 3:17), “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God is called the God of our Lord Jesus Christ as Man; He is called His Father as Son.

This is the great basis of the wonderful place in which we are. It is man that God has in His mind put in this place of glory in His own Son. And this is not without its consequences, and those of the very highest nature.

God’s choosing us before the foundation of the world is not what affirms, in the time of choosing, the sovereignty of grace; for, supposing for a moment that God were to choose us now, it would be just as sovereign an act as doing it then. The practical truth brought out in His choosing us before the foundation of the world is, that it proves that we have nothing to do with the world; before its very foundation we were chosen; we have nothing to do with it but to get through it. God would bring us into this blessedness with Himself which has nothing to do with the world. We have just to go through it “unspotted;” that is all we have to do with it. Our living place was settled with God before ever it existed. God had this thought to have a people in Christ, “holy and without blame before him in love.” This is what God Himself is. He thus brings us to be according to His own nature— “holy and without blame” before Himself. We have an infinite object before whom we are, and having the divine nature we can enjoy that object. We are not taken out of the world yet, nor are meant to be; but we are to pass through it as Christ did. If one look at it in another point of view, it is just what Christ was Himself, and that before God. This is the thought of God.

Then (ver. 5) I get the Father. He might have had servants like the angels, but this was not His thought. “He predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself.” He insists on that, it is the blessed part of it—that it is before God, and to Himself as Father. If it be a relationship, it is to Himself.

Thus we have the nature, “holy and without blame.” It does not say there “according to the good pleasure of His will,” for God could not have beings in His presence in a sinful state. But when it is relationship, it is “according to the good pleasure of His will:” He chooses to have us as sons. I get love, the nature of God— “in love”—and love of predilection too. The place we get into is one that is according to the good pleasure of His will, and He brings us according to His own nature before Himself; there is not a cloud because He has “made us accepted in the beloved”—Christ assuredly; but He gives that name to Him to mark the full character of the blessedness, and thus brings us into His own presence.

This is the purpose; it does not say here how much of it is accomplished; it will not be fully until we are in the glory. Only in the end of the chapter we get what is accomplished in fact, as the groundwork of all our present enjoyment of it in spirit. God takes Christ out of death and sets Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. This is an accomplished thing; it is “wrought in Christ:” Christ as man is in the glory of God.

And then we get the third thing: the Holy Spirit has come down meanwhile. Before the purpose is accomplished, but when the work in Christ, is accomplished, the Holy Spirit comes down, the seal with which God has sealed those here who have part in His purpose, and the earnest of their inheritance. We are then competent to see God’s plans about Christ Himself. His purpose “to gather together in one all things in Him, both which are in heaven and which are on earth.” Then it is glory.

The first verses were our calling; now it is our inheritance. And this inheritance is “after the council of His own will.” It is sovereign grace to poor sinners that brings us into this place. It will not be accomplished until He come; it is in Him we have obtained it, being “predestinated according to His purpose.” That which is believed in order to our being sealed is “the gospel of our salvation.” John the Baptist was the forerunner of Him who was to accomplish it; but now we have the glad tidings of it consequent on the actual exaltation of Christ, and the seal of the Holy Spirit as the earnest of what is to come.

This is where we are while still in the world which is no part of the purpose of God, but in which, passing through discipline, we learn the difference between flesh and spirit; it is His ways, but no part of His purpose. The Holy Spirit comes down from heaven, gives us to know Christ, reveals to us our inheritance, bears witness to us that we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” He makes us know where we are; that we belong to heaven and not td this earth at all. As we read in Proverbs: “In the beginning of His way, before His works of old, from the beginning or ever the earth was, then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him, and My delights were with the sons of men,” so He became a Man, and is gone into glory as our Forerunner.

I desire that our hearts may feel that, in God’s thoughts and purposes, He has given us a place that is not of the world at all; and that all our business in this world is to keep ourselves unspotted from it. I do not belong to this world; before the foundation of it I was chosen. It is not thus simply the sovereignty that does what it pleases, but that we, as Christians, do not belong to earth at all. “Epistle of Christ” (2 Cor. 3:3) is what we are; we may not live up to it, but it is what we are called to: to manifest the second Man in the midst of the world that has rejected Him.

The Broken Arm

William was an open-hearted young man, with plenty of courage and determination. He had the advantage of having Christian parents, and an early instruction in the great truths of salvation, and this good seed, early sown, sprang up after many days, and bore the welcome fruits of peace in his heart, giving him that divine comfort which nothing can disturb or take away, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sunday evening that William said he was converted was during a time when many Christians were stirred to pray for the conversion of souls to God, and their prayers were abundantly answered. William told us that he knew he was all right for heaven, however, some of us could not refrain from a little, misgiving at William’s confession, since distrust of self, and his own strength, seemed wanting.

For a few months William bore the jeers of his companions, and listened patiently to the advice of Christian friends; but after awhile his professions broke down, and, like too many young people, he turned his back upon heaven and his face toward the world.

Thinking of these days calls to my mind many a youth and maiden who, for a little while, seemed to run well, but of whom, now, if the words of the great preacher of Christ, we are constrained to say, “Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction.”

How many young men and women there are, who once had their faces set towards heaven, but who have been turned aside by the allurements of the world, or by the persecutions arising from professing that they belong to Christ—O! that they might be saved from that terrible destruction which is at the end of such a course.

We must then class our William among those hearers that the Lord tells us, “Anon with joy receive the Word, but in time of temptation fall away”—hearers, who have no root in themselves—hearers, who would go to heaven gladly, if the road thither were strewn with flowers.

After a time William set his mind upon going to sea. His mother’s tears and his father’s entreaties stood for nothing, for though an affectionate son, the love of adventure drew him irresistibly from home. Unseen countries, with all the glories of the imagination, were before his mind; the sober matter-of-fact advice of older heads, that the world is the world all the world over, did not suit him.

Seafaring life agreed well with his health—he spread out a fine young man, and William was as confident of making his way up in the world, as he had been of making his way to heaven. But there was a power pulling the other way all this time, and some of you young people having godly parents know what it is—it is prayer. It lays fast hold of God, and God loves so to be held—such is His grace to us His creatures. The prayer of his parents, “O God, bless our boy, save his soul—wash away all his sins in the blood of Thy Son—for Thine honor and glory”—was heard on high.

William had many solemn warnings at sea, but he heeded them not. At one time, during an awful storm a vessel was foundering, and William’s ship lay close beside her—that is, as close as a ship dare in a tremendous sea—and they witnessed the vessel’s distress, yet could render no assistance, fearful lest they also should founder. There was many a strange, inquiring look cast from one sailor to another that night, but with death before him, William only blasphemed his parents’ God as he stuck to his work. When the morning came, the vessel was gone, and the cry of her company was swallowed up in the deep. They had heard their last sermon, they had attended their last prayer-meeting, their spirits were gone into eternity. But William only thought it was by good luck his ship lived.

Being a smart young fellow, if there was a sail to be reefed in, when the gale blew strong, he was sure to be one of the first aloft. And one day, as his ship was running in a storm, and William was aloft, it happened, as he stood high up upon the ropes, that the wind swung the spar against his head, half stunning him, and down he fell through the rigging. Had God forgotten the cry of William’s parents? Had He cast off the youth who had turned his back upon His love? O, no! Instead of being plunged overboard, unconverted as he was, the ship lurched, and William fell upon the deck. He was picked up insensible, and carried to his berth, his life saved, but his arm badly crushed and broken.

So, instead of a three years’ cruise, William was sent home an invalid, his arm in a sling, and he sadly cast down. Should the arm come off, or would it be possible to save it? At length the doctors arranged to try what splints, bandages and lotions would do. Month after month rolled on, but the arm grew worse and worse, and at last, to his severe disappointment, William had to give up all hopes of again following the seafaring life.

His brave buoyant spirits, however, led him to one plan after another for earning a livelihood. He battled hard with the energy of youth and its fearlessness of danger. Now one bright scheme, now another floated before his eye, but he was baffled on every hand; each plan was fruitless, each expectation disappointed.

Those who are older can read God’s goodness in such painful lessons. Young persons are frequently drawn aside from thinking about their souls, by the business of getting on in the world, and the God of love was turning poor William’s trials and disappointments to the dear youth’s eternal blessing.

The loving counsels of his parents began to bear fruit, and William began to see that God was not unkind in having thus thwarted his prospects. His eyes opened to the concerns of his soul, he could not resist, as once he had done, the solemn warnings God gave him. God was showing him his sinfulness, and his need of a Savior, and the burden of unforgiven sins weighed heavily upon his soul. “What must I do to be saved?”—the cry which thousands have uttered—came in real earnestness from William’s heart.

When thus soul-burdened, William paid a visit to a friend’s house, and there he was much struck by a picture of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness to the gaze of the stricken and dying Israelites. Mothers were raising their pale, faint babes towards the brazen serpent, and children with eager steps were carrying their aged parents towards the same object. William was absorbed in the scene; he applied it to himself, and the gracious words of the Lord, “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!”—came home with living power to his soul. He believed in Jesus—he received eternal life—he was a new creature in Christ.

“Father,” said he, upon returning home, “I am saved, I have everlasting life!” and he related to his overjoyed parents what God had done for him.

The more William’s earthly prospects were blighted, so much the more did his heavenly hopes blossom.

There was one thing which much troubled him for a time. He believed that Christ died for sinners, but he could not reconcile the pardon of his sins, with his sinfulness of heart. Be did not doubt the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, but he was perplexed because he had wicked thoughts and feelings.

“But,” said he, one day to his father, “I understand it now, I see I have two natures; the new nature which loves God, and the old nature which still loves the world. It was an immense comfort to him when he laid hold of the fact that he was “a new creation in Christ Jesus.” That the old nature is not improved by God, but set aside. And that, for peace before God we have not to struggle with ourselves to overcome our sinful nature, but to remember that we are crucified with Christ, and that we are risen in Him and hence to reckon ourselves dead unto sin, but alive unto God. When he was enabled to see himself justified in Christ risen from the dead, in Christ who had died for him on the cross, then he had full peace with God.

One of his favorite hymns was,

“Not all the blood of beasts,

On Jewish altars slain,

Could give the guilty conscience peace,

Or wash away its stain.

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,

Took all our guilt away,

A sacrifice of nobler name,

And richer blood than they.

Our souls look back to see

The burden Thou didst bear

When hanging on th’ accursed tree,

For all our guilt was there.”

The prayers of his parents were heard. Their boy owned God’s love in permitting his poor arm to be crippled, by which, he told us, God had found a way to his heart. The love of the Savior in dying for sinners occupied his thoughts, and gradually the light shone brighter and brighter within him.

It Is Time to Seek the Lord

Hosea. 10:12.

The month of April is said to derive its name from the Latin verb aperio, which signifies to open, because all the buds and blossoms are now opening, and we have arrived at the gates of the flowery year. Reader, if you are yet unsaved, may your heart, in accord with the universal awakening of nature, be opened to receive the Lord. Every blossoming flower warns you that it is time to seek the Lord; be not out of tune with nature, but let your heart bud and bloom with holy desires. Do you tell me that the warm blood of youth leaps in your veins? Then, I entreat you, give your vigor to the Lord. It was my unspeakable happiness to be called in early youth, and I could fain praise the Lord every day for it. Salvation is priceless, let it come when it may, but, oh, an early salvation has a double value in it.

Young men and maidens, since you may perish ere you reach your prime, “It is time to seek the Lord.” Ye who feel the first signs of decay, quicken your pace; that hollow cough, that hectic flush, are warnings which you must not trifle with; with you it is indeed time to seek the Lord. Did I observe a little gray mingled with your once luxurious tresses? Years are stealing on apace, and death is drawing nearer by hasty marches. Let each return of spring arouse you to set your house in order. Dear reader, if you are now advanced in life, let me entreat and implore you to delay no longer. There is a day of grace for you now—be thankful for that, but it is a limited season and grows shorter every time that clock ticks. Here in this silent chamber, on this first night of another month, I speak to you as best I can by paper and ink, and from my inmost soul, as God’s servant, I lay before you this warning, “It is time to seek the Lord.”

Slight not that word; it may be your last call from destruction, the final syllable from the lip of grace.

“Those who seek Me early shall find Me” (Prov. 8:17).

“While we were yet sinners Christ diced for us.” (Rom. 5:8).

Scripture Study: Luke 12

The instruction the Lord gives to His disciples in this chapter is in view of His rejection, putting His disciples in the place of witnesses for Him, the Holy Spirit using the Word through them, and bringing in heavenly and eternal things.

Verses 1-3. In the presence of a multitude of people, He warns His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. He had in the chapter before, told the Pharisees to their faces that they were hypocrites, and warns His disciples of the danger of falling into it—a warning we all need—and we must remember, everything must be uncovered. Their word of testimony and ministry is to be heard in the light and proclaimed from the housetops.

Verses 4, 5. There would be enemies who would oppose them, it might be even to death, but He speaks with authority and comfort to them as His friends. “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.” O how well it is for time and eternity with those who are God’s people. Notice, in this passage the man is seen distinct from his body. (Compare 2 Cor. 5:1).

Verses 6, 7. Even the sparrow is not forgotten before God, and the very hairs of their head were all numbered. “Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Nothing can touch them without the Father.

Verses 8, 9. This encourages all to confess. Him before men, and He promises to confess them before the angels of God. And those who deny Him before men, will be denied before the angels of God. This is denying His person. Peter, through weakness and unwatchfulness, denied that He knew the Lord.

Verse 10. The Lord took a lowly place to serve. Those who spoke against Him as Son of Man might be forgiven; but how serious it is to speak blasphemously against the Holy Spirit, who wrought through Christ, and now would work through the disciples. Such diabolical enmity would not be forgiven.

Verses 11, 12. He would have men recognize the disciples as His servants, and they were not to take thought when brought before tribunals, how or what thing they shall answer, or what to say: “For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Thus they were instructed, warned and encouraged for their path.

Verses 13-15. One of the company wanted Him to act as judge. It was not the time for Him to do that. He was there in grace and used this to bring out the uncertainty of time, and the sin and foolishness of laying up treasures on earth, and neglecting the things of God. He said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” as much as to say, The man who covets the inheritance and does not have it, is just as bad as the one who has it.

Verses 16-21. This shows us a rich man, whom the world calls a successful man, with super abundance, and he calls on his soul to have a good time, “Eat, drink, and be merry,” but he had not made any provision for eternity. God said unto him, “Thou fool,” and then he is called away from it all into eternity, lost forever, blinded by earthly prosperity, “the pleasures of sin for a season.” “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Verses 22-31. Therefore I say unto you, “Take no thought for your life, (that is anxious, thought,) what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than food, and the body than raiment.” “Consider the ravens.” “God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” What good will your worrying do? (Phil. 4:6, 7). Tell the Father your need, trust Him to meet it. God clothes the lilies with glory greater than Solomon’s, and clothes the grass just for its short day, “How much more you, O ye of little faith?” Do not doubt Him. The nations of the world have only present things, seen and temporal, to seek after. “Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Verses 32-34. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” There will be difficulties and trials of divers sorts, but the Father’s good pleasure will carry them through to the destined glory with Christ, and this blessed assurance will enable them to sit loose to things here, to “sell that ye have,” and turn it into a means of good to others, and thus put it in a secure bank that will not fail, “bags which wax not old,” “a treasure in the heavens that faileth not.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Where no thief can steal it, nor moth destroy it. “And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our hearts may be up there with Christ, while we are His treasure, and His heart is with us down here.

Verses 35-39. Then with girded loins, and lights burning, ready to go, they are to be like men that wait for their Lord, ready to open when He knocks. And this readiness is a pleasure to the Lord who will reward it in the glory. He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. It may be at any time, the second watch, or the third. They do not know when, no specified time, neither hour, nor month, nor year, but they are to watch. To His own—the watchers during the night—He will be the Bright and Morning Star. When He comes to the world, it will be like a thief in the night, unexpected and unwelcome.

Verse 40. “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

Verses 41-48. Peter asks who this applies to.

The Lord shows its application, first to the faithful and wise steward, who will be honored by a ruler’s place over his Lord’s household, and he is called “blessed.” Then its application to the unfaithful servant who says in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” and beats his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, tells us of the portion that will fall on Christendom as in heart unbelievers. The terrible end of all false profession. All men will not be judged alike. The servant that knew his Lord’s will and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but the heathen who knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. Righteous it will be, and terribly solemn.

Verses 49-53. “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Had man been in a right state, this result of Christ’s coming would have been different, but men rejected Him and so judgment comes to them. Already it could be seen working, for those who would receive Him were rejected with Him, and the nearest ties of earth were separated because of Him. He says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished. In His loving service here till His death, He was straitened. His love could not tell itself out; they could not receive it, or respond to it as they should. At His death the barrier would be removed, and God’s grace then could flow out without hindrance. He is not come to give peace on earth, but rather division, and the house is divided on account of Him. Such is man’s fallen state. Those who are faithful to Christ must share His outcast place, even with their relatives.

Verses 54-59. They could discern the face of the sky and of the earth, and He asks, “How is it ye do not discern this time?” Israel was going to the magistrate with his adversary. A right discernment would have told them of the danger they were in of being cut off. Here He tells them to “give diligence to be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.” And this has happened, and Israel is now scattered, and in prison, and there must remain “till thou hast paid the very last mite.”

Isaiah 40:1, 2 tells us of the time when this deliverance will come. (See also Mic. 5:3).

The Value of the Death of Christ

If we examine the value of the death of Christ, what do we find attached to it in Scripture?

Do I Need Redemption?

We have redemption through His blood, an eternal redemption, for “neither by the blood of goats or calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Do I Need Forgiveness?

That redemption which I have through His blood is the forgiveness of sins—yea, without shedding of blood is no remission.

Do I Need Peace?

He has made peace through the blood of His cross.

Do I Need Reconciliation With God?

Though we were sinners, yet now hath, He reconciled us by the body of His flesh through death, to present us holy and unblamable, and unreproveable in God’s sight. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.

Would I Have a Part With Christ?

He must die; for except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it die it brings forth much fruit.

Do I Desire My Conscience Purged?

It is through the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God.

How Are We Washed From Our Sins?

He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, for the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.

How Are We to Enter Heaven?

Jesus said, “I am the Door; by Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Have you entered in yet? Soon it may be too late!

How Are We to Have Peace With God Now?

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

The Lord grant you, through Jesus, to know, as a poor sinner, God thus revealed in love. “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).

Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life” (John 5:24).

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Jesus my Shepherd is,

His feeble sheep He tends

My soul, all anxious care dismiss—

Love never ends.

“Thy Shepherd” is His name,

Plead it from hour to hour;

Midst every change of thine, the same

In love and power.

His are the pastures green,

And His the waters still:

Alone upon thy Shepherd lean,

And fear no ill.

His love that led the way,

The peaceful stream beside,

In the sweet dawning of thy day,

Will still provide.

When faint in noontide heat,

His grace thy soul restored.

Beneath His shade the rest how sweet,

How kind thy Lord!

And shall thy spirit fear,

Though dark the valley be?

His staff and rod thy way shall clear,

And comfort thee.

Thine enemies shall know

Thy keeper is the Lord

Who makes thy cup of joy o’erflow,

And spreads thy board.

Yes! His own faithful love

Each pilgrim step shall tell,

Till thou within God’s house above

Shalt ever dwell.

Correspondence

Question by A. and W.

Answer: (a.) Psalm 2 is Christ as Son of God and King of Israel. (compare John 1:49). Psalm 8 is Christ’s wider glory as Son of Man, Lord of all creation. (compare John 1:51).

(b.) Life and light come to the soul simultaneously. (John 3:3).

(c.) The name “Lord God” is God’s name in relationship with man.

(d.) It is at the Cross of Christ that God is fully revealed as “light” and “love.”

(e.) 1 Corinthians 9:14 refers to the material support of those who give their lives to preaching the gospel.

(f.) Godly repentance is the judgment of sin wrought in the soul of the sinner or the offending saint. Confession to God or men flows from it, if it is genuine. (2 Cor. 7:10). Judas Iscariots repentance was remorse, and worked death. (2 Cor. 7:10).

John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12 and many other passages tell us not to think it strange if we are persecuted. John 15:8, 19, 20 tells the reason; the world cannot understand the motives of a Christian.

(1 John 3:1).

Question by J. J.

Answer: In Revelation 1:19. “The things that are” is the period of the church’s history on earth.

“The things that shall be hereafter,” or “after these things” is the future, commencing with the 4th chapter. We are still on earth, and no prophecy is to be fulfilled till we are with the Lord in heaven. The wars and pestilences, famines, and earthquakes that take place now are not foretold in Scripture. We are simply told to wait for the Son from heaven. The church is being gathered now. The bright and morning Star may soon be ours. Till then no prophecy can be fulfilled, not even the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:8). do we look for.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not shaken in mind, or be troubled,” (2 Thess. 2:1, 2). This is the first thing to happen, and how soon we may see Him who loved us and gave Himself for us!

Are You Really a Christian?

I had seen her many times, and I am sure she was leading a good life. She was kind and generous, yet very strict in doing all things uprightly and well. No one that ever knew her could do aught but respect her for her outspoken candor, her hatred of everything that savored of hypocrisy, and her love of truth and goodness. She was beloved by all. Her seat in the parish church was seldom empty, and she seemed always so attentive and devout, joining in the service with such heartiness that one would have thought her a model in almost every way.

We had known each other intimately for years, and I had never seen anything which would have been considered inconsistent in any one who posed before the world as a Christian.

However, one day when I called to see her, I began to feel an unusually great interest in her. Something seemed to whisper a doubt to me that perhaps after all she was not really the Lord’s! I looked upon her, as we conversed together about the things of God. She seemed to love everything connected with Jesus as much as ever, but still I could not shake off the powerful misgiving that had quite seized me. I do not know how or why it had come, but it was there, and I could not help it.

I felt constrained to ask her a direct question, but how to do it I knew not. I felt a choking sensation, for I knew it would be a great ordeal, but at last, after asking God to lead me, I ventured to ask her, “Are you really a Christian? Have you really been born again, and made a child of God by adoption and grace?”

She seemed bewildered, and was astonished beyond measure. “Whatever has induced you to put such a question to me?” she exclaimed.

“Why do you doubt about me?”

I could only say I did not know, but somehow or other the thought had struck me that perhaps after all she was not quite happy, and I wished to help her.

“Do I not seem happy?” she exclaimed. “Yes,” I said; “but still I don’t seem at all convinced that you are built on the right foundation, and I want to be sure.” I could now see by her looks she was much disturbed, so, as I had to leave at that time, I made her promise to write to me, and tell me about her soul.

The next morning I received a letter saying my words had made her very miserable, and she wanted so much to become a Christian. She had been uncomfortable for some time, as she was not sure she was right with God, but no one had spoken to her, believing her to be a true Christian. She did not know what to do, where to begin, or how any change was to be effected in her, but, however it might be brought about, she would be thankful to really know Christ, and to be assured she was His!

This opened out a most earnest correspondence, in which, by God’s guidance, I pointed out to her that, amiable and good as she was, yet she must take her place as a poor lost undone sinner, who deserved nothing but God’s wrath. Jesus died for her as a poor helpless sinner, and it is His substitutionary sacrifice that atoned for sin. Jesus would readily accept her, cleanse her; God would make her a new creation in Christ Jesus, and give her His salvation. All had been done by Christ; we are only the recipients of the blessing.

These things puzzled her greatly. She could not grasp them at all. She began almost to despair of ever realizing the truth.

God put it into my heart to pray for her as I had never prayed before. I saw plainly that none but God and His power could avail her anything, and that He must make the change. Hour after hour I pleaded; I could not cease. At business, during meals, in the street, where ever I went, the anguish of prayer was upon me, and like Jacob. I said I would not cease till God’s power had prevailed, and the victory was won, This lasted for three days, during which I did all I could to bring the gospel clearly and simply before her, but feeling terribly helpless, and realizing that it was “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” However, I was convinced that sooner or later, in God’s good time, the change would come, but meanwhile I was getting exhausted. My earnestness in prayer had been so intense and so constant that I began to feel quite unwell through the strain.

The third night I went to bed praying as usual until I fell asleep. During the night I awoke, and prayed until I fell asleep again. About six o’clock the next morning I got out of bed, and went on my knees to supplicate the Lord as before, but no words would come. I tried to pray, but could not. I began to upbraid myself for not praying, and besought the Lord to enable me to pray, but all in vain. My heart and lips resisted every effort to pray, and I began to feel miserable about it, when all at once it dawned upon me that God must have answered the prayer, and saved her soul. My heart was now filled with joy, for I felt convinced it must be true, and I began to praise Him with all my power. I was filled with quite an ecstasy of delight, and felt that my best words were very feeble indeed in expressing the joy I had.

I made arrangements immediately to go and see her, which I did about eight o’clock that morning. The moment I saw her I exclaimed, “Thank God for showing you His salvation, and revealing His dear Son to your soul.”

She looked at me in silent amazement for a moment, and then said, “However do you know; who could possibly have told you?”

“God told me,” I answered, and then related my experience, how I had tried to pray at six o’clock that morning, how each effort had failed, and how I had been led to praise instead.

She said she never heard anything so wonderful, for it was exactly at that time that God’s light had been shed into her soul, and she had indeed been led to Jesus as her Savior.

Imagine how we both rejoiced together, and how we praised the Lord for His goodness. God had led me to speak to her, God had opened my mouth to pray, God had used these humble efforts for His glory, and had, through His blessed Word, led her to see her acceptance in the Savior.

Fourteen years have since passed away, years of trial and testing. She has ripened since then, has stood firm for her Savior, and has even, through much bodily weakness, shone out among friends and acquaintances as one who is not ashamed to testify for her Lord.

I write this to encourage any dear worker for Christ who may have opportunities of speaking for Jesus. If God bids you speak to any soul, do not neglect the opportunity. It may cost you a great effort at first, but God will open the way, and lead you on to glorify Him. Plod on, dear brother or sister, let God lead the way, walk in the way, do all God prompts you to do, and His blessing will support you and make your life a happy psalm of praise.

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

Extracts From Letters From the Front

As you have asked me, I am going to give you some details of the distribution of gospels among the soldiers. I saw there was no time to be lost if anything was to be done for their souls. I had with me five hundred gospels for general distribution, but my desire now was to give a gospel to each soldier. My supply disappeared rapidly. I was pained at the thought of having to give up this work, so important, when I learned that you had in your possession a great quantity of these portions of Holy Scriptures which you had on your heart to distribute.

In this city was concentrated an enormous crowd of military men, come from all directions; streets, restaurants were gorged with soldiers. I entered everywhere, watching that not one military man escaped without a gospel. For we know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. There was no time to enter into conversation but I asked them to permit me to offer to them before their departure, a little souvenir, of great value to themselves. All appeared ready to accept. Then drawing from my bag the little books, I let them know it was the gospel of our God Jesus Christ.

Many expressed much pleasure and gratitude. Some appeared to have some knowledge of what was offered them. One said to me, “I will keep it by me all the time, and I do hope to take it back with me to my home.” Another, “I wish to conform my conduct to its teachings.” Here and there I saw eyes illuminated with joy. One of the latter said to me, “I know this book, and better than that, I know Him whom it reveals.” These dear soldiers seemed comforted. I was able to gather a small number for prayer.

But any joy was disturbed and my heart wrung by a priest who was watching me, and noticing with what earnestness the little books were received. “You are doing a very wicked work,” he said to me. “These men do not need the gospel, we have distributed among them medals of the Virgin which have been blessed, and rosaries. They have need of nothing else.”

Alas! no need of the gospel of the grace of God, when men are falling from shot and shell like grain beneath the scythe! An image without life, hidden in the depths of their pockets, enough for them? What darkness! And besides, God tells in the Scriptures, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” but the name of Jesus.

I learned through some Christian soldiers that these gospels were being read everywhere in the barracks and on the trains. One day Satan raised a sort of persecution. A party of women went before me begging the soldiers not to accept what I was offering them, that it was a bad book. While other women followed behind me, telling those who had received them to tear them up. I changed to another place, and found the same opposition. Then the Lord came to my aid. The police came up and asked me what I was scattering. Immediately the crowd surrounded me. In a loud voice I answered, “It is the gospel of the Grace of God,” and I offered a copy to the police. After taking council together, he gave me permission to continue, saying himself to the timid ones, “You may take them. Do not be afraid.”

Later I came upon a train of eight hundred wounded, and while it was stopping at the station, I was able to distribute a large number of gospels, which were gladly accepted.

Before the war, men were high-spirited. They despised all religion, and mocked at the Bible; now they are accepting it. May God who opened the hands to take the gospels, open also the hearts of these dear soldiers to understand them, to the saving of their precious souls.

The night comes when no man can work. Let us redeem the time, watching and praying.

In publishing by permission extracts from these intimate letters, our object is to give God alone the glory, and to show how the hearts of the soldiers have been touched and turned to the Lord. May God use them also to encourage those who remain at home, knowing that our strength is in Him who answers prayer.

O Christians, to your knees! “He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.” (Psa. 115:13).

Dear Mother

Our departure has been delayed a few days.

But if you only knew how little difference it makes to me now! I go joyfully, knowing that whatever comes, I am secure. Yes, now I can say, I am saved. This astonishes myself. I, who until the present time, have been deaf to all appeals of God; I, who had abandoned all religious services, and was most dissipated and worldly of all the children of Christians—how great is the mercy of God! It was necessary that this war should burst upon us, in order that my eyes should be opened. If you only knew how happy I am. The war! O I do not think of it now. Show my letter to my uncle, and tell him, I request him to read it before the Assembly to show them that the prayers they offered have been answered. I do not know what awaits me in the future, but “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

“I hasten to let you know I received the package containing so many gifts of love, for which accept my heartfelt thanks to you and the brethren. The Gospels of John, I distributed in the company, and they were received thankfully. Since this war began, there have been many changes in our men. Many of the soldiers who boasted of being infidels, and were scoffers and quarrelsome, are entirely changed. There is now a great seeking after God. The tracts which you so kindly sent shall be distributed, and they will serve to drive home the true meaning of the Word. One now hears, nearly always, Christian songs instead of foolish, worldly ones. Please send more tracts, that I may have some to give in the trenches.”

“Last week I received your letter, and today the package. Hearty thanks for both. Through the Lord’s mercy it is well with me. Through a thousand dangers the Lord has led me unhurt. As I came to the front, a comrade said, “In a battle, a man learns to pray.” In the godless condition in which I then was, I could not believe it, but laughed to myself. Two days later we were in another battle, but as we were at a distance from the enemy, we had only artillery fire, against which we were well protected. Suddenly a piece of iron fell between my comrade and myself. I realized then that one must pray, and I thought how my beloved father and mother often prayed for me, who had given them so much heart-sorrow in my youth, and then, after many years, came the first prayer. But it was only out of fear of death, and I escaped with my life, The following two days we had rest, though within I had no rest, thinking, Where would you have gone had that piece of iron struck you?

I had known that I must bow my knees and ask a righteous Judge for forgiveness of sins, but I loved the world too much to do that. I also thought it would be time enough when I got old or sick.

The next day we had strenuous, hard marching, and I was very unhappy. We had another battle which lasted five days and nights. Here I prayed almost incessantly, but found no peace, for the preservation of my life was still the main object of my prayers. Later on I prayed one whole day, for I felt that I could not go on this way any longer. I prayed humbly for the forgiveness of my sins, and the faithful God gave me peace. I became happy in the Lord. At three o’clock the next morning the order came to go forward, and I was filled with joy to think that I would be with the Lord, come what might. In that battle a number of my comrades were killed or wounded. I prayed to the Lord to let me live long enough to write to my parents that I had found peace. I knew I could not give to my parents a greater joy than this, knowing—they have always prayed for me.

Now every member of our family is saved. My brother also found peace in this war. I can’t thank the Lord enough that He allowed me to be in this war. It matters not now what comes.”

Scripture Study: Luke 13

Verses 1-5. Those present telling the Lord of what Pilate did wickedly to the Galileans, brings out with fresh force, that there is no escape from the judgment of God for Israel, or for any sinner, but by repentance. The tower of Siloam did not fall without God allowing it. Now was Israel’s time to give diligence to be delivered from the Judge, (Luke 12:58), or they would all likewise perish. Many thousands of them perished at the destruction of Jerusalem, and the rest were scattered because they did not repent. (Matt. 22:7; Luke 19:42-44; 21:28). There they remain till their deliverance as a nation comes. (Isa. 40:2; Ezek. 37:21). These scriptures also suggest, that not only in this world do men reap what they sow, (Gal. 6:7, 8) in the government of God, but that wrath from heaven will fall on every sinner out of Christ. (Rom. 1:18; 2:8, 9; Heb. 9:27).

Verses 6-9. Israel was this fig tree. Everything had been done for it that could be done in the past, and yet it had borne no fruit. At last its judgment is pronounced, but the dresser begs for it another year. So we find Israel spared as a nation till Stephen’s murder. The last national offer of pardon is in Acts 3, which they did not accept, but cast the messengers into prison and then stoned Stephen, sending him after his Master. (Luke 19:14). They rejected their Messiah, smote the Judge of Israel upon the cheek, therefore He gave them up. (Mic. 5:1, 3). They will not be restored till the church is completed and taken to glory. Individuals out of all nations and out of Israel compose the church—the body and bride of Christ. And all, both Jew and Gentile, who have died out of Christ are lost forever.

Verses 10-17. The Lord is teaching, going on with His gracious work, despite the sad condition of the Jews. It was the sabbath and here is a woman bowed together for eighteen years with a spirit of infirmity, and could in no wise lift up herself. When Jesus saw her, He called to her, and laid His hands on her, and said, “Woman, thou are loosed from thine infirmity,” and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the synagogue was ruled by a hypocrite, who pretended to care for the Sabbath—the seal of a conversant (Ex. 31:13-17) that was long since broken, and the Lord Jesus did not once tell them to keep it. He thought of the poor woman, one of Israel’s flock, a daughter of Abraham, and set her free, but this hypocrite thought more of his ox, or his ass on the sabbath day. What a scathing rebuke the Lord gives him, and all His adversaries were ashamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Why did they not recognize and own their King?

Verses 18-21. Since the King has been rejected and is going away, the kingdom of God on earth must necessarily take a different form from the kingdom set up in power and glory. It is compared to a grain of mustard seed, sown in a man’s garden and grows to a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodge in its branches. It thus pictures a great powerful system, but evil is sheltered under its branches. It is also like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Here we get its teaching laying hold of the people as a great influence: in neither are we to think they are all converted. It is the nominal profession of the name of Christ, which is often called Christendom. It describes its appearance as seen in this world. What is for God, as in Matthew 13.—the wheat, the treasure, the pearl, and the good fish—are not mentioned here.

Verse 22. He is still journeying towards Jerusalem, teaching as He goes. Moses and Elias talked with Him on the mount, of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem; (Chapter 9:30, 31, 51,) and in the same chapter, He steadfastly set His face to go there.

Verses 23-30. One asked Him, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” It may have “been curiosity that led to it, but the Lord speaks an earnest word of exhortation and warning, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen, up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.’” This has its direct application to the unsaved of Israel, but it has a strong voice to those now who have not yet trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Savior. As in Matthew 25. “When the Bridegroom come, they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Just think if it should shut today! Which side of the door would you be on? And as here, many from the distant parts of the earth shall be seen associated with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in glory, and the professing Israel cast out with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Likewise, many professing Christians, without a personal Savior, will see the converted heathen with Christ in heavenly glory, and they themselves cast out to eternal darkness, eternal disappointment. “Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

Verses 31-35. “The same day.” We can think how these Pharisees hated to hear such teaching, and professing to be interested in His safety, try to get rid of Him, saying, “Get Thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee.” His answer reveals Israel’s state more fully, and also His personal glory. He cares nothing for their hypocritical warning, nor for Herod. “Go ye and tell that fox,” a usurper on the throne of Israel as king, a hypocrite ruling the synagogue. Yet He falls back on the counsels of God. The Father’s will shall be done, “Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Israel’s guilt, Jerusalem’s guilt for ages past is manifested. “Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.” And now, as the great Jehovah, He pours out His heart over the beloved though guilty Jerusalem, on which His heart was set. (Psa. 132:13). And even now it is not judged forever, but it is set aside till its chastening is fulfilled. And what prophet, but He who is a Prophet and Jehovah Himself, could say, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not.” Their rejection of the truth was persistent, and now nothing remains but to pronounce the sentence, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

The nearer the people are to God, if they reject Him, the worse is the sin, and the more dreadful the judgment. Israel was a nation who had God nigh unto them, (Deut. 4:7), and they came near unto Him, (Psa. 148:14), but now they are cast off till the Lord shall claim His kingdom.

What grace is seen in all this, and how it reminds us of grace now to the church of God on earth, outwardly ruined as His witness here; ruined by man’s interference, and arrangements, and inventions. Yet God, in His sovereign grace, is carrying out His purpose, to have companions in heavenly glory for His Son, as His body and His bride, and nothing can hinder its accomplishment.

The Moral Security of a Lowly Path

How one does long to know more of this! “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” What a difference between the two attitudes! God must resist the proud; but when man takes his true place, God has nothing to resist; every barrier is removed, and the full tide of divine goodness can flow into the lowly heart. God can dwell with a lowly heart. There may be great weakness, great poverty, nothing attractive; but God can dwell there, and that is enough. It is a great point to be able to ascertain what God can go along with. He certainly can not go on with pride, with assumption, with pretension, with bustling self-importance. Whenever you see these things in a man, you may be sure God is, not dwelling with him.

“Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” (Isa. 57:15).

O, Speak of Jesus!

O, speak of Jesus! of that love

Passing all bounds of human thought,

Which made Him quit His throne above,

With God-like, deep compassion fraught;

To save from death our ruined race,

Our guilt to purge, our path to trace.

Yes, speak of Jesus! of His grace,

Receiving, pardoning, blessing all;

His holy, spotless life retrace

His words, His miracles recall;

The words He spoke, the truths He taught,

With life—eternal life—are fraught.

O, speak of Jesus! of His death;

For sinners, such as me. He died;

“‘Tis finished,” with His latest breath,

The Lord, Jehovah Jesus, cried;

That death of shame and agony,

Opened the way of life to me.

The Father's Care

(Read Matt. 6:19 to end.)

Why is it that we who are sons of the Father so often want to lay by treasure and store on earth for the future? Do we confide in the Father’s care over His children? It is not for me to say that any believer should spend or give away all that he has or earns. Each must needs be exercised about that before God, and then act according to the measure of faith and of grace that God gives. Neither reasoning about it, nor the calculations of human prudence, will teach us to obey the Word, Light comes from God alone who is Light; if the eye of the heart be set upon Christ—and remember that He is in heaven—we shall be enlightened. “The light (lit. lamp) of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Light will enter by the eye as through a lamp, and our whole being will have the true Light shining into every part or member of it. Then by contrast we may learn how deep the darkness is if the Light teases to shine in. It is so naturally, if you suddenly extinguish the lamp in a room, the darkness is bewildering in its intensity.

What is mammon? “Mammon is riches, every one knows that,” someone replies, and perhaps he will add, “As I am poor, mammon does not concern me, it concern” my rich neighbor. “Truly, mammon is riches, but it is any and every kind of riches, whether the quantity be great or small. It comprises the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the house we dwell in; things necessary, comforts, and luxuries are all mammon. Just as we are told to use the world and not abuse it (1 Cor. 7:31)—note that the apostle adds, “But I would have you without carefulness”—so though we all use, we should not serve mammon. “No man can serve two masters,” whether at home or at business, whether on land or at sea. We have each and all our various duties in life to fulfill, we are taught to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17), but whom do we serve in doing this, God or mammon?

The Lord would have us heart-free to serve God; therefore He said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And again, “Take no thought for your life; take no thought for the morrow.” He reminds us that our heavenly Father feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the field. Ah! someone will say, “Are Christians not to work, not to be employed in temporal matters?” The Lord does not say that at all. His teaching deals with the heart, the spring of all our actions. He tells us to “seek first” (not our own advantage, nor our own interests, but) “the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” And again, “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Could anything be more certain, more comforting to the sons of the Father, “your heavenly Father knoweth.” The heart thus taught can confide in the Father’s care.

“What is this kingdom of God?” do you say. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink”—though, as we see, God gives these to His sons—“but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). Obedience to God and zeal for His glory characterize His kingdom now. Obedience to God comprises the fulfillment of every duty in life that God has put on us, with help from Him indeed, and these duties vary with each believer.

In what men call the “struggle for life,” much reliance is placed on human energy, to the extent, even among Christians, of forgetting the Father’s care. “Your heavenly Father knoweth,” is a word which encourages the heart. “Ask, and it shall be given you,” warrants us to make our needs known to God. He will give, not indeed always what we wish for or think necessary, but as Christ says, “... how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matt. 7:7-11). So again we read in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Whenever we are discouraged and tempted to look down, or within, or around us, let us call to mind these and similar scriptures, and we shall learn to trust our Father, and behave as His children are taught to behave.

Looking Unto Jesus

Hebrews. 13:2.

Looking unto Jesus—

Trusting Him today:

In each grief and trouble,

Of the stormy way.

From each little burden

Of your daily life:

“Looking off to Jesus,”

From this world of strife.

Looking unto Jesus—

Through the darksome night;

If your lamp is flickering,

He will maze it bright.

Look away to Jesus,

And with patience run

The race set before you,

Till the crown is won.

Looking unto Jesus,

Soon He’ll come again:

Come again to take you

With Himself to reign.

Look still off to Jesus,

Look still right away—

Till the gladsome dawning

Of that glorious day.

The Pitcher Under the Spout

A little boy of five years of age said to his teacher, as they went out to walk one day, “Tell me a story. Please do tell me a story.”

As this was his daily request, the teacher said to him, “How can you expect me to have so many stories always? You know no matter how full a pitcher may be, if you are always drinking from it, it will be empty at last.”

The little boy understood her meaning very well, and quickly replied, “O, but you should put the pitcher under a spout.”

May not we all, who would teach “the little ones,” take lesson from the little boy, and remember that no human vessel can ever be a fountain in itself; the best filled vessel will become exhausted unless it be constantly refreshed from the Word of God. If we cannot, in the first instance, teach the love of God in Christ, without having tasted ourselves and seen, that Christ is precious; no more can we be the means of instructing, and refreshing others without daily drinking at the fountain of eternal love, and constant study of the Word of God. “He that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Prov. 11:25).

He who would teach others must love what he teaches, for its own sake; if he does so, there is reality in teaching. “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto My knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.” (Prov. 22:17, 18).

Work

All Christian work should be carried on in the view of the judgment-seat of Christ, who will reward His servants or otherwise, according as each one has served Him. Work may be zealously performed which will not meet with Christ’s approval, and which will therefore count for nothing in the great day. The Apostle Paul shows us how he had his eye upon that “day.” Let us take him for an example. We may know what will meet with Christ’s approval by reading His Word, so that none of us can plead ignorance of His wishes. Christian workers, compare the Word of God with the prevalent ideas of Christian work; it will be a helpful, yet humbling service to your soul.

Correspondence: Position a Believer Should Take

Question: What stand or position should a believer take? P. R. J.

Answer: The believer should take the Word of God as his guide, and be under the teaching of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:12.) He is to find them sufficient for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, to furnish him unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

The Scripture showed him that he was lost, (Luke 19:10), guilty, (Rom. 3:19), dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1). In believing on Christ as his Savior, he was saved, (Eph. 2:8), justified, (Acts 13:39, Rom. 5:1), and no condemnation can touch him. (John 5:24, Rom. 8:1). He now has everlasting life and eternal security. (John 10:28). He is a child of God. (Rom. 8:16, 17; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 3:1). The Holy Spirit now dwells in him. (John 7:39; 14:17; 1 Cor. 6:19; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:30).

By the Spirit he is united to Christ, the glorified Head of the church, which is His body, and he is a member of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; Rom. 12:4, 5).

So then he is a child of God the Father; a member of the body of Christ the Son of God; and his body is a temple of God the Holy Spirit. His behavior is to be regulated according to these. And the Lord is his High Priest to give him the strength and grace to live for Him, (Heb. 4:14-16), and his advocate with the Father to restore his soul to communion if he should sin. (1 John 2:1).

In reading the Word with prayer, he finds directions and help to live for Christ. (such as: Rom. 12:1, 2; Phil. 2:12-16). He is not to grieve the Spirit, (Eph. 4:30), but if he does, confession restores him. (1 John 1:9). He is not to be “unequally yoked with unbelievers,” (2 Cor. 6:14-18), so he should not join societies with unconverted people; he should see that he does not take up with one who is not saved to be his future life partner.

He should also see that his associations in religious things are according to the Word. His membership was made by the Spirit when he was saved. Unconverted people cannot worship God aright. (John 4:23). There is no joining of churches in Scripture. Matthew 18:20 tells us “Where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” This is the center where the members of His body can gather, and where they can therefore be and enjoy the presence of the Lord. See how happy they were in John 20:19, 20, the first meeting after Christ rose from the dead.

In Acts 2:42. “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine,” (or teaching,) that would answer to meetings for ministry or reading the Scriptures together. “And fellowship,” this is given us increasingly as we feed on the Word. “And in breaking of bread,” that is the sweet remembrance of Christ in death in the Lord’s supper. Acts 20:7 lets him know that it was the custom of the early disciples to gather on the first day of each week for this purpose. (never once a month). “And in prayers,” this takes in meetings for prayer, as well as in private.

We find the professing church has departed from the Word in this and in many things, but the believer is exhorted to get back to the World, and thus to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” And he is to be waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus to take His people home. This is his blessed hope. (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:15-18).

To C. D.

Daniel 3:25. In the Old Testament the Lord appeared at times in different forms. In Genesis 18. He is a way faring man communing with Abraham the pilgrim. In Joshua 5. He appears as Captain of the Lord’s host, giving instructions how to take Jericho. In this chapter He is a companion in tribulation, and a deliverer, while in it, from its power. The fire killed the men that put these three men into it, but over them it had no power. It took the cords off their limbs, and put them in the company of one like to the Son of God. Nebuchadnezzar did not know the Son of God. (It is literally “a son of the gods.”) But how happy a place it was to be in. Was it not? They might be afraid before they were thrown in, but it was delightful to be in the presence of the Lord Himself. (Nah. 1:7).

1 John. The features of God’s children are seen in this epistle, as light, love, obedience; righteousness, and faith; and are contrasted with the children of the devil, as darkness, hatred, disobedience, unrighteousness and unbelief.

The World Is Not What It Seems to Be

The day, long looked for by Harold, came at last, when he was to leave his country home and go to the city, to fill a position there. Brought up by godly parents, and surrounded by every Christian influence from his earliest days, well taught in the Scriptures and familiar with the gospel, a sharp, clever boy, and a professed believer in the Lord Jesus. But he had never been tried. He knew nothing of the world, and little of his own heart. The godly restraints of a Christian home had kept him from the path of the wicked, and hedged him up on every side. Now he was going out into the wide, wild world, where his profession of being Christ’s would be tested to the utmost. Poor Harold, little did he know as he bade “Good-bye” to his fond parents on the platform, and waved his hand from the train window as he steamed out of the station, what awaited him in the great city.

He imagined it would be so grand to see life there; to be at liberty as a young man ought, and to have his choice of companions and society. The thought of going into sinful society never crossed his mind, he had no knowledge of what that meant, but, alas! the taste is easily acquired.

Harold went to his new situation full of hope. He was determined to rise in the world, and to use every power which God had given him to make his mark in business. He found his mates kind and social. Some of them invited him to their rooms to wile away the evenings. What he saw there is unknown, but in a few weeks’ time Harold had learned to gamble, and went to various kinds of amusements. On he went in the down ward path, along which so many of our dear young people are led to ruin for time and eternity.

His profession of being a Christian soon dropped. Alas! it was no more than a profession, for, as he afterward acknowledged, he “had never been saved.” As long as there was nothing to test, but everything to support him, he stood outwardly, at least, as a Christian—and there are many who are precisely like him—but when the props were removed, Harold soon found out his profession had no root and no foundation. After a year of city life, if life it can be called, Harold returned to his country home, a wreck in health and character. Nothing of a criminal nature, but ruined by bad company, late hours, and the excitement of worldly associates.

Poor fellow, there he lay, the world all behind him now, companions gone, and possibly an early grave awaiting him! He had heard before, how empty and unsatisfactory the world was; but now he knew it, and his weary, burdened heart longed for true rest and true repose. The gospel of the love of God in the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus, and had at one time been so familiar to him, came to him now with fresh meaning. He was weary now, and it spoke of rest: thirsty, and it told of refreshment.

The gospel was the same as of old, but the difference was that he knew his need of it now.

He had learned in realty that he was a sinner, and as such, weary, heavy laden, longing for rest, he came to Jesus, and Jesus saved him.

In the Lord’s mercy he was raised up again, and enabled to testify to those who had known him in his unconverted days as a false professor, not to trust in a “name to live,” and to those who had shared the follies of his city life, he preached and testified of the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can save and satisfy.

Dear young friends, many have had to learn, through bitter experience that the world can never give anything which can give rest or satisfy. The apostles knew what it was when they said, “Love not the world.” “Be not conformed to this world.” “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

If our dear readers will only be obedient to these scriptures, from how much sorrow they may be preserved.

“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.” (Matt. 11:29).

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4).

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

Jesus Only

In the paradise of glory.

Is the Man Divine—

There my heart, O God, is tasting

Fellowship with Thine.

Called to share Thy joy unmeasured

Now is heaven begun;

I rejoice with Thee, O Father,

In Thy glorious Son.

Where the heart of God is resting,

There my rest I find;

Christ in all His stainless glory,

His delight and mine.

There in deep unhindered fullness

Doth my joy flow free—

On through everlasting ages,

Lord, beholding Thee.

Round me is creation groaning,

Death, and sin, and care;

But there is a rest remaining,

And my Lord is there.

There I find a blessed stillness,

Where He rests in love;

All below is strife and darkness,

Cloudless peace above.

‘Tis a solitary pathway

To that fair retreat,

Where in deep and sweet communion

Sit I at His feet.

In that glorious isolation,

Loneliness, how blest;

From the windy storm and tempest,

Have I found my rest.

Learning from Thy lips forever

All the Father’s heart,

Thou hast, in that joy eternal,

Chosen me my part.

There where Jesus, Jesus only,

Fills each heart and tongue,

Where Himself is all the radiance,

And His love the song.

Here who follows Him the nearest,

Needs must walk alone;

There like many seas the chorus,

Praise surrounds the throne.

Here a dark and silent pathway,

In those clouds so fair;

Countless hosts, yet each beholding

Jesus only, there.

The Uncertainty of Riches

On a bright spring morning, some years ago, a young girl of seventeen, stood at the gate, watching for the postman. There was something of special interest to her in that morning’s mail. Her uncle had left her a large sum of money in his will, and she expected to hear fully of it that day. The letter was delivered; the news was confirmed, and Julia became a wealthy heiress.

Her fortune was not an unmixed blessing, nor did it yield her all the happiness she had hoped from it. Riches do not give peace, nor do they brighten the prospect beyond the grave.

Five years later, she had lost it all through the crash of a concern in which it was invested, and bereft of all, she again stood at the gate, watching for the postman, only to have her worst fears confirmed. By the same mail which took the last hope of worldly gain away, there came a letter from a former companion, who had heard of Julia’s loss, telling her of Christ and His unsearchable riches, which never can be lost, and urging her to receive Him as the Savior of her soul, and the comfort of her weary heart. There and then she trusted Christ, and enjoyed His love.

She afterward assured her friends that she was happier in Christ and with Christ, earning her daily bread, than ever she was with all her store of earthy wealth without Him.

Dear young friends, do not set your hearts upon riches.

“Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” (Prov. 23:4, 5).

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

The True Remedy for a Bad State of Soul

Occupation with our state will never bring us one whit nearer the Lord; it will only distress, enfeeble, and enslave our souls. Occupation with Christ will produce every moment increasing conformity to His image.

Therefore the true remedy for a bad state is Christ so completely filling our vision (Christ in what He is, and in what He has done) that self cannot be seen in the light of His glory.

State is not everything; but Christ is everything; and in proportion as we learn this lesson will our state meet His mind.

From the Pen of Our Dear Alice

The following extracts are from the pen of one of our dear young readers who departed to be with the Lord a few months ago, and who early in her life had realized the nothingness of this world’s pleasures, and sought in her quiet, sweet way to lead others to closer companionship with the Lord Jesus Christ. These were written to a dear friend undergoing trial, sand her plea is for loyalty to Christ, and all to be done to the glory of God.

“The Lord has your interests and mine as much at heart as any of His redeemed ones—and think of His power and love for His children!

We are not promised a path strewn with flowers and perpetual prosperity, but we are promised perfect peace if our hearts are fixed on God. It may not be all we expect, but if it is His way, then it must be well. The fruitful life is one that has known much sorrow.

This text was on the calendar for today, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:33).

I would love automobiles, fine clothes, servants, and to be able to walk into a store and have the clerks say, “This is Mrs. so and so she is very wealthy;” as I have heard it said of others. I would like to have loads of money to give away—why there is not enough in the, whole world to satisfy, when I think of everything. But when we dwell on higher things rand eternal life that you and I have, and think of what it means to those who are drifting down to eternity—dreadful thought! do not wealth, fame, and temporary alleviation appear like an infinitesimal atom. On the other hand, what tire we going to do in return for what has been one for us?

I feel that God has some great thing for on, because He has tried you so hard! He knows how much we can stand, and what we need for refining.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12).

Father used to say that heaven is where, Christ is, and I am only beginning to understand it, after trying to realize what it could be like.

When I came into the house last night G. was reading to the girls, and as the subject was most opportune, I want to tell you what he was reading about. For the last few evenings he has been reading in Kings, and the part that touched him more than anything else, were the trials of the prophet Elijah, one whom the Bible calls the man of God. He had been struggling for years with Israel and then gave up in despair, though he had been brought through great trials before, when Jezebel threatens him, he flees into the wilderness and loses his faith in God. Even then, the Lord in His mercy feeds him. There is wind, an earthquake, and fire, and Elijah finds out that the Lord is not in these—but in the still small voice.

There came a voice unto him which said, “What doest thou here Elijah?” Elijah thought there were no fruits of his labors in Israel, but the Lord tells him there are 7,000 which have not bowed the knee to Baal, a faithful few whom his eyes had not seen.

Do everything, I pray you, to God’s glory and stand faithful. All the world would think you a fool for giving up worldly glory and pleasure, for they do not see nor understand. Remember Christ in the wilderness and what Satan offered him—the whole world! You are acknowledging Christ, and that is what Satan is after because you have stepped aside to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and remember it is only for a little while. Some people get their testing time early, and some later in life, but know that you will get no more than you can stand.

If you do not feel able to teach in the Sunday School, all right; but don’t stay away from the Prayer meetings if you can possibly go; it is there where we get our strength and encouragement. Nor from the morning meetings, where the Lord Himself comes into our midst. Though you are sad at heart, He accepts the humblest offerings of worship.

May God guide you at this time and keep you unswerving in your testimony for Christ, and faithful in your walk.

With warmest love to you in our soon coming Lord!”

God's Living Word

The Bible not merely was inspired, but is so still. The Holy Spirit not merely inspired the men as they wrote, but He is still connected with the Scripture. It was originally Spirit-breathed, but the Spirit is still breathing on it.

When the soul, thirsting after God, reads the words, “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, buy wine and milk, without money and without price;” when the burdened heart and oppressed conscience reads the words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” the words are breathed again by the Spirit. It seems as if the ink was not yet dry, and as if the warm breath of eternal love from which those promises flowed was even now quickening and consoling the troubled soul.

The Spirit makes the Scripture a living word. The Spirit breathes here as in no other book. He makes the writing spirit and life, and man lives by it, because it is the word proceeding even now out of the mouth of God. He who has experienced this, can have no doubt about the origin of Scripture, for in his measure he receives it from God Himself, as David, Isaiah, Paul, and John received it. It is to him the divine Word. He knows, not merely that it is written, but that it is the living word and voice of the Lord. In obeying its precepts, he knows he acts in obedience to his heavenly Father, and rests on the promises and assurances which he reads in Scripture. He is convinced he is trusting in the Lord, his God, and Redeemer.

“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.” (Heb. 4:11).

Scripture Study: Luke 14

Verses 1-6. The Lord exposes the cold, selfish, religious pride of the lawyers and Pharisees in their vain Sabbath-keeping. He sets it aside to bring in grace to the needy, ever delighting to do good. His compassions fail not. It was the Sabbath day, and He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread, and they watched Him. There was a certain man before Him who had the dropsy. Jesus answered their thoughts with the question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” They held their peace. He took him, and healed him, and let him go. He answered them with another question, “Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?” Thus they were confounded and their sabbath day set aside. Sin broke God’s rest, and they had often broken the covenant of which their sabbath was the sign. (Ex. 31:13-17). Thus He brings before them their sin against Jehovah. They had fallen into a pit, and the Lord came down, by His work to pull man out of it. It was not the time now to keep His Sabbath.

Verses 7-11. In those who were bidden, He sees how love of honor from men is manifested by seeking the chief places for themselves, and from this He enunciates the true place of blessing from God for us all. We are but sinners, deserving of eternal judgment. If we speak well of ourselves, it but shows our want of feeling of our true state before God. If we feel our true state before Him, humbly own it and look to Him for mercy, we are in the place where His forgiving love can bless us. “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” To get true blessing from God, we must humble ourselves, that is, take our true place as sinners before Him. It was so when we came to Him as sinners, we found mercy extended to us. It is always true, and the believer learns to progress in the things of God—to be ever self-emptied before Him. How beautifully perfect we see our blessed Lord in this! He who was ever as a man equal with God, yet in grace, and to do the Father’s will, took the servant’s place, emptied Himself, and humbled Himself, became obedient unto death, and that the death of the cross. That was—the lowest place. We cannot go there. He went there for us. “Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him.”

Every mark of dark dishonor

Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow,

All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow

Told in answering glory now.

He hid Himself from glory of men, so may we; and it will find its answer in the glory. (Rev. 2:17). He is our pattern. “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.” (John 12:25, 26).

Verses 12-14. To the one that invited Him, He said, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” The reward of service is future. If we serve only those who can serve us in return, it is not true service to Christ. If we serve those who cannot recompense us, that is like the Lord Himself, and it shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. The resurrection of the just points out that there are two resurrections, and not a common one for all. Only the just can serve Him. (Rom. 1:17).

Verses 15-24. When one of them who sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God.” He was thinking of, the glorious time when the Messiah would reign over Israel and the Nations, as prophesied. The answer looks at what takes place before the kingdom is set up in power. It is not seeking fruit now from Israel as a fig tree. It is a man providing a great supper, all at his own cost and inviting many to partake. It is the gospel of the grace of God, bringing salvation without money or without price. But what did it cost Him who made it? (2 Cor. 8:9). “All that He had.” (Matt. 13:46). He “gave Himself.” (Eph. 5:25). And in God’s “due time” all was done and ready. (Rom. 5:6). He sent His servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, “Come; for all things are now ready.”

The gospel went out to the Jew first—the bidden ones. Alas! the heavenly and spiritual things they do not want. So they all with one consent began to make excuse. Earthly possessions and relationship, though mercies given by God, are made the excuse for rejecting His eternal salvation; the carnal mind finds no pleasure in the things of God. It is not what in itself is sin that keeps them away. Their duties of this life are made the excuse. And so it is today. Men turn away from God’s beseechings to receive reconciliation to God, because of present things, but after all there are also the pleasures of sin, made so by their coming between the soul and God.

Reader, are you putting anything between your soul and God? Well, the Master said, “None of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper.”

The Servant, the Holy Spirit, come down to preach the gospel, came and told His Lord their answers. What has He to tell Him about you? Then the Master of the house being angry, said to His Servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” This takes in the outcast Jews, as publicans and sinners and the Samaritans. (Acts 8). Such are glad to come, for they are needy, and the supper of grace is a comfort and joy to such, for it meets their need, bringing them, into pardon, peace, and everlasting life. And the Servant said, “Lord, it is done as Thou halt commanded, and yet there is room.” Still wider goes the order “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” This takes in those “afar, off,” the Gentile dogs, the heathen lands, “every creature.” “And compel them to come in.” This is no mere cold invitation, it is the drawings of the love of God, the power of the Holy Spirit using the Word that tells of man’s need and God’s love to the sinner and hatred to sin, while He loves the sinner. This tells him of the feast prepared, and thus forces him in.

‘Twas the same love that spread the feast,

That sweetly forced me in;

Else I had still refused to taste

And perished in my sin.

The gospel went out to the Jew first as a nation. They rejected it and are now themselves rejected and scattered, but sovereign grace waits on the individual Jew as on, every creature, (Rom. 11:32). to give them salvation and a place in the church of God, if they will bow and own Jesus as Lord. (Rom. 10:9).

Christendom, like the Jewish nation of old, is turning a deaf ear to God’s offered mercy, and making excuses. “And yet there is room.” God will have His house filled. Will you be in it, dear reader? Have you come to Christ? The message has gone out to every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and they will be brought in and you, who had such privileges, such opportunities if you neglect this great salvation now, will be shut out forever.

Verses 25-33. Here discipleship is presented which must not be confounded with salvation. We have salvation, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, given to us freely, without money and without price. “Justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” God starts us off as Christians, happy and eternally secure.

Discipleship gives us Christ as our object to live for, and this gives us true happiness. And the only way to be truly happy is to have Christ as our object before father, mother, wife, children, brethren, sisters and his own life also, yea all that he hath is forsaken for Christ. This is the meaning of the word “hate” here. The truth that we are dead with Christ and risen with Christ, and thus are in a new place in Him before God, His love constraining us, helps us to understand and practice this.

It is not that we actually hate our dear ones, but that we as now risen with Christ, have them in this new way from the Lord. And He tells us how to look after them for Him. (See Eph. 5:22 to 6:9; Col. 3:18 to 4:1). The Lord gives us there to see that they and all our business are to be taken up for Him, and carried by us through His grace and strength, as the man carried his bed in obedience to Jesus. (John 5:8, 9). We are to count the cost, and if we do we shall be convinced that “without Him we can do nothing.” (John 15:5). We can only build the tower, or fight the enemy, through grace supplied from Him, but this is promised us as we need it. (2 Cor. 9:8; James 4:6).

Take care, do not make your ability to follow Christ as if your salvation depended on it. We all fail in our walk, but our salvation is perfect. (Heb. 10:14). And thank God for 1 John 2:1. But we must be careful not to grieve the Spirit. (Eph. 4:30).

Verses 34:35. If we are not careful to keep the Lord before us, as the salt we will lose our influence for good. Such salt is useless, it is savorless and only to be cast out. Salt upholds what is good. Light bears testimony against evil. (Matt. 5:13).

Peerless Worth

“What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard Him, and observed Him.” (Hos. 14:8).

Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?

Is not thine a captured heart?

Chief among ten thousand” own Him,

Joyful choose the better part.

Idols once they won thee, charmed thee

Lovely things of time and sense;

Gilded, thus does sin disarm thee,

Honeyed lest thou turn thee thence.

What has stript the seeming beauty

From the idols of the earth?

Not the sense of right or duty,

But the sight of peerless worth.

Not the crushing of those idols,

With its bitter void and smart,

But the beaming of His beauty,

The unveiling of His heart.

Who extinguishes their taper

Till they hail the rising sun?

Who discards the garb of winter

Till the summer has begun?

‘Tis that look that melted Peter,

‘Tis that face that Stephen saw,

‘Tis that heart that wept with Mary,

Can alone from idols draw—

Draw, and win, and fill completely,

Till the cup o’erflow the brim;

What have we to do with idols,

Who have companied with Him?

The Lord's Coming in the Air

Every Christian believes that, at some time or other, Christ will come again, but there are many opinions as to Where, How and When the will come. One express Scripture statement: upon the matter ought to suffice to set the Christian’s mind entirely at rest, and such a ‘statement, so far as it relates to the Where and How of His coming, for believers, we have in these words “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).

Where He comes is thus distinctly told us—in “the air.” True, He will also come in due season to the earth, for it is also written, “His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” (Zech. 14:4).

If we are among those spoken of in the passage for whom the Lord will come, then we “shall be caught up.... to meet the Lord in the air.” And if, by grace, we indeed believe in our hearts upon Jesus the Savior, then we are ready at this moment to meet Him.

How does He come to the air? He descends from heaven not as He did 1900 years ago—to enter this world in weakness—to become the Man of Sorrows—and to die a sacrifice for our sins upon the tree, but glorious, joyful, triumphant, to call to the Father’s house on high the blessed company of all saints. “The Lord Himself,” saith the Scripture—Himself, who washed us from our sins in His own blood—Himself, who is now our daily strength and Hope—Himself, the Jesus whom we love. And thus does He descend.

(1) “With a shout”—which shout is no mere loud outcry, but peculiar and special such a shout as a commander gives to his troops, and which his men understand; this rallying cry, this voice of the Lord, each one of His people, whether asleep or awake, shall hear, and to it in a moment—in the twinkling of an eye, all shall respond.

(2) “With the voice of the archangel.” Man is weak and mortal, the angels “excel in strength,” at that day, the mightiest of them shall pass on the Lord’s Word, and angels shall witness frail man leave earth’s dust and rise victoriously to the clouds, as did Jesus Himself. Then will Satan, “the prince of the power of the air,” have forever lost all power of harassing and tempting Christ’s risen ones.

(3) “With the trump of God.” “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” That glad blast shall awake or change us, and bring in “the redemption of our body.” That great assembly call shall bid us enter into the full blessedness of the Lord’s resurrection, and when those silver tones are heard, shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

But When shall these things be? We ask not when shall the times and seasons be fulfilled and Jesus come to this earth, we inquire when will He come to the air? His own words supply the answer. “Surely I come quickly.” (Rev. 22-20). “Surely!” There is no mistake—it may seem to be a long time, but He says, “I come quickly.” For a wise purpose the hour of His coming is hidden; did we know the secret, we should forsake our expectant attitude, and watch and wait no longer—our hearts would not respond to His own word “Quickly” with “Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus.”

Reader—Are you waiting for God’s “Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come?” Do the hallowed prospects of that morn bring comfort to your heart? Got delays this coming, in order that sinners may prove the saving virtue of Jesus’s blood, hence, if still unsaved, believe now, for now—this little moment—this shortening interval—“Now is the accepted time.”

I Shall Be Like a Child at Home

It was our happy privilege for some years to visit a dear old saint of God, who has since fallen asleep, to await that long looked-for morn when the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall arise.

Many were the happy hours spent in her solitary room, and often I came away refreshed from my visit with one poor in this world, but rich in faith.

Close upon a century her years had run, and for a very long time she had known the Lord as her Savior, her refuge, and comfort. We constantly felt when with her, we were in the presence of one to whom heaven was not simply heaven, but home.

As a home she constantly spoke of it, with evident reality, and yet with perfect simplicity; for the deep, blessed teaching of the Spirit of God had made this home, so soon to be hers, a very real place to her; a place she longed for day by day.

If, after some threatening attack, we said to her, “Well, grandma, not gone home yet?” She would reply.

“No, not yet; I must have patience.”

One afternoon I said to her.

“Well, grandma, wouldn’t you like to live to be a hundred years old?” as she only lacked three or four years of that great age. Her quick reply was, “No, I wouldn’t—not at all; I want to go to be with Jesus. If I am His, and He is mine, what more do I want? His rod and staff will comfort me.”

Then, as one standing by repeated the lines,

“There would I find a settled rest,

While others go and come

No more a stranger nor a guest,

But like a child at home.”

“Yes, I shall be ‘like a child at home,’”

grandma added; “I shall ‘see Him as He is, and praise Him as I ought.’”

Thus this aged woman, ignorant and unlettered though she was, had been taught by the Holy Spirit to know and believe, in the simplicity of faith, the love of God to her. It was this knowledge that made heaven a home to her.

“A child at home!” Dear young reader, is that your thought of heaven? You sing, “Heaven is our home.” But, what is home? The expression of social bliss on earth is conveyed in that word; as the father returns home after the labor and toil of the day, and the little ones run down the path to meet “father,” each longing to be first to obtain the welcome kiss—that is home.

He who gave His Son for us, is He not our Father? Did He not give us the kiss of welcome when, in our rags and ruin, we first came to Him? What are our thoughts of Him now? Should we be in His presence as children at home? Let us ask our own hearts whether we have so learned His love, His perfect love which casts out fear; and are so walking before Him and with Him, that we look forward to His presence, as dear old grandma did, with the restful, assured feeling with which a child looks forward to his home?

Correspondence: 1 John 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:11; Matt. 16:28

Question: What does “an Unction” mean? (1 John 2:20). N. C. D.

Answer: Unction is the same word as anointing. (27th verse). The Lord Jesus as a man was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. (Acts 4:27; 10:38; Heb. 1:9; Matt. 3:16). Believers, as redeemed by the blood, of Christ, are given the Holy Spirit, and are thus anointed, sealed, and have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts. (2 Cor. 1:21, 22). He is our power for worship, and service, and for discerning the truth. He is our teacher, and puts us on our guard to receive nothing but what honors the person and work of Christ.

Question: 1 Peter 2:11. C. W.

Answer: The Old Testament saints were strangers and sojourners with God. Ever since sin came in, this world was only the temporary abode of God’s people. (Gen. 23:4; Heb. 11:13; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chron. 29:15; Psa. 35:12).

Now in a more definite way these converted Jews to whom Peter wrote were strangers and pilgrims or sojourners, scattered out of Palestine because of the nation’s sins. This epistle tells them of new heavenly blessing with a risen Christ, and taught them to look forward to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved for them in heaven, and they kept by faith for it, and now waiting for the salvation to be revealed in the last time. In this verse they are warned to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, and showing to us by this the danger of settling down in a world like this. We need to keep our eye on Christ in glory to endure what we have to pass through. (See also 2 Cor. 4:17. and L. F. Hymn Bk. 139).

Question: Who is the Lord referring to when He says, “There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom? (Matt. 16:28).

S. F. W.

Answer: The Lord speaks of Peter, James, and John, whom He selected to accompany Him into an high mountain apart where He was transfigured before them. This scene is a sample of the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom, or as in Mark 9:1. “The Kingdom of God come with power.”

In it we see the heavenly saints represented by Moses who died and was buried, and Elias who was ruptured to heaven without dying. And there we see the Lord Jesus in His glory. In Peter, James, and John, we see the earthly saints represented.

This gave the disciples to know who was there manifested in His glory. 2 Peter 1:16 reads, “For we have riot followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, ‘This is, My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him on the holy mount.” This to their minds made the prophetic word surer.

It was but a foreshadowing of the Kingdom, but the King was there in His real personal glory.

I Am Saved Already

Some years ago, as I was traveling, the train was very, full, and at every station numbers of passengers crowded in.

As I was looking on that busy, bustling throng, I was saddened at the thought of so many immortal souls traveling on, as with railway speed, to dark damnation; as gay and careless as if there were no God, no judgment, no heaven, no hell. Presently several new passengers came into our car, one of the number being a lady. I offered her a tract, but after looking at it, to my great surprise she gave it back, saying, “I am saved already. Give it to some one else.”

We were together only five minutes, but in that short space we had time to speak together of the peerless worth of Jesus—of the infinite value of His precious blood, and to refresh one another’s heart in that blessed One, our common possession, hope, and joy. Then she left me, bidding me farewell till we meet again in our common home of everlasting rest.

I had never seen her before, and most likely never shall see her again in this world; and yet when we met we were as knit together as if we had been intimate friends.

Shall I tell you why? We were both saved. Each was a happy possessor of eternal life, of a new life in Christ the Savior. (John 5:24; Col. 3:4).

What a wonderful thing for poor ruined creatures to be able to look up to heaven, and, with calm boldness and happy assurance, to say, “Thank God, I am saved. It is all peace, cloudless peace for me up there. Christ has made it, and He is now in the glory of God—the risen, heaven-honored, though earth-rejected Man. The blessed Conqueror over death, Satan and hell; is now adorning the bright courts of glory, and that is the place I belong to.”

Is this what you say, dear young reader? Can you, like the lady, say, without a shadow of doubt, “I am saved already—I already belong to that wonderful company of redeemed ones; some now asleep in Jesus, waiting for the resurrection day; others treading earth’s pathway, as strangers and pilgrim’s. NO longer am I a child of wrath even as others (Eph. 2:3), but a child of God (Gal. 3:26); a child of light (1 Thess. 5:5). My sins, ‘Which were many, are all forgiven. I am washed in, His blood, redeemed, Cleansed, sanctified, and just ‘waiting to be taken to’ be forever with that blessed One who has done it all. Through Him I am meet (that is, fit) to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1:12), and brought into the scene where everything is light and love: the kingdom of the Son of His love”?

Every believer is in present, living association with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). O, the matchless surpassing grace of God! O, the unbounded, immeasurable, unsearchable love of Christ! Worthy is He of the many crowns that adorn His peerless brow! Worthy to be the theme of the everlasting praise of all His redeemed!

Beloved reader, I ask; Is He your Savior? Are you waiting for Him to come and take you to His Father’s house to be with Him forever?

Sent Forth Lacking Nothing

During a Scripture lesson given to a class of children, a question was asked, “When the Lord Jesus sent out His disciples two and two into the world, as we have just been reading, (Luke 10), to preach this gospel, and to work for Him, did He give them any directions? Did He, for instance; say anything to them about what they would have to take with them?”

“O! yes, He did,” promptly answered a bright little fellow, “the Lord Jesus told them He would see that they had all they needed, so they would not have to trouble themselves about taking anything at all with them, and their clothes and shoes would do.”

The child stroked his own clothes down complacently as he spoke, evidently with a boy’s thorough appreciation of the feeling of relief which it must have given to each of the disciples to hear that he might start off at once, just as he was, free from all encumbrances.

O! that all disciples of the Lord, in this our day, may drink more deeply into this childlike spirit, this true idea of service, entire dependence upon the One who sends them forth, and freedom from all that would distract the heart, or hinder the feet.

If encumbered with riches, surely “the cares of this world,” or “the lusts of other things” may prove to be an equally ensnaring and impeding burden. It is enough for every disciple that he be as his Master, who sought no accumulation of treasure for Himself on earth, but simply to do the will of God who sent Him. With this object in view, and this only, we shall find that what we have “will do,” will suffice for our need, and, “looking off unto Jesus,” happy lightness of step, and an unhindered walk, will be the result.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” (1 Tim. 4:12, 13, 15).

What Are You Doing for Your Master?

Christ had passed through the awful hour of agony and death. He had come back from the grave a victorious conquer, and proclaimed to His sorrowing disciples, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth,” but immediately added, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Thus to work for God is not optional, but imperative. Not a mere matter of choice, but has all the authority of the command of Christ.

To preach is a necessity laid upon some, as Paul said, “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel;” but to work for Christ is the privilege of every saved soul. Some may say, “I cannot preach,” but all can distribute gospel tracts in one way or another, and be much in prayer for the Lord’s rich blessing to follow each one.

There is a sphere for all and a work for each. There is none to whom something has not been entrusted. He gave to every man his work. None can look to the Master and say, “I have not the privilege of doing something for Thee.”

You may not have five talents, you may not have two, but what about the one? For the employment of that one, you are responsible. God has beautifully arranged and adapted spheres of labor, so as to meet all the diversity of capacity and talent among His people. Remember, there is not a single inch of ground in God’s vineyard for an idler; not a niche in the great moral hive for a drone. To each He has given power and opportunity to do something. It may be only the silent, unobtrusive labor connected with the family circle; or of speaking of Christ to a few children gathered in your home or your class; visiting the abodes of poverty; the bedside of the sick and dying; in scattering papers and tracts, or the unseen labor of an Epaphras pleading for the salvation of some precious souls.

“Son, go work today in My vineyard.” If you are a son of God, by faith in Christ Jesus, then, “Go work today,” is Christ’s word to you. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

What are you doing then for Christ? What are you doing for the salvation of souls? for the help of the feeble among the lambs and sheep of Christ’s flock?

Let us say, with the Apostle Paul, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” This will necessitate the study of His Word for guidance in your service, and prayer and dependence upon Him.

Alas! How many, in the energy of love to Christ, commence with works of devotedness to His person, and gracious care for those in need, but in time the freshness of their affection wanes, and a spiritual apathy sets in, and the worker becomes a spiritual invalid.

The danger of this was evident before the apostle’s mind when he wrote to Titus, “These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works.” (Titus 3:8). Titus was not only to affirm, but constantly to affirm, the deep necessity of being careful to maintain, not merely to commence, or plan, but “maintain” good works.

“If any man serve Me, let him follow, Me; and where am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.” John 12:26.

Careful for Nothing

In order to be careful for nothing, you must have a bosom open to God, pouring out, in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, all your requests to Him. The effect of this will be that the very peace which dwells in God, and in which God dwells, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

O Grace Divine

O grace divine! the Savior shed

His life-blood on the cursed tree;

Bowed on the cross His blessed head,

And died to make the guilty free.

Through suffering there, beneath His feet

He trod the fierce avenger down:

There power itself and weakness meet,

Emblem of each, you thorny crown.

Fruit of the curse, the tangled thorn,

Showed that He bore its deadly sting;

The crown, ‘mid Israel’s cruel scorn,

Marked Him as earth’s anointed King.

O blessed hour! when all the earth

Its rightful Heir shall yet receive;

When every tongue shall own His worth,

And all creation cease to grieve.

Thou dearest Savior! Thou alone

Canst give Thy weary people rest;

And, Lord, till Thou art on the throne,

This, groaning earth can ne’er be blest.

Extracts From Letters From the Front

“My comrades smile to see me read my ‘mass,’ as they call it, but little by little, the danger and the Spirit of God, help, and they laugh no more but on the contrary, many borrow my New Testament of me, and others come to me when I read, and request me to read to them, and almost all agree in saying that it is truly a Divine revelation. So I pray constantly for my comrades, that God will open their hearts to His love, and I am sure there will be fruit to His glory. Yes I entreat all Christians to raise their supplications to the throne of the Father, for they are beginning to say all around me, in speaking of this terrible war, “It is because we have sinned, that God has sent this dreadful war”. O, that Christians all over the world, would, on their knees, entreat our God and Savior to intervene in mercy, and make His creatures feel what lost sinners they are, and that, after humiliation and confession of faults, He will shorten this unspeakable trial, and lead to repentance many a soul bending beneath their load of sins as we did, and I am sure He will do this. If you could see my comrades around me asking me how it is I am able to believe, and have such perfect confidence in God, and how I can be resigned to the idea of leaving this sinful world, without being terrified, then I tell them where my strength is, in the Lord Jesus, who died for me, to bring me to Himself. We speak continually of the things of God. As soon as the bullets and shells leave us in quietness in the trenches, we press close to each other, and I am able, with God’s help, to encourage my comrades, and to exhort them to give themselves to the Savior, who loves them and calls them. Many seem touched in their souls.

I am often with my comrade, E. H. and when we are not too near the enemy, we sing hymns, morning and evening. In the evening, when we are not on guard we pray together, and then we lie down to sleep peacefully, meditating on the Holy Word of God, and go on day after day sustained and encouraged by our dear Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who carries us in His arms, while we await the day when He shall see fit to reunite us here on earth, or in the house of our Father, where there is fullness of joy forever more.”

Note: Before departing for the war, he showed his indifference to religious things in not taking his Bible with him. His thoughts were on other things. The change in him is so great that many of those who knew him could scarcely believe he was the writer of the letters, received from him. He has been preserved through a thousand dangers.

The writer was converted two years before being called to the front. “I know you are in a fight just as I am, and some day the march will be long and rations will be short, but you have a great Captain.”

O, how I wish I had come under His colors long ago. I might even now be helping at your side, and seeking to bring back those other sheep into the fold.

My work is binding up wounds and it is heart-breaking sometimes. Some of the wounded carried into our dressing stations are just lads, and your heart aches for the mothers.

The other day a boy was carried in by two of my comrades. He had only a stump of an arm left, and his body was full of shell wounds, yet what do you think he was doing? He was whistling, “From sinking sands, He lifted me.” My heart almost stopped beating. I bent over him and began to wash his wounds and he just gritted his teeth, and then went on quietly whistling.

“From shades of night, to plains of light, O! praise His name, He lifted me.”

“Yes, praise His name, He lifted me, too,” I said. You ought to have seen his smile. He stretched out his hand and said, “O, shake hands, will you?” and then in a whisper said, “Would you mind praying, please?” I did, and then the dressing was continued. He fainted under the pain and presently was carried out to the ambulance. unconscious. I don’t suppose I shall ever meet him again. Maybe, he will soon be at home with his mother. He is only one of many who pass through my hands.

My! but I am proud of the Christian boys. You will be glad to know that another stretcher-bearer in my synod has come to Christ. He held out for a long time, although we tried hard to win him. We five (four have been led to Christ by the writer) had announced to have, a Christmas service for any who would like to come. About 50 of our company gathered and we sang the old gospel songs. Then I felt led to read the story of the Prodigal again. It somehow touches my heart most. Then I spoke a little while and made an appeal. This lad rose up and said, “I’m going home to my Father,” and he knelt right down in front, and said, “Father, I have sinned and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” And you guess, he was forgiven, and there was rejoicing, not only in heaven that night, and now he joins us in our little meetings together. We have prayer and Bible reading, and the six of us take good care not to lose an opportunity of speaking to our boys of our Great Captain and His saving blood.

Pray hard, we need all your prayers, and your prayers saved me, you know.”

“One man who was down at the time you were with us and who received a great blessing then, was telling me some wonderful stories of God’s working and answers to prayers. I cannot do better than pass one or two on to you and the praying friends. He and a number of others were clearing out wells; one of them over 160 feet deep was suspected of being poisoned, and the officers decided that one of the men should go down and investigate. W— was chosen. He got down safely, did what was required, then knelt down and had a few moments’ prayer. While kneeling God told him to ask for another rope to be lowered. He did so, and was scoffed and jeered at by officer and men alike. However, he quietly told them that God had told him not to attempt the ascent on the rope he descended on, and would not come up until they grudgingly sent down another. A few yards from the top the first rope snapped, and if he had not had the other to cling to he would have fallen and been killed. This made a great impression, and afterward when they were sent out on special duty the other men always asked to be allowed to go with him. This happened so often that the officer who had jeered was interested, and asked W. if he really believed that God had nothing else to do than listen to him. The day following this conversation two-parties had to go out on a very dangerous piece of work. They were told it meant death to some, if not to all. W— reported “all safe,” the and his company got together and before starting he asked them to bow in prayer. Every man did so, and he commended his men to God. The other company went out, laughing and swearing. The work was done, and the men in charge had to report to the officer. Nearly all the men in the first company were killed. When W— reported “all safe,” the officer would not believe it at first. Some time after he came to W— and another Christian corporal, and asked them if they would come to his dug-out and pray for him and with him. On entering they found other officers there, but before them all they knelt, and the major gave his allegiance to God, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Thank God for a fearless testimony, and thank God for your message, in our hut on “Putting on the whole armor of God.” It not only helped me, but made others brave and fearless in their witness for Christ. Shortly after, the above incident, he and a few others were singing hymns and having a little meeting in the trenches when a captain come along, who had been a backslider for years. He joined peril, and before the meeting was over, had returned to the Lord!

The Change of Masters

It was striking to observe the alteration in faithful old Collins, on the change of masters where he worked. His former master was remarkably mean in the management of his estate, and the old servant had grown gloomy and down-hearted under the influence of his master’s ways, for he felt the discredit of them as if they were his own. Old Collins worked for him in the thankless spirit of drudgery, ashamed of himself and his master as well. But in course of time the estate was bought by another, a master who proved a complete contrast to the former proprietor. Every one discovered the difference in old Collins. His face brightened, and his movements became so light that people said, “Old Collins had grown young again.” Never did he tire of telling the praises of his new master; every day he had some new thing to mention concerning him, and it was his pleasurable office to get all the trusty hands of the village employment on his master’s premises. Old Collins, in short, became quite proud of himself, for as one field after another was purchased, and one grand design after another was set on foot, the old man grew rich and great in talking of the wealth, and generosity, and new possessions of his good master.

As I watched this poor man’s happiness, I thought of the change of masters every converted man has known; and in the hope that old Collins’s conduct might have some effect upon Christ’s servants, I have penned down this little story.

Dear Christian reader, you and I could not have served under a worse master, nor in a more degrading service, than we did in our unconverted days; but who shall compare with our new Master, who has bought the estate, and us with it, to be His happy servants for evermore. The meanest of drudges before, how are we exalted in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, whose glory and goodness fills the highest heaven, and whose dominion will soon extend over all things in heaven and on earth. How cheerful should be all our days under our new Master, our beloved Lord! In everything now we may serve Him. Even the poor oppressed slave when converted, changes masters. Though still planting rice and laboring in the burning sun under a task-master’s lash, he can serve heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that though a slave receives no wages, he shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for he serves the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23, 24).

A Christian sailor, who was often imposed upon by an unprincipled officer, said to me when he saw this truth, “If I had only known this before, I should not have changed quarters. nor should I have minded my captain never thanking us for doing things outside our duty; but I never thought of carrying his baggage over the hills for the Lord, and getting thanks from Christ, or I should have done it cheerfully.”

May we see the truth more clearly ourselves that by faith we may know our change of masters, serving the Lord Christ, and bearing and enduring all things for Him. Thus the meanest drudgery in life will become divine, and with good will we shall do the most thankless service as to the Lord and not to men, and like old Collins our happiness and contentment will tell of our change of masters.

Scripture Study: Luke 15

Verses 1, 2. The story of the grace of God to needy sinners attracts them and all the publicans and sinners drew near unto Him to hear Him. What He said suited them so well. The scribes and Pharisees on the contrary murmured saying, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” They could not appreciate grace to the undeserving, it was against their creed of self-righteousness. They speak disparagingly of the Lord, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” What they put down as His faults, we know was blessedly true; every opened ear rejoices in it. He loves the sinner. He hates the sin, and this the blind Pharisee could not understand; the light that was in them was darkness and was leading them downward.

Verses 3, 4. He spoke a parable unto them, saying, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

This parable has three parts: the first is the shepherd and the sheep. In this one it is the love of the shepherd for his sheep that makes us think of Jesus laying aside His heavenly glory and leaving His bright home above to come down to look after the lost one. (2 Cor. 8:9).

We know He had, to die. (John 3:14). Atonement must be made, for God is “light” as well as “love.”

Thou the light that showed our sin,

Showed how guilty we had been:

Thine the love that us to save

Thine own Son for sinners gave.

On Calvary we see Him bearing the judgment of sin, forsaken of God, and then afterward He said, “It is finished,” and. then goes down into death. God raised Him from the dead, and crowned Him with glory and honor, to make plain to us that all His claims were satisfied, and now in righteousness He can receive the sinner who believes on Jesus. (Rom. 3:26). He, the Lord of Glory, came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). It is the lost sheep He seeks. There is no salvation for the good people who think they are the ninety and nine. The lost sheep pictures the sinner living in sin and wandering away far from God.

Verse 5. And when He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing. When the sheep is found, it is His care, and He carries it all the way home on His shoulders. What a safe place! Is He not almighty? Then is the sheep eternally secure.

Verses 6, 7. And when He cometh home. His friends and neighbors are called in to rejoice with Him. over the lost sheep being found. And there shall be joy in heaven when He brings us all home who were His lost sheep This speaks of the future joy over saved sinners in glory, and till He gets them there He cares for them.

The Shepherd’s bosom bears each lamb

O’er rock, and waste, and wild.

The object of that love I am

And carried like a child.

Verses 8-10. The second part of the parable pictures the work of the Holy Spirit in the woman in her house, out of sight, with her light and broom sweeping the house until she finds her lost piece of silver, which pictures the sinner with the image of God stamped upon him, yet dead in trespasses and sins, lying covered up by the dust of this world till the light of God’s. Word reaches him. And she also calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Likewise there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. and that is present joy over the saved sinner.

In the third part we find the full story of the sinner, and the Father’s love, and the self-righteous Pharisee.

Verses 11-24. And He said, “A certain man had two sons.” These are seen also in Matthew 21:28-32. Sons by creation, not yet by redemption. (Acts 17:28). The younger pictures the degraded sinner, the: other the self-righteous sinner. The younger one gets all he can, and goes away, like sinners do now, to have his swing of the world, what he calls “a good time.” He is trying to forget God, so that he can do just what he likes, have the pleasures of sin which are for a season. In that far country, where he thinks God cannot see him, he wastes his substance with riotous living. He gets to the end of it. There were plenty of companions when he had lots to spend, but now all is gone, he is ruined, and then a mighty famine arose in that land, and he had nothing to eat. Then as some do, who begin to realize that they are sinners, they try to do their best, but what was his best? He went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. This is Satan’s way to keep ruined souls away from Christ, but all their righteousness is but filthy rags, (Isa. 64:6), and his very occupation was sin to the Jew. The man that is seeking to establish his own righteousness is not submitting himself to the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:3, 4). And so sore was this “famine for the Word of God,” that he tried to eat the swine’s food, and no man gave unto him. The Holy Spirit speaks by the Word to the sinner’s heart and conscience, so thoughts of the father’s house and plenty begin to come. “And he came to himself.” Are men that forget God in their senses? It seems not, till they are wakened up. Then he begins to say to himself, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.’”

“Thoughts of his father and of the plenty there, art leading him now—this is the Spirit’s work in his soul—so he arose, and came to his father.

Now the father’s wonderful love and grace shine out, for “when he is yet d great way off, his father saw him.” Love’s eye is keen. “And had compassion on him, and ran.” Love’s feet are swift. “And fell on his neck, and covered him with kisses:” And this before he could say a word. He is forgiven, and he, knows it and is humbled by this love. He Said, “Father I have sinned against heaven, and. in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Yes, all true, repentance and confession are there, but he does not, he cannot insult the grace and love shown him, by saying,. “Make me as one of thy hired servants.” Those kisses forbad it. He is a subject of grace, and must let the father act consistently with his own loving heart. He therefore stands still and hears his father say, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.” O! what a robe the righteousness of God is, and that has been waiting iii God’s heavenly wardrobe ever since Christ died, to put on every sinner who will take the sinner’s place before God. (Rom. 3:21, 22; 2 Cor. 5:21).

“Clad in this robe, how bright I ‘shine!’

Angels possess not such a dress;

Angels have not a robe like mine—

Jesus the Lord’s my righteousness”

Then the ring, the symbol of eternal love and relationship, is also bestowed upon him, so the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe. (Eph. 1:13). And the shoes indicating the liberty of the children to run in and out—in to enjoy the Father’s presence and to ‘feed’ upon Christ, and out to show out His virtues in our lives before men. Then the saved man is fit to go inside the house where the feast is prepared, the fatted calf is killed and the Father and, all His friends, with the returned sinner, feast together in fellowship divine. In Spirit already tasting the joys of heaven. It is a foretaste of home that we have now by the Spirit’s blessed power in our souls.

Thus this heavenly merry making began, and, praises God, it never ends. Pleasures that are forever more, are here begun on earth.

There is only one black spot in all this radiant scene of love and grace: Verses 25-30, The elder son draws near enough to hear, the music and dancing; and he called a servant to, ask what these things meant., The servant replied, “Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.” Yes, he was safe and sound, but this Pharisee was angry, and would not go in. His father came out and intreated him without avail to come in, but he could not dance to that kind of music, it was no music to him, so he could not rejoice in the good of his brother. He answered, “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: And yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou has killed for him the fatted calf.” What a denial this is that man is a sinner, that all have transgressed, that all are guilty before God. What blind conceit this showed in the Pharisees. And what distance from God this showed them living in.

Verses 31, 32. Now the Father takes him on his profession He does not here prove his guilt, but says, “Son thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found.” As much as to say, If you are right yourself, rejoice that your brother has received blessing; but, no, he stays out, and in the next chapter we will find the Pharisee with all his riches and pleasures of this life and religion as well, is lost in hell—such is the end of Phariseeism.

The Authority of God's Word

There is no truth more severely assailed in our day than that of the authority of God’s Word. At the first Satan’s temptation was, “Hath God said?” and in these last times, on every hand it is being asked, “Hath God said?” “Higher criticism” calmly assures us God hath not said a very large amount of the Bible, and that all of it is to be measured by human reason! Thus does infidelity take away from the soul the truth of the authority of God’s Word. Romanism and its allies tell us that had not the church so decided, we could not know whether the Bible was God’s Word, and that to the authority of the church we are indebted for our faith in the authority of the Scriptures! Herein do Rome and infidelity show their close relationship, both go to man for authority, both deny the Divine authority.

“Every scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Happy Servants

Happy servants of the Master are they who, when He comes, will be quietly going on with the work He gave them to do.

He will find some servants quarreling and smiting their fellow-servants; others forgetful of their service, eating and drinking with the drunken.

O! dear young Christian, are you a happy servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, doing what you know He would have you do? He said, “Occupy till I come.”

“Blessed is that servant; whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.” (Luke 12:43).

Correspondence: John 20:17-27; Num. 31:23; Wrath/Disobedience/Devil; Rom. 8:9

Question: Why does the Lord is John 20:17 tell Mary Magdalene not to touch Him, yet in verse 27 He invites Thomas to thrust his hand into His side? T. W.

Answer: From verses 17 to 23 we find truth belonging to the Christian position and relationship. Whereas Thomas figures Israel who as a nation will not believe on, Christ Jesus as their Messiah till they see Him coming in His glory accompanied by His heavenly saints.

The Lord called Mary by name, and led her out of the Jewish fold. (John 10:3). When He says, “Touch Me not,” it is indicative of His new position at the Father’s right hand, where He is not known after the flesh. (2 Cor. 5:16). Then He gives her a message that tells her, Wand all believers now, that they are Christ’s brethren, and that His Father is their Father, His God is their God. In the Verse 19, we have Christ the center of gathering and they look upon His hands and His side, reminding them of ‘His finished work. Verse 21, they are His sent ones, with the message of ‘forgiveness of sins, also verse 22, they receive His resurrection life and the Holy Spirit.

Another period begins, eight days after. Thomas would not believe during the last Period. Now he is compelled to admit it. His confession, “My Lord and my God,” shows it, but it is a Jewish expression.

Verse 29 refers to the believing remnant who are converted after the Church is caught up. They have a more blessed place, some of these are martyred, (Rev. 6:9-11; 12:11; 14:12, 13), while other suffer persecution, but faithfully follow the, Lord. (Rev. 7:14; 14:4). The Lord takes care of them. (12:14). Such passages tell of His appearing. (Zech. 12:10; 14:5; Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7).

Question: Numbers 31:23: by M. D.

Answer: The war in this chapter was under the charge of Phinehas the priest, who had acted for God in judging fornication and idolatry, when it tame into Israel by these same people, through the counsel of Baalam. (Chapter 25 and 31:16.) Here they are instructed to thoroughly cleanse themselves from all taint of evil that might come from such associations. Everything they had taken had to pass through cleansing of fire or water. That is, judgment of evil by the Word of God.

By this we learn to exercise ourselves, to judge ourselves from all defilement from our previous associations, (2 Cor. 6:44-18; 7:1).

Numbers 35. The manslayer is the Jew of today. The Cities of Refuge is the church of God. If found still in his heart a murderer of Christ, he will be executed. If, like Paul (1 Tim. 1:12-15), he did it ignorantly in unbelief and owned his guilt, he will be saved.

There is no safety for him unless through Christ.

The manslayer might go out and be killed, it was only temporal and on condition of keeping inside, but the believer is eternally saved and can never perish, cannot go cut of Christ. (John 5:24). When the high priest died in Israel, the manslayer could return to his inheritance. When the Lord Jesus comes forth from where He sits at the Father’s right hand, Israel can again return to their land of Palestine.

Every sinner, Jew and Gentile, should flee at once to the Savior.

Question: What is the difference of the children of wrath, the children of disobedience. and the children of the devil?

Answer: They are the same persons viewed from different stand points. Children of “wrath” indicates what is before them.

Children of “disobedience” refers to their unbelieving character. Children of the devil contrasts with children of God: Believers are redeemed, are brought to God, and are the children of God. Man, since the fall, is under wrath, is disobedient to God, and under the power of Satan.

Question: Why are the terms “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Christ” used in Romans 8:9?

Answer: “The Spirit of God” is God’s mark put upon every believer. The Spirit of God dwells in him. He is called the “Spirit of Christ” because by Him the life of Christ is produced and seen in the believer. The same blessed person is spoken of in different ways in this chapter.

The Man Who Died for Me

A gentleman was traveling shortly after the terrible civil war which some years ago, brought woe and sorrow on this country. On coming to a retired spot he observed a man who was occupied over a newly made grave, planting flowers and watering them with his tears.

Attracted by his evident distress, the gentleman turned to express his sympathy, and said, “You are in sorrow, my friend; no doubt mourning a beloved wife?”

“No, sir,” replied the man, “I have no wife.”

“Then an only, loved child?”

“No, sir,” replied the man, “I have no child.”

“Well my friend, to whose memory have you raised this grave?”

“Sir,” he answered, the tears, coursing down his cheeks, “I am planting these flowers, I am shedding these tears to the man who died for me. I was called to the war; he came forward and took my place. I had nothing to lose. He had a father and a mother; he left all for me. On going to make inquiry for him I found that he had fallen. He had died for me; and I came back and made this grave to his memory.” Shortly afterward there was put up over the grave this simple inscription.

“To the Man Who Died for Me.”

Dear reader, does not this little touching incident speak to your heart? Does it not recall to your mind One who had all to lose—who left His Father’s side-turned His back on all the joys of heaven—emptied Himself of the glories that surrounded Him there, came down to this world to take your place? He met the foe—He conquered Satan. In the sinner’s stead He tasted death. “He suffered for sins the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh.” And why? Because He loved us. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” And He so loved—that He gave Himself. “Christ hath loved us, and given Himself for us.”

Can you then, dear reader, say, with thankful joy, of Jesus “He is the Man who died for me?” If it be so—if in His grace, He has opened your eyes to see that He hung on Calvary’s cross in your stead; that that precious, stainless, holy life yielded there was to be your ransom—then are you now living to prove your love to Him? Is your heart’s daily breathing, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God; who loved me and gave Himself for me?” Surely, when He left all (for He had all to lose!), we may well now be willing to surrender ourselves, our hearts, our lives, our little worthless all to the man, the God-Man, who died for us.

And you dear unsaved one, as yet a stranger to this love, O! think of the yearning heart of Jesus as He now sits at the Father’s right hand—still loving on, still longing on—over you and each weary, sin-laden one whom he sees hurrying on to the death—the everlasting death—from which He died to redeem you!

O! Yield yourself to Jesus; believe in Him as the One who has died in your stead, but who lives to die no more, and then you too will be free from Satan’s power, free to live to Him who died for you!

Man's Way and God's Way of Salvation

Man has a variety of ways of salvation, perhaps an endless variety; God has but one. The heathen have their ways of salvation, though what salvation is they know not, but they often seek after that which shall deliver them from a bondage of which they are conscious. Christians too, at least Christians by name, have their ways of salvation. There have been for hundreds of years in Christendom various efforts and plans for salvation, sometimes with the idea that salvation is obtainable in this life, at others, with the thought that only after long years of purgatorial pains can it be attained. But God has one way of salvation, and that is through the Savior, His Son, our Lord. His is the only name given among men whereby we can be saved, and Jesus says, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

The Bible

O matchless book! Who can its worth describe?

What learned reader, or what ready scribe?

Within its pages finds the man of sense

The highest attributes of excellence:

A storehouse with a wealth of wisdom, see!

Of information one vast treasury.

Impressive in its simple speech, withal

Affording entertainment rich to all.

No book so popular throughout this sphere;

Read in the palace, where the great revere

Its truths; read in the cottage, where the poor

Feed on its precious promises so sure;

Read by the aged, when the tearful eye

Will often to its solace testify;

Read even with real pleasure by the young.

Received with uniform delight among

All nations under heaven, it equally

Suits all conditions of humanity.

The only book the int’rest can engage

Of either bond or free, or savage, sage;

So true to nature in its every part,

Holding the mirror to the human heart.

The sun doth not, ‘mong orbs that glow and wane,

More easily his master rank retain

Than doth this Book, with glory all supreme,

Amid the brilliant books of man’s esteem.

Delight in Christ

There was not one thing in the world of which God could say, “I am well pleased,” but of Christ. What a stay this is to the heart, exercised about good and evil, and learning what there is in self. In Christ we see the good come where the evil is, and God is well pleased with Him. And as taught of God, one can say, “God is well pleased with Him, and so am I.” What a stay this is to the heart!

If we look at saints we get heart-broken. Even where blessing is, we know the power of Satan can come in and spoil it all; but if the eye be turned to Christ, the heart has rest where God’s heart has His. There is complete satisfaction in the object revealed, and how near He has come to us! He has dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and in the evil we are in, He has manifested the good in which God rests. These things angels desire to look into. They learn what God is, as manifest in the flesh— “seen of angels,” as we read. But there is more than this. Christ has not only perfectly manifested God in the scene of evil, but He has accomplished a work to deliver us from the evil altogether.

The Prospect of Glory

I go on my way rejoicing,

Though weary the wilderness road—

I go on my way rejoicing,

In hope of the glory of God.

O, well do I know that glory,

For there is the Lord I love,

And within the veil is the anchor

That holds my heart above.

Yes, well do I know that glory,

For with open face I see

The light, and the love, and the beauty,

Of Him who is there for me.

And here in the earthen vessel

That treasure of glory gleams—

The life of the Son in heaven,

The fountain from whence it streams.

I gaze upon Christ in glory—

That glory so bright, so fair—

And there passes a change upon me

Till I am as He who is there.

Then no more in the earthen vessel,

The treasure of God shall be,

But in full, and unclouded beauty,

O Lord, Thou wilt shine through me.

Afar through the golden vessel,

Will the glory of God shine bright,

There shall be no need of the sunshine,

For the Lamb shall be the light.

With a light like a stone most precious

The city of God shall shine,

His light in its cloudless glory,

His eternal light is mine.

Undimmed in that wondrous vessel,.

The glory of God’s great love

Shall beam o’er the earth He ransomed,

And shall fill the heavens above.

All, all in that blest creation

The glory of God shall see,

And the lamp for that light eternal,

The bride of the Lamb shall be.

A golden lamp in the heavens,

That all may see and adore

The Lamb who was slain and who liveth,

Who liveth for evermore.

So I go my way rejoicing

That the heavens and earth shall see

His grace, and His glory and beauty,

In the depth of His love to me.

Scripture Study: Luke 16

Verses 1-12. Israel particularly, and man generally, is looked at in this chapter as an unfaithful steward who must give an account of his stewardship. The elder son (Chapter 15) said, “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment.” God’s Word proves this was hypocrisy. Romans 3:9, 19, 23, witness that all are guilty before God. It is a good thing when the soul takes its true place, and says, “I have sinned.” Real wisdom asks the question, “What am I to do?” The gospel replies, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Wisdom’s children justify God and condemn themselves, and this makes them think of the future, and to use the present things in view of the future. This is the true wisdom, and the children of God should practice it. In this they should take a lesson from this unjust, but wise, steward, who used the goods of his master which were in his hand to make a home for himself in the future.

Our home is prepared by divine love, and our title as in Christ is a perfect one to it. But we are stewards still, and we are to look upon what the Lord has put in our hands as a means of blessing for the future, and now. For the future, because what we do for the Lord will bring its reward from Him. Now, if we use what we have for the Lord, it proves a blessing to our souls in the fuller enjoyment of our spiritual blessings. But if the things of this world possess our hearts, they hinder us from enjoying our possessions in Christ. (See 1 Tim. 6:17-19).

The mammon of unrighteousness can be used in such a way that we will be richer spiritually, it is laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come, a profitable investment for the believer’s capital. We need wisdom from the Lord for this also, and it matters not how little or how much we have for this, but if the child of God lets his mind dwell on and get engrossed with, this unrighteous mammon, who will commit to his trust the true riches? He is only a steward, and if he is unfaithful in this stewardship, who shall give him what is his own? The believer’s own are the blessings he has in Christ. (Eph. 1:3).

Verse 13. He cannot serve two masters. Which are we serving? What is really life can only be enjoyed by having Christ as the object of the life. Let Him govern our hearts.

Verses 14-18. The Pharisees were covetous, and they derided Him. They lived in their own good estimation, but God condemned them, their religious lives and hypocritical ways were an abomination in God’s sight. They thought they had the blessing of Israel in their riches, according to the law, (Deut. 28), but theirs were the riches of fraud and deceit, robbing widows and orphans, and the law would not fail to judge them with its curse, (Matt. 23:14), and now that grace was coming in, everything was altered; Israel had broken Jehovah’s covenant, and were like a polluted woman put away for her sin, an adulteress. Here the Lord lifts the curtain, as none but He could do, and shows what is after death: how solemn it is!

Verse 19. Here we get the picture of a man in the best of circumstances, he has everything heart could desire, everything but God. He is poor for eternity.

Verses 20, 21. Here we get another man in miserable, wretched circumstances, neither comfort of health nor wealth, nothing has he, nothing but God. His name is Lazarus, signifying, “My help is in God.” He is rich for eternity, because God is his help. This poor beggar, poor in the world’s estimation, died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom, the Jewish figure of the place of bliss. The rich man also died, his riches could not keep him alive, and he was buried, doubtless a grand funeral with pomp and show, but alas! in hell (the state of the dead) he lift up his eyes being in torments. It is not the resurrection, nor the judgment of the wicked dead, yet he is in a prison of torments where he awaits that day. He seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried, and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” He still speaks as he professed on earth, to be a child of Abraham, but Abraham said, “Son, remember,” indeed he cannot forget, but his cry is answered. There is now no mercy for him, it is too late. He can remember his lustful, selfish, sinful life; his wasted opportunities of repentance, his sad neglect of the Word of God in his successful business life. It all comes back to him now, and if his five brethren come there through his influence, how it will increase his agonies! Did he warn them? or did he lead them the wrong road? did he help them to forget God and His Word—Moses and the prophets? O! that memory! the worm that never dies, for after the great white throne where he receives his eternal sentence, and is cast into the lake of fire which never shall be quenched, that worm will still continue its torments. There is no hope now, he is gone from among living men, is past mercy, there was living water flowing for him before, but he would not drink it then, now there is no mercy, no water, no, not one drop. And Abraham puts him in mind of his neglect and selfish life. He lived for self, and died a lost man, and he must learn now when it is too late, that all hope is over. The great, fixed, impassable gulf will not admit of anyone changing his place after death. Another deeply solemn lesson is added, he thinks of his father’s house, and his brethren. Could they be warned of his lost condition, lest they come into the same place of torment? And Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” They and he had the Word of God, why do they not hearken to it? Why did he not hearken? Why do men now not hearken? Because the god of this world has blinded their minds, they pay attention to everything but to God’s Word. And Abraham tells him what is so true, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” It had been the days of plenty with him on earth, now it was a terrible famine. No mercy, no water, nothing but a lost, undone eternity. How important to hear Moses and the prophets—the Word of God! It is God’s message to man. What excuse can they have?

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Repose

In Thy keeping, gracious Savior,

O! what rest my spirit knows;

Who can touch me—what can harm me

What can break my heart’s repose?

Though the pestilence sweep o’er me,

Far beyond its reach I rest;

If it seize me at Thy bidding

‘Twill but waft me to Thy breast.

Though the tempest rage around me,

Evil forces ever near,

Hidden safe in Thy pavilion,

Not a breath can reach me here.

Could I leave Thy love’s enclosure,

Could ‘st Thou drop me from Thy hand,

Frail, as leaf beneath the tempest,

Not one moment could I stand.

O! how blessed is the weakness

That finds all its strength in Thee;

While I draw from out Thy fullness,

O! how rich my poverty.

Precious lesson of dependence,

In the desert only known,

Where I learn Thy love’s deep meaning,

While I lean on Thee alone.

What a willful child and wayward,

Gracious Father, I have been;

While Thy heart resolved to lead me

To these pastures rich and green

Where my heart has found its resting

In Thyself for evermore,

And its full, unchanging portion—

To be with Thee and adore.

Not a question now disturbs me,

While with Thee the past I see;

‘Tis a page of blotted history,

But ‘tis all read out to Thee.

And to Thee I’d cleave the closer,

Till the journey shall be o’er,

Then be Thine the praise, Lord Jesus,

And the glory evermore.

Patient Continuance

After all has been said for great deeds, dear young Christian reader, patient continuance in well-doing deserves the greatest praise. Bright occasions of self-denial or victory are worthy of our high admiration and thanksgiving, but a Christian life lived in patient continuance in well-doing, oh! how excellent it is! Hundreds of Christians begin well, few comparatively continue patiently in, well-doing. Really the story of many Christian’s lives is almost like that of the old fable of the tortoise and the hare. We remember how briskly the hare began her race, laughing at the prospect of the poor, slow, old tortoise ever getting in before her, and how that, when she had neared the winning post, she said she would just take a nap till the tortoise came up, and then she would dash in first. But she slept longer than she had meant to do, and all the time the plodding slow coach kept on and on, and so it was that, after all, his slow pace won the race. Or rather we should say, that despite his slow pace, he won the race. Let them be plodding slow coaches, but if they are on the race course, patiently continuing in well-doing, we almost think they will exceed in the end some who make a fine start, but do little more.

Do keep working away, plodding along, dear young friend. You will do more by devoting a small portion of time daily to your Lord and Master than by making a grand rush on special occasions. If there is to be a special service, or special effort, to be sure, we shall have plenty of volunteers; but if it is only the plodding work of daily duty, too often but very few are willing to undertake and to do it.

Do more in little things and you will do well. Suppose you gave daily a few minutes to the service of one invalid. Three hundred and sixty-five of such gifts in a year would be golden gifts indeed! We knew a poor woman, who for years went every week to a sick neighbor, and tidied up her room for her. That was good service, was it not? What a grand total of patient continuance in Christian love and kindness did those visits represent. It was a continual series of loving Christian actions, which made no blaze or stir, but which was precious in the eyes of the Lord Christ.

We knew another Christian who used to write once a week to an invalid. Now, such a letter, full of all the bright things a young heart could collect about the Lord Jesus—about His people and His work, coming to one unable to stir out of the sick room, would be as good news from a far country—as a ray of heaven’s sunshine into the heart once a week regularly. How would the letter be prized? And coming regularly, it would be of such value, it would be something for the prisoner to depend upon. Now, if you cannot visit any one, regularly, you can write to them. Do not say, “But what I might do would not be valued,” for you have only to try, to prove how valued you may be. But be content to do the small things—at least till the Master calls you to do greater.

We should seek to use as many of the little things of life as we possibly can for God. We cannot continue in doing great things; great things are accomplished very rarely; but we can plod on in doing little ones. Also, it is very questionable whether any one ever did well one great thing, who had not done well several little things.

We have no hesitation in saying that the most useful Christians known to us are those who have the most “stay” in them, and that our fitful friends, who put on a great rush of energy now and then, are, as a rule, disappointing. We recall the happy service of some half a dozen young men in a poor district, and as we think of them, we remember first him of whom it used to be said, “You can rely on—, for he is always at his post.” Our young friend never was late, and never forgot to do what he had engaged to perform, and this continued for some years. He was not the most brilliant worker of that little band, but he was the most reliable, for he was the most patient in continuance in well-doing.

The other day we were hearing of another young man; he had begun his Christian career brightly, but, alas! like so very many, he had not continued with patience in well-doing. What a position of danger is his! “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

If we are redeemed by Christ we must be His disciples indeed, and follow Him. He does not offer us a bed of roses here, He offers us hardship. Those who would find in this world, which crucified their Lord, a place of ease, forget the cross. We cannot serve two masters. We must be out and out for Christ, or our Christianity is of little worth. And we say this, because a good heart for Christ gives the “stay” we need for our Christian life and work. One great reason, if not the reason, why there is not the patient continuance in well-doing there should be in the Christian is, that there is a want of heart for Christ.

To point out an error without discovering the cause of it, and advancing the remedy, is poor physician-ship; therefore we appeal to our young Christian readers to make more of Christ in their hearts. Seek to have Him to you as your own personal Friend. Take your concerns to Him in private, tell Him your temptations, your difficulties, tell Him exactly what you feel to be your need, and what you know you ought to feel, but which you do not. He will meet all your wants, and that greatest want the Christian can have, namely, insensibility to want. There is no state more sorrowful than that of spiritual numbness, that of not feeling our coldness, our dullness, our deadness. But if we open our hearts to Christ He will meet every need, known and unknown.

Patient continuance in well-doing will earn a crown by-and-by, but it carries with it here a great reward. There is a secret joy and calm in the heart of the Christian, who is plodding on with his work for Christ, that is above all the happiness and excitement the world can give. A selfish life is always a wretched one; whoever plans and toils simply for his own advantage, is a kind of miser; but God has ordered it that in serving others we obtain cheer in our own souls. “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Prov. 11:25).

Christ Dwelling in the Heart

A young man who was lying on his deathbed, could by faith face death without fear, however, there was an absence of joy on that dying pillow. An experienced servant of Christ who visited this young man, when speaking of the exceeding blessedness that would be his, asked him if his heart responded joyously at the prospect. The young man told him that he had peace about the pardon of his sin, through faith in the precious blood of Christ; but he added, “Heaven seems to me a strange, unknown region; I almost shrink from the prospect of entering all alone upon that mysterious, unveiled state.”

His friend saw his difficulty—he was resting upon the work of Christ, but was not acquainting himself with the Lord as a living Savior, so he told him not to try to picture heaven to his mind, but to dwell upon the blessed reality that the Lord Jesus, in whom he trusted for salvation, was there to receive him, and then he would no longer feel heaven a strange place.

The young man’s heart, through the grace of God, was immediately lighted up with the brightest joy at this glorious truth. He was going to be with Jesus Himself—Jesus who had loved him, and given Himself for him. From this moment his heart was radiant with joy, for not only was his conscience at rest, but Jesus Himself filled his future—Jesus, who was with him every moment of the time.

Young believer, is it not also true that we need the personal love of our risen Savior during our everyday life, as well as in the solemnities of the dying hour? Is not the realization of this divine truth our heart’s safeguard at all times? Many believers have found rest to their consciences through the work of Christ, who have yet to know the person of Christ as the blessed center of their heart’s affections. Paul prays for the Ephesian believers, that they might be strengthened with might by God’s Spirit in the inner man, that “Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith”—dwell in their affections. Let us rest in nothing short of this; let us seek for the fulfillment of His own promise to those who occupy themselves about Him—who “keep His Word.” “I will manifest Myself unto him.” “We will make our abode with him.” It is only as Christ is dwelling in our heart by faith that it is safe from the allurements of the world, the enticement of the flesh, the snares of the wicked one. It is by faith Christ thus dwells in our affections, and as by the Spirit’s power we thus receive Him, we have power to live to Him, to glorify Him in our ways, and to endure the fight of afflictions and trials that sooner or later must test our faith.

Blessed and precious as it is to have the conscience at rest through the blood, yet the hourly blessedness of enjoying the Savior Himself is sweeter.

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

I Will Come Again

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

This is a truly precious promise. It was given to comfort the hearts of the sorrowing disciples, and many a weary heart it has comforted since then. You will observe, that in these verses “I” and “you” occur very frequently. The heart of Jesus, and the hearts of His disciples, are in close quarters. Love unites them. In heart they are one. The tender love of Jesus is sweetly manifested. The disciples were filled with sorrow because He was going to leave them. “Whither I go,” He says, “ye cannot come.” This was a trying word to the heart. In answer to Peter’s question, “Whither goest Thou?” the Lord first refers to His own death on the cross for them, and then meets the trouble of their hearts with this blessed promise, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself.” He does not say, “I will send for you.” O no! but “I will come.” Such was His love, He would come for them Himself. Love values its object. To have spoken of sending others for His disciples, would not have expressed how much He loved and valued them.

But whither was He going? To His Father’s house on high—to His immediate presence—He was going home. And will He receive us to Himself there? He is there now, and He will come for us, and receive us to where He is Himself. “That where I am there ye may be also.” Our place will be with Him, through the rich merits of His blood. And that, we know, is the highest, best, most blessed place in heaven.

Each one will have his own place, not only in the heart of Christ, but in the house of many abodes, and in the glory of the Lord. “I go to prepare a place for you.” In short, it will be home, our own eternal, happy home. Such is the love of Jesus!

In the seventeenth chapter, we have the same precious truth presented, not in the form of a promise, but expressed as a prayer. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me.” He bears us on His heart continually. And O! surely, our deepest, highest joy will be to see Him, who passed through shame and suffering for us, crowned with glory and honor.

Our joy will not consist, so much, in being there ourselves, as in seeing Him there. Every eye will be fixed on Him; every heart will be ravished with His glory and beauty. And the thought that we are there through His suffering, shame and dishonor, will tune every voice to sing His praise, in loudest, sweetest strains.

And now, having the promise, and knowing the desire of His heart, our true position is to be watching and longing for His coming. He has not named the day nor the hour, (nor the time of the year), but He has told us to be always watching for His return. This precious: promise, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself,” places nothing between the heart of the disciple and his Lord’s return. His coming again is the proper object of His people’s hope. Like the Thessalonians who were “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God: and to wait for His Son from heaven.” Affection for Him should lead us to pray, “Come Lord Jesus.”, In Revelation 4. We find in vision, the promise fulfilled, and the prayer answered. Affection, as well as faith, lays hold on this. The redeemed of the Lord are seen in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne. They are seated on thrones, wearing crowns and worshiping. And although “out of the thrones proceed lightnings, and thunderings, and voices,” they are not disturbed. They are perfectly at home. They are with Christ, and that makes heaven home to them. His promise is fulfilled, and the desire of His heart of love is answered. Before a single seal is broken, a single trumpet sounded, a single vial poured out, the church is called away. He comes for her, and receives her unto Himself—unto His own home, in His Father’s house on high.

“We remember the word of our crucified Lord. When He went to prepare us a place—will come in that day and transport you away—

And then we shall see His bless’d face.

Come, Lord from the skies, and command us to rise,

To the mansions of glory above;

With our Head to ascend, and eternity spend,

In rapture of heavenly love.”

Getting to Heaven

Persons speak of getting to heaven. What do you mean by getting to heaven? Every one who goes there will go as the travail of Christ’s soul. They will enter heaven as infinitely precious to God, not in themselves, but for Christ’s sake, because they are part of the travail of His soul, and help to complete His joy.

“He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.” (Isa. 53:11).

God Unveiled

“And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” When this took place there was no change in God: there could be none in Him; and man was unchanged, too. God was what He had always been; the enmity of man’s heart was the same as ever; but by the cross the work had been effected, through which God could look with complacency on man, in himself unchanged. Not only was there atonement, but reconciliation.

We are reconciled now; everything in heaven and earth will be reconciled in the future. The effects of the cross will be known in the new heavens and the new earth, where pain, suffering, and sorrow will be banished forever, and the strong hand which now moves the springs of wickedness shall be paralyzed forever.

It is important for us, as Christians, to remember that the rending of the veil has left us, as men, unchanged. We must be real before God. In His presence there can be no sanctimoniousness, no effort. The secret of power is just to hold ourselves in nothingness, and to allow God to be manifested. Moses’ face shone from no effort on his part, but because he was near God. In the transfiguration there was nothing of what men would call power, but there was the outshining of God.

We have only to be what we are; to let God come out, holding self as nothing.

Correspondence: Luke 22:36;1 Thess. 5:2; Isa. 53; Matt. 11:16-19

Question: What does the “scrip” allude to in Luke 22:36? A. C.

Answer: In verse 35 it was a shepherd’s bag or pocket where things needed by the way were carried.

In verse 36 purse and scrip and sword are figurative for faith’s resources in God through Christ. When He was with them as their Messiah, He cared for them so that they lacked nothing. Now each one would need to exercise faith for himself. Philippians 4:19 gives us a full purse, or bank on which to draw. The Shepherd’s bag has in it our immediate needs. (Psa. 23:1). Our sword is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It has done its work in our souls, humbling and teaching us, and giving us deliverance from the power of the enemy. And now we can use it for the comfort and blessing of others in the measure in which we ourselves have been blest. (2 Cor. 1:3, 4, 5, 6).

They (the disciples) said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” They took it literally. Jesus answered, “It is enough,” as much as to say, “You do not understand Me yet.”

Question: Is 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Christ’s coming for us or with us?

Answer: It is the day of the Lord, when He comes to assert His authority, and take the Kingdom. We appear with Him. It is when He comes as a thief in the night, an unwelcome and unlooked for visitor to the wicked. (Isa. 2:10-12; Joel 2:1, 2, 28-32).

Question on Isaiah 53.

Answer: “He is despised and rejected (or left alone) of men.” The believer now may share His rejection.

Question by H. A. C.

Answer: Matthew 11:16-19. John came calling Israel to repent, and on this ground wait for the Messiah. He mourned over their sins: but they did not lament. Jesus came in grace to ruined men, but they said “This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” He spoke good news, piped unto them, but they did not dance. There was no response in their souls to God’s call, But wisdom is justified of her children; they condemned themselves, and God justified them. The Pharisees justified themselves, and called the Savior a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. Truly He was, and is, the sinner’s Friend! What would we have been without Him?

The Power of the Word of God

Julia and Emilia E. were the daughters of refined and educated parents, who had trained them carefully for the social circle in which they hoped to see them shine. Yet there was a blight hanging over this prospect, for Emilia’s health—the younger one—was giving them much anxiety. She was tall and graceful and had a sweet expression of countenance, but consumption seemed already to have marked her for its victim.

A relative visiting the neighborhood and hearing of the delicate health of Emilia, asked permission for the sisters to visit his home in the country. He was one who knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, and delighted in making known His love to others. The parents hesitated. The religious influence of the relative was much to be dreaded; on the other hand, the pure country air was most desirable for their child, and they yielded consent. “The Word of God is quick and powerful,” and this was their relative’s confidence—he counted on God to use His own Word in blessing to their souls.

The next morning after their arrival the Gospel by John was begun at family reading. The sisters listened attentively to the precious unfolding of Him who was “from the beginning,” who made all things, who was “the Word,” “the Light of the world,” and “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” To “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” This was the One by whom grace and truth came. The law by Moses had demanded righteousness and had brought out man’s utter ruin as a sinner (Rom. 3:19), but now God had sent His beloved Son to reveal the Father and to be the Savior of all that come unto God by Him. It was not until the reading of the 3rd chapter that her personal need of salvation was felt by Emilia. She knew it was written, “Ye must be born again;” but why this necessity she could not tell. For the first man’s irreparable ruin was told out in her ears. His fall in Adam had forfeited everything as to innocence in which God had created him. Now possessed of nothing but an Adam nature, God’s testimony is, that man is lost. All human reforms and patching up of man in his state by nature will not do for God. Hence the need of the solemn “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” As the chapter went on to tell how the Son of Man must be lifted up, and how God so loved the World that He gave His Son “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” dear Emilia took God at His word and believed in Christ as her Savior. Some days later she wrote in her bedroom the following little poem,

Thankfulness

So great my joy, I cannot keep

My tongue in silence bound;

I’ll sing aloud to let the world

Know that my Christ I’ve found.

One month ago no hope had I

Beyond this world of sin;

But now the love of Christ my Lord

My soul has entered in.

I saw my guilt, my wretched guilt,

And trembled ‘neath the load,

And conscience, wakened, proved to me

A miserable goad.

I knew not then ‘twas God’s own love

Working my soul within,

To make me see the love of Christ

That ransomed me from sin.

It made me feel how weak I was—

Feel I was lost, undone—

And when I cried aloud to Him,

Made me behold His Son.

He showed me from His blessed Word

How Christ had died for me,

How graciously He left His home

From sin to set me free.

Emilia was now praying for her sister. Julia hung back instead of thinking of the great gain. She was afraid of what the cost would be to have Christ. One day, on hearing the solemn scripture, Proverbs 1:14-32, she wept much and said she did believe in Christ as her Savior. With her it seemed to be fleeing from the wrath to come and not the heart won by Christ, as with Emilia. The following is an extract from a letter they sent to one who wrote to them rejoicing in their conversion “We do feel how blessed it is, ‘Our theme of joy’s but one,’ that we are members of Christ. It is indeed only the work of God’s Holy Spirit has made us such. The Scriptures you refer to are very precious and helpful. We are already beginning to experience what a satisfying portion to our souls is our Savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessed thing to know our sins are forgiven us! We wrote home yesterday to make known the news to our father and mother. We shall need to cling close to Christ for strength to enable us to show to the dear ones at home by our manner of conduct what a change has come to us.”

The letter was signed by both. The writing to their parents was an unsuggested act; but undoubtedly the Spirit of God led them to thus confess Christ. The result was an immediate summons home and thus abruptly terminated their happy visit of some weeks. They parted from their relatives in tears, conscious of the cross that awaited them, yet knowing, too, where to go for strength.

Emilia was much better for the country air. Months elapsed, during which she bore bright testimony for Christ. How could she now call herself a miserable sinner and cry, “Lord, have mercy upon us; spare us, good Lord,” and similar petitions, when she knew herself justified and standing in the favor of God? (Rom. 5:1, 2). Delighting, too, in knowing herself “accepted in the Beloved,” and brought into “the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.”

The returning cough, however, and the hectic flush soon told that the incipient disease had not left her. Soon all hope of her recovery was gone. But was she afraid to die? O, no! She knew the One who had conquered death and removed for her its sting. To an aunt watching beside her she said her eighteenth birthday was the happiest she ever had. This was one of her last days on earth. The Lord lovingly granted her desire to depart to be with Him on a Lord’s Day.

Dear reader, is Jesus your Savior? “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow to you may never come.

Truly wrote another—

“Salvation without money,

Salvation without price,

Salvation without labor,

Believing doth suffice.

Salvation now—this moment;

Then why, O! why delay?

You may not see tomorrow;

Now is salvation’s day!”

The Kindness and Love of God Our Savior

How great, is God the Father’s love!

He sent a Savior from above;

His own dear Son He freely gave,

Our lost and guilty souls to save.

For we, alas; are born in sin,

Our hearts are all impure within:

And oft, in thought, and deed, and word,

We all have sinned against the Lord.

And thus in sin we should have died,

But God a Savior did provide,

And all who in His name believe

Will endless life through Him receive.

How great His love! let all adore,

And own Him now and evermore,

Jesus the Savior ever praise,

And love and serve Him all our days.

Pleasures Fleeting and Joy Unfading

The happiness which springs on earth,

In nature’s garden hath its birth,

And is at best but little worth,

So fleeting is its gladness;

For like a flower, it blooms a day,

Its transient beauties doth display,

And then forever fades away,

And leaves a shade of sadness.

The bliss which comes from heaven above,

And springs from God’s unbounded love,

Is pure, and soothes us like the dove,

And yields no after-sorrow;

It never leaves the bosom void,

Nor, with its full abundance, cloyed,

But e’er-increasing, while enjoyed,

‘Tis better still tomorrow.

This happiness ne’er fades away,

Nor makes a fleet and transient stay,

But blooms throughout eternal day,

In God’s e’er-blessed presence.

His pleasures are for evermore,

And kept for those who Him adore;

They’re sound and fragrant to the core;

Of pure and holy essence.

A Word of Peace

“As ye have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk ye in Him.”

It is so blessed, when the heart feels dull and when no progress seems to be made, just to go back as at the first to Christ Himself—to draw strength from Him—to lay hold of Him afresh—to look to Him as having no strength whatever in self.

With these thoughts, bringing their blessing and encouragement, I happened to call upon a neighbor who was not fully at rest in God’s presence. That she was in earnest was clearly indicated by her ready reply to the ordinary greeting, “O! I am happier in my soul today.”

The experience of this woman is that of numbers of Christians—one day lifted up, the next desponding, the light shining fitfully, and the very brightness of the happy hours making the dark season seem more dense and dreadful. “Peaceful hours once enjoyed,” leaving by their memory “an aching void.” O! dear reader, this is not the standard of true Christianity. This is not the experience which should be the portion of believers. This does not tally with the Word of God, nay, the blessed truths of the New Testament allow no place for this uncertainty in God’s people.

“If I could only be sure I was saved,” said Mrs. S., “yet sometimes I think I really am. But then I fear again, lest I am only thinking my thoughts, and that it is not the Spirit of God in me.”

“You are looking within, perhaps. Just think for a moment of your bright seasons, and say what it is that makes you then feel confident.”

“At those times I am thinking of Christ,” was the reply.

“Then why do you not continue looking at Christ by faith?”

“O! I dare not. Suppose I am not real after all?”

“Now, dear friend, just try to call back what it was that gave you your first hope. No doubt it was something peculiar, some special word of God.”

In a moment Mrs. S. replied, “It was just thus: I was almost worn out with sorrow, and as I was getting into my bed I turned round and seemed to see CHRIST written upon the wall, and looking at that gave me relief.”

“Well, that is good news, indeed, and now let us turn to your doubting moments—the dark hours. Are you not, then, just taking a sponge full of unbelief and wiping away the letters of that blessed Name, and writing up your own name in its place? Pray read this plain, this simple text— ‘As ye have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk ye in Him.’ Now, how did you receive Christ?”

“By looking at His Name,” responded our friend.

“Exactly. ‘And,’ saith the Scriptures, ‘as ye received, so walk.’ You looked as a poor helpless one, as one wearied out with wretched self. When you received Christ it was as your ALL—all Christ, no self. And as you received Him, so you are to walk in Him. Your walk must be by still looking off self to Him, by still having no confidence in the flesh, by still hoping for no improvement. You will never succeed in walking as a Christian but by faith.”

“Well, that makes me feel Better,” said Mrs. S., with a sigh of relief. “But do you really think I should keep loving Christ if I kept looking to Him like this?”

“O! ask yourself, how do the little children love you? Is it not by calling to mind your love to ‘them? But learn another lesson from the child. See what this Scripture adds—‘Rooted and built up in Him.’ I remember a child in whose little garden some seeds were sown, and how do you think she satisfied herself that the seed was alive?”

With a smile, Mrs. S. said, “I dare say she picked the earth from its roots to see if it were really living.”

“Ah! but why smile at the silly child? Are you not trying to see if your plant has roots? No wonder the little girl’s plant never flourished, and that until she let it alone it was always a sickly thing. Give up all thoughts of self, and let your faith be in every way ‘in Him.’”

Let us put these blessed words together, reader—receiving Christ—walking in Christ—rooted and built up in Christ. (Col. 2:6,7).

It must be all “Him” for everything: Christ, the object of faith; Christ, the power of walk; Christ, in whom the soul grows firm and stable; and if these things be so in us, then, as a result, abundant praise shall redound through us to God’s glory.

The Knowledge of God

God alone is the teacher of the knowledge of Himself, and he who would know God must needs go to God’s school to be taught.

Natural science is acquired by toil and search, the knowledge of God is gained by faith in His word. God’s ways are not man’s. The first lesson learned in God’s school is faith, and all must enter this school at the infant class, for except a man be converted and become as a little child he will fail to know God.

Extracts From Letters From the Front

In the midst of these trials I am happy to have an instant to send you this little message of sincere affection, and above all to tell you how happy I am in Jesus. What a Companion He is! What peace His presence brings to me in the midst of the conflict and of the stormy sea. I prove His care every day. How many times do I feel I am under the shadow of His hand, and of His powerful arm. Peacefully I continue my way, rejoicing in an unspeakable peace. He has been my health. He is my strength. May all, take courage.

My thoughts often turn to you. I can send you good news of my health. Thank God. I must thank you for your good long letter, and also for the tracts which I have been happy to distribute, even in the trenches. You might send me more leaflets, but not in such quantities, as we are heavily laden. As you see at the head of this letter, it is four o’clock in the morning. I am in the trenches, and at this hour we realize what the Word of God says of the watchman awaiting the morning with great desire.

“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning” (Psa. 130:6). How many such circumstances are necessary to make us understand these passages. We are exhorted also to desire ardently the breaking of that grand day when Jesus will return to take us into the Father’s house, where all shall be peace and rest. It is only with such holy desires that we are able to run our course down here, looking unto Jesus in the midst of the great afflictions, realizing Romans 15:13, “Now the God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

My joy is great and constant, like many other children of Christians (who like myself were deaf to all the pressing appeals of our dear Savior through the words of His servants who have responded in accepting a part in the eternal happiness which was offered to us.

We are tried beyond measure; we have to endure much suffering, both moral and physical. What a privilege to have the Lord present With us. He fills my heart, and in spite of all my troubles I can say I am perfectly happy. I know now that if I do not again see those I love here on earth, I shall be with them during eternity, to partake of the happiness which was offered to me, and which, I so long refused.

The Lord has placed before us two roads which we may travel, and He has shown us which one we should take. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.... That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him:” (Deut. 30:19, 20).

In spite of all the horrors which this war brings in its train, I thank God for having permitted us to take part in it, for it has been the means of our conversion, which has brought us eternal happiness.

The day before yesterday I was feeling more unhappy than usual, and I asked the Lord to reveal Himself to me as my dear Guide. My eyes fell on the 8th chapter of Romans. There I found the precious words, so encouraging. I stopped an instant at the 18th verse, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed to us.” It is in Jesus that I have put all my confidence, and I know that it is not misplaced.

Scripture Study: Luke 17:1-19

We have seen the grace of God in contrast with the self-righteousness of man, setting aside the law and the Jewish claims to be God’s people in the foregoing chapters. We now enter into the manner of service in keeping with such grace.

Verses 1, 2. Then said He unto the disciples, “It is impossible but that offenses will come: hut woe unto him, through, whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

What care we should take not to stumble anyone by our ways. The Lord is careful over His lambs. (Compare Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:4, 15, 16). And so should we be. Let us therefore see that our own souls are in such a condition that we can show others the right way to keep close to the Shepherd. If we are not careful Satan may use us to stumble some of God’s weak ones. We must not excuse ourselves, or say, “They must be very weak to be stumbled by so little.” If grace be active in us we will not stumble them.

Verses 3, 4. “Take heed to yourselves”: not only not to stumble others, but also not to let anything stumble ourselves. “If a brother trespass against thee, rebuke him.” Do not sulk, there is no grace in that. Tell him about it in a loving way. He may repent, then forgive him; but you may say, he has done this so often. Seven times in a day? Well, the Savior says, forgive him, if he repent, seven times in a day. It takes two to make a quarrel. Have grace from the Lord, and then Matthew 18:22 will not be too much for us to carry out.

Verses 5, 6. Then the apostles said, “Increase our faith.” Perhaps they felt as we do, the need of judging ourselves in our likes and dislikes, and having the love they saw in their Master flowing in their hearts. And the teaching of the Lord was so different to what they had been accustomed. It is not standing up for our fancied rights, not “an eye for an eye,” as the ancients taught, but full heart forgiveness for those who trespassed against us. (Mark 11:25, 26). And how the Lord’s answer should lead us to think. “Faith as a grain of mustard seed.” How small it is! Yes, but FAITH, no matter how small, reaches and lays hold of God, the Living One, and His power removes the mountain, or the sycamore tree, and instead of allowing selfishness, practices grace to the failing.

Verses 7-10. And what wonderful grace that makes us workers with Him, Little are we up to it, little in the spirit of it, yet we are workers with him. (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1, 4). And the sense of this wonderful privilege will not exalt us in our own mind but must needs make us say and feel, at the very best, we are unprofitable servants. We only did what it was our duty to do. Alas! We have oftener to admit that we have not done even what it was our duty to do. What a patient, gracious Master we have, who bears with us in His matchless, long-suffering grace, doing everything to encourage us on.

Verses 11-19. On His way to Jerusalem He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee and as He entered a village there met Him ten lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Yes, there is mercy in Him for such needy ones, and they show their faith in Him which at once finds its answer in a way that tests its reality, for He said, “Go show yourselves unto the priests.” Without faith they might have reasoned, What is the use? We are still lepers, still uncleansed; but they do not reason, they turn to obey Him. And as they went they were cleansed. On the nine go, to do as He said, for He still acknowledged the temple and the priests, and they would be a witness that the Lord had indeed visited His land and was among His people, but alas!

He was the rejected One. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. The nine held in by their Jewish training after the law, go on to show themselves to the priests. God could use this to testify to Israel’s sin in rejecting Jehovah as their King. But the Samaritan saw no use for priests or temple, his faith sees in Jesus all that heart can need, and he returns to the fountain head of all power and blessing. His body is cured, his soul is filled with praise, he glorified God, and at the Lord’s feet, with face in the dust, he pours out his thanksgiving. The nine may go to the shadows, he has the substance. They have outward ceremonies and institutions, he has a personal Savior, and the person of the Savior before his heart. He needs no priest to tell him he is clean. Jesus has done the work. Jew and Samaritan were alike ruined, defiled lepers, cast out of divine communion. But the gratitude of this Samaritan’s heart rose above Jewish distinctions in the sense of divine goodness. It was complete deliverance. And Jesus answering, said (was it not with a tinge of sorrow for the nine?) “Were there not ten cleansed? and where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

(To be continued).

The Rising Tide

All dependence upon our own wisdom, our own talents, our own intellectual grasp, our own powers of argument or persuasion or appeal, ignores the fundamental truth that “our sufficiency is from God.”

When a steamship has grounded on a sandbar at the river’s mouth, its own power is valueless for moving it. So far from helping it, the energy of its own machinery will only strain and injure it. What then? It must wait for God’s power, the power of the rising tide. That great uplifting force will do easily and quickly what its own internal power cannot do.

This is but a parable of human helplessness waiting for the power that is divine.

The Authority of Christ Over All

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.” (John 17:1, 2).

Power, or authority, over all flesh! Such are the words which we overhear. It is the Lord who speaks. He is about to leave this world, and in His hands the Father has put authority over all humanity. Whether the merest babe or the greatest of kings, all men are subject to His power. Let us consider well these words: God, the Father, has given over to His Son Jesus the human race. Let infidelity assert itself as it will, or vain reasonings argue as is their wont, here stands the immutable fact—every human being is under the absolute authority of the Son of God.

It is power, not salvation, of which the Lord speaks; and when we consider Him, set at naught by sinners, despised and spit upon, and at length nailed to the accursed tree, there is something in this certain knowledge that authority over all men is His, which rejoices the heart. Let us ask, What does man generally say to this? What is the response of the heedless and the pleasure-loving to it? what the voice of the proud, and of the self-confident? We would say to each of our readers, “You are absolutely, And for time and eternity, under the authority of the Man, Christ Jesus. You are at His disposal. Your present and your future lie with Him. You are shut up to Him. You cannot break away from under His sway. Should you defy His authority for your lifetime, you must yield thereto forever when your last breath leaves your mortal frame.”

We have heard of the death of a notable modern infidel. He was dying, he said, in perfect calm. He was, according to his assertions, leaving this life to be no more—to become nothing, so far as thoughts and feelings, so far as responsibility and personality, are concerned. But the borderland of this life being passed, the limit of human disbelief is passed also, and the calm contempt of infidelity is gone forever. In life beyond death, is the Lord—a Man in heaven, and He has authority over all flesh. Having become a Man, God has given into His hands the human race. He may permit men to use even the very reason He has given them in opposition to Himself, but when death comes the limit of man’s wilfulness is reached.

Now, this authority over all is not merely universal; it is for a special purpose, and the purpose is one of perfect grace: it is that the Lord may give eternal life to as many as God the Father has given to Him. He who has power over all, is the giver of life to all who come to Him. All whom the Father gives Him come to Him, and him who comes to Him Jesus in no wise casts out. The power is absolute, and the grace is perfect.

We must have to do with the Lord in His power, if not in this lifetime, then in eternity. But if we go to Him, owning our natural state of spiritual death, He is the Life-giver, and will give us life. The life becomes ours by gift. “I give unto them eternal life.” It comes to us from the Son of God. “He that believeth on the Son hath life.”

Now, as those who must very shortly meet the Lord, let us inquire in what way have we had to do with Him. Have we had to do with Him as the Life-giver? Have we believed on His name? He came to this earth to give sinners, dead in their sins and in their state of nature, everlasting life. He gives this life to all who believe on Him, and His Father, who sent Him. Are we connected with Him in life, or are we merely part of the human race, all of which must submit to His authority?

Watch and Pray

The pilgrim’s pathway here below

Is fraught with many a care and woe.

The days are dark, the nights are drear,

The tempest blows a gale severe.

Our little bark is often tossed,

Until we think that all is lost.

We sigh, we hope, we wish for day,

And on our knees we fall and pray

Just then, on crested billows high,

We see a form so very nigh,

Who says, “‘Tis I, be not afraid;

Why should you be like this dismayed?

Why did’st thou doubt, why did’st thou fear?

While all the time I’ve been so near;

The wind and waves that seemed so wild

Were just to try thy faith, my child.

For days and days have passed away,

Since you in secret went to pray;

These storms and winds will surely blow

Until your weakness you may know.

Until you learn My yoke to wear,

And find the rest to be found there;

Until you learn to watch and pray,

And of your time give Me each day.

It may be in the morning bright

That you will call for heavenly light;

Be sure and call and not refrain

To call upon the Savior’s name.

Neglected prayer—we cease to fight,

But prayer will keep the armor bright;

Then let us all begin today

With all our hearts to watch and pray.

True Happiness

True happiness is to be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, feeding upon Him through the Word, and a Christian is the only one who has the right to be happy. And surely he should be happy.

What is the reason we find so many Christians who go about with sad faces? It shows to us that Christ is not the object of their hearts, and they are not casting all their care upon Him, relying on the assurance that He cares for them.

And there are some people who think that Christians must needs be very sombre—that what they call religion is to be always associated with gloom—so they go about looking so sad, as if they hadn’t a friend, when Jesus is their friend and He has shown such wonderful love in giving His life for them, and is concerned about their smallest trials, and will carry all for them if they will let Him.

This is not commending the gospel to the unsaved around us. It is the gospel (or Glad Tidings) of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, that we are called upon to make known both by word and action—good news to weary, sin-burdened hearts. As we are feeding, in our own souls, upon the love of God, the beauties and glories of Christ, and the wonderful blessings which have been bestowed upon us, our faces will not look sad, but a deep peace, a calm joy will possess our souls and our countenances will show that which will be to His glory, and we shall not be self-occupied but think of the good and needs of others—to visit the sick and poor; inquire into their wants and minister to them; seek out the desolate and oppressed, and tell them of the consolations of Christ, and show that precious sympathy for others, which the blessed Lord Jesus so delights in and so deeply proved when He was here upon earth among men.

Dear young Christians, you may be very sure that those who are most like Him in this, as well as in other respects, do more to commend the Gospel of the grace of God than all who speak of it, while they act as if there was no happiness connected with accepting Christ as the Savior.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4).

The Sparrow and the Swallow

(Psalm 84).

Thine altars, O Lord, as the Psalmist once sung

Afforded the sparrow a home;

The swallow, too, found there a nest for her young,

Where she, for the time, ceased to roam.

The first is a bird that to home ever cleaves,

Not caring to wander away;

The other, the place of her sojourning leaves,

In realms strange and distant to stray.

But though of such opposite habits these birds,

They both ‘neath the altars found rest;

For He who provides for the flocks and the herds,

A nook doth prepare for a nest.

Thus some, like the sparrow, do not wish to rove,

But cling to the hearth and the home;

Or care but to ramble in woodland or grove,

Not far from the homestead to roam.

While, swallow-like, others would rise on the wing,

And fly to the ends of the earth,

In search of some substance, or shadowy thing,

Not found in the land of their birth.

But whether a home, or a wandering, bird,

May’st thou, who art young find a rest

In Jesus the Lord, through believing His Word,

And leaning thy soul on His breast.

No home upon earth, and no nation or clime

Can shelter thy bosom from woes;

But Christ is the Refuge, and now is the time

In Him to find peace and repose.

The Curtain of Silence

If we have not been able to discover the good thing in our brother and fellow-servant; if our eye has only detected the crooked thing; if we have not succeeded in finding the vital spark amid the ashes—the precious gem among the surrounding rubbish; if we have seen only what was of mere nature, why, then let us, with a loving and delicate hand, draw the curtain of silence around our brother, or speak of him only at the throne of grace.

Correspondence: Mark 8:38; 1 Pet. 4:1-2; Rev. 3:4

Question: Mark 8:38. J. D. A.

Answer: The Lord proved by His words and works that He was the Son of God. He told His disciples He was to be rejected and killed and rise again. Peter rebuked Him, and He had to rebuke Peter very severely. (Verses 32, 33).

He then taught them that the value of the soul is beyond compare with the whole world. “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Let everything else go, and secure salvation. Then in verse 38, is the warning, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me (Jesus) and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Ashamed means to deny or disown, and so be disowned by Him in that day. Peter did not deny that Jesus was the Son of God, but he denied that he knew Him. He failed to confess Him, but Peter will not be denied when the Son of Man comes.

Question: What does 1 Peter 4:1, 2 teach us? C. W.

Answer: The truth of our death with Christ is to be applied to our souls in our living. If we are dead with Christ, we should consistently ask ourselves in our every-day actions: Is it to please myself that I am living? or is it like Christ, our Lord and Savior, seeking to do the will of God? How many difficulties would be removed immediately, and our path made simple and plain, if we did so.

Question: Is Revelation 3:4 present or future?

Answer: “They shall walk with Me in white” is future; “for they are worthy” is present. It is encouraging for our souls to see that the Lord is taking notice of our feeblest efforts to glorify Him.

Revelation 3:10. The “hour of temptation” is future. The saints will be kept from it by the Lord coming to take them to Himself. “Those that dwell on the earth” are a special class who claim the earth. (“Earthly-minded,” Phil. 3:19).

2 Corinthians 12:7-10. These verses teach us that even an apostle had to be kept humble. The flesh in him is the same incorrigible thing as in us. So the Lord sent this “thorn in the flesh,” this “Messenger of Satan” to buffet him. No matter what it was, it ties to keep him humble and dependent, needing the Lord’s help and getting it day by day, with no credit to him, but all praise to the Lord for His faithfulness. So he was willing to be nothing and the Lord alone to be glorified. Having learned this he could say, “Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am strong.” May it be so with us also.

A Crown Incorruptible

In a School of Arts the following incident occurred, and may God be pleased to use its narration to the good of many who may read it.

A certain clay was fixed for the judges’ examination, and each competitor was to have his design, drawing or model completed by that time, or he would not be entitled to a prize. Among the most talented of those who entered the list to compete in oil-painting was Miss W.

The subject chosen was a bunch of grapes, and with close application she labored to outstrip her fellows in the contest. Miss W. was the first to begin work when the doors of the school were opened, and the last to leave her easel when the appointed hour came for all to retire. Her energy and skill were not without reward, for day by day, as the examination time drew on, all who saw her work pronounced it excellent, and assured the diligent laborer that she must win the prize; and so, with renewed ardor, she persevered in her undertaking.

At length came the day for the judges to give the rewards; the picture was just in time, and certainly a masterpiece it was—the full, rich, purple grapes in all their luster seeming quite to stand out from the canvas, while the broad, bright, green leaves, so truthfully depicted, only seemed to make the fruit look more lifelike. The judges, men of reputation and acknowledged taste, commenced their inspection of the drawings submitted to them, and without the slightest hesitation gave the palm of victory to the indefatigable artist of the cluster of grapes and vine-leaves. The first prize for paintings in oil was hers.

With joy the master of the school himself went to the home of the young artist, to be the bearer of what he knew would cause the greatest pleasure; but judge of his horror and dismay when, instead of telling her the welcome news, he learned that poor Miss W. had died the night before of smallpox. The over-fatigue of both mind and body had produced a lassitude of constitution, making her a ready prey to the disease which was at that time raging in the neighborhood. The very night her work was finished she was taken sick, and in forty-eight hours was a corpse!

Her picture still remains, the admiration of all beholders—the rightful winner of the prize—her sad but only monument; she had gone to give an account to Him who will render to every one according to the deeds done in the body.

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for, the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Cor. 3:13).

That day will reveal whether she had obtained mercy through Christ ere she had passed away. Her only testimony here, as far as it is known, was her persevering effort to obtain the corruptible crown.

Dear reader, are you one who will leave behind you in this world no trace but that.

which human skill and moral culture can produce? Or are you to those around a feeble but a true presentation of the One whom the world has cast out? Of the One who seeks from His people a testimony to God set forth when here below.

May it be yours, not merely to possess and enjoy, but to reflect Him till He comes!

Love One Another

The Christian’s heart is his pocket book, and love is his money. He is bidden, Owe no man anything but love. Let the one who loves you have it back in his own coin; and to him whose purse is empty of love, yet heavy with unkindness, give such abundance of the heavenly coin that he may be ashamed into a settlement of his accounts.

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Peter 1:22).

The Writing of the New Testament: Part 1

We may well approach such a subject with unshod feet. May the Lord give us grace to have due reverence for all His Word.

The writing of the Old Testament covers a period of 1500 years; the New was finished before 100 A. D. It is impossible to estimate the truth that was revealed during the few short years when the New Testament was written. The completeness and perfection of it shows the manifest hand of God. The apostles, who were expecting the Lord’s return at any moment, did not attempt to write a symmetrical and complete volume for the guidance of the church in future ages, nevertheless the Lord’s hand was over the writing of the gospels, and lie used the special occasions on which epistles were written, to form a complete whole, and to present the whole truth under many different aspects.

Someone has said that James carries us on to Peter; Peter commends us to Paul, and finally the work is crowned by the Gospel and Epistles of John.

As to the exact dates of the different books of the New Testament it would be impossible to give them with certainty. Some have thought that the Epistle to the Galatians, others that to the Thessalonians was the first New Testament book to be written. Practically all students of Scripture are agreed that the Gospel and first Epistle of John (which was probably issued with it) were the last to be written. But there is ample proof that all were finished, though, not of course collected into one volume, before the close of the first century.

In considering the writing of the New Testament let us begin with the gospels, against which the swelling tide of higher criticism has been beating for the last 100 years. And in passing let me advise all who are afflicted with doubts, not to be afraid to look thoroughly into the matter. It is better to seriously read and weigh the actual writings of Christians of the first and second centuries than to blindly accept the self-made reasonings of the higher critics. There are positively no reliable facts of history on the side of the higher critics. In fact all the oldest sources of church history, all the allusions to the church in secular writers bear out the New Testament. The explanations of the higher critics are based on hypotheses, deductions and probabilities which cannot possibly be proved.

But though it may be possible to refute the higher critics on their own ground, such a refutation can never be the ground of faith. There must be a leap in the dark, a certain risk taken, before we realize the perfect certainty and peace of Christ’s presence. Like Peter, we encounter the dark night, the waves boisterous, then comes the cry for help, and then the answer—Christ’s own hand holding us up. “No man can pluck them out of My hand.”

After the resurrection of the Lord, the disciples saw Him as it were intermittently. He appeared in the midst of them suddenly and mysteriously, the doors being shut. He vanished out of their sight in the act of breaking the bread. He was seen by none but by believers; but even after the end of the forty days, when He had ascended into the heavens and a cloud received Him out of their sight, they never felt their intimacy with Him was at an end. May we not say that in their after lives of witness and service they came to know Him far better than they had ever done before? The Holy Spirit was dwelling in them and taking of the things of Christ and revealing them unto them. The sense of His presence was very real. “They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following.” (Mark 16:20).

On occasions He was even seen by them. Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

Saul of Tarsus, overwhelmed and heartbroken, saw and heard the One he had resisted so long. But even to a humble disciple like Ananias of Damascus the Lord said, in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, I am here, Lord”—the simple response of one who was not surprised to hear His Lord’s voice directing him to service.

With such a sense of the reality, the imminent presence of the Lord, the first Gospel sermons had little of doctrine or dogma. They were plain statements of facts. The main facts of the Lord’s life and death, and above all, His resurrection were put before the people, and in view of the tremendous import of these facts they were urged to repent, to submit themselves to Him “who had gone about doing good,” who “by wicked hands was crucified and slain,” and Who now “was exalted to be a Prince and a Savior.”

Thus, no doubt the main facts of the Lord’s life, His miracles, His parables, His teachings about the Kingdom, came to be known by the constantly increasing body of believers. When the angel of the Lord released the disciples from prison, He bade them go and speak in the temple all the words of this Life.

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem,” said Peter to Cornelius.

An inexhaustible store of precious memories the apostles must have had of those three years and a half in company with the Lord. And yet in the first three gospels comparatively few of His works and words are preserved. But of these we often have two or perhaps three accounts according to each gospel. The selection of these passages in the life of our Lord was of the Holy Spirit. “These are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” We may conclude that they were passages most often preached to the multitude, most often remembered and repeated to each other by the disciples.

The belief in the Lord’s return for His own was very intense. In fact it is evident that this belief governed all their actions. They made no provision for the future, in the way of organization or creed. Even in material things, the money which the rich believers contributed to the common purse in the beginning of Acts was freely spent, and later on, “Collections are made for the poor saints at Jerusalem.”

They expected the Lord so soon that the things of this life became infinitely unimportant to them. The apostles were given to prayer and the ministry of the Word. There is no hint in the book of Acts of any written Gospel being used by the churches; therefore we may conclude that for the first years of the church nothing was written down. As some one has said, “The Holy Ghost distributed tongues, not pens, at Pentecost.”

None the less, during this time, perhaps twenty years, perhaps more, the Gospels were being worked out, their sacred and spiritual meaning being apprehended more and more, as by the Holy Spirit the apostles meditated upon Him who is the Word of Life. That which they had not understood at the time, now became clear to them. (See Mark 9:32; Luke 18:34; John 2:22).

Thus for some years before any of the gospels were written down, the great body of the gospel teaching was in existence, treasured up in the hearts and memories of believers. This may explain why the same narratives often appear in each of the gospels. The first three evangelists, in writing their gospels, drew from the common body of teaching, which had been known for many years. And, yet we can see that writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit each gospel has its own peculiar character, and presents the Lord’s life and work under a different aspect.

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: Luke 17:20-37

(Concluded).

To the Samaritan is given full liberty and confirmation of his higher path by the Lord’s next words, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” The mountain of ordinances, or the tree of wild fruit, is gone, and the once leper stands clean and now walks in the liberty of grace. The priests are left behind in this higher sphere of liberty and grace of the gospel, and this is God’s place for all believers now. Alas! how few enter into it; how many tarry behind in the fleshly attractions of Judaism, instead of joying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the reconciliation. Again we may repeat the question, Where are the nine? Can the soul be satisfied without communion with the Father and the Son? Is our privilege, inside the veil as worshipers, the person and glory of Christ revealed to us not better than all men’s arrangements? Why allow our spiritual senses to be dulled by that which ministers to the flesh? Since the Lord Jesus can be known, and enjoyed in blessed reality as the delight of God, and our delight now, too, through grace, let us set our hearts to find our satisfaction in His presence, in this new sphere of liberty of grace.

Verses 20, 21. In answer to the Pharisees’ expectations of a kingdom set up in outward display, the Lord answers, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation (outward show): neither shall they say, ‘Lo here! or lo there!’ for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within (or among) you.” The King was there; they should have recognized Him, even though He had come in lowly guise, for He had manifested His perfect grace and power to bless, hut this did not accord with their fleshly minds. His love to the poor and needy, His forgiving love to the guilty, His self-sacrificing greatness were seen in all His ways, but sin had blinded their minds to all that was beautiful and of God, so His wonderful ways were lost to them.

Verses 22-37. To His disciples He said, “The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and ye shall not see it, and they shall say unto you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.” This shows the godly remnant of Israel in the tribulation period, rejected and suffering because Christ is rejected and the enemy trying to deceive and lead them astray. They would long for the presence of the Son of Man as when He was on earth, but that could not be. They were not to hearken to these seducers, for the next time He would come suddenly as the lightning, shining across the sky, where all would see Him, but He was to suffer first many things and be rejected of this generation. It is easily seen this is not referring to the Christian period, nor what follows to Christ’s coming for His church. It is the coming of the Son of Man in judgment, like the days of Noe when the flood came and carried away all the ungodly; or like the days of Lot, when God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Men will be occupied with business and pleasure when the Son of Man will be revealed from heaven. What a surprise, when the world is having its own way, suddenly called to meet the God they despised. And none in that locality can escape, whether in the house or out in the field, whether by day or night, whether at rest or at work, this judgment will find out the wicked of Israel and carry them off to eternal judgment. The disciples ask: Where? And the answer is, Where the dead body is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The instruments God will use will find each one out.

Is the present time in Christendom not like the world then? Alas! in many things it is, despite God’s dealings with the world, His voice speaking to men in the famines, the wars, the pestilence, the so-called accidents, the many troubles that beset the countries and their governments. Yet men have hardened their hearts, business and pleasure now fill their minds, and the lie of the arch enemy Satan, that deceives men, is hearkened to. Men who once professed to regard God’s Word have given it up. As Isaiah the prophet said, “Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment. (Isa. 59:14, 15). And what is to happen: The coming of the Lord, soon, suddenly, secretly (1 Thess. 4:15-17), will take place, and the doom of thousands is sealed, and they are lost forever—salvation neglected, if not despised.

Reader, are you ready? Are you saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

The Weaving

My life is but a weaving,

Between my Lord and Me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Full oft He weaveth ‘sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper

And I the under side.

Our Father Knows

Leave God to order all thy ways,

And trust in Him whate’er betide;

Thou’lt find Him in the evil clays

An all-sufficient strength and guide:

Who trusts in God’s unchanging love,

Builds on the rock that naught can move.

That can these anxious tears avail,

These never-ceasing moans and sighs,

What can it help us to bewail

Each painful moment as it flies?

Our cross and trials do but press

The heavier for our bitterness.

Only your restless heart keep still,

And wait in cheerful hope, content

To take whate’er His gracious will,

His all-discerning love hath sent;

Nor doubt our inmost wants are known,

To Him who chose us for His own.

He knows when joyful hours are best,

He sends them as he sees it meet,

When thou halt borne the fiery test,

And now art free from all deceit,

He comes to thee all unaware,

And makes thee own His loving care.

Nor in the heat of pain and strife,

Think God hath cast thee off unheard,

Nor that the man whose prosperous life

Thou enviest, is of Him preferred.

Time passeth, and much change cloth bring,

And sets a bound to everything.

Sing, pray. and swerve not from His ways,

But do thine own part faithfully.

Trust His rich promises of grace,

So shall it be fulfilled in thee.

God never yet forsook at need

The soul that trusted Him indeed.

The Evil Day

Wherever we have the record of failure and decline among the people of God, which is usually at the close of dispensations, we have also the history of those who stood faithful for God, regardless of the cost, though in weakness. Their record forms a bright relief to the somber background of evil. Doubtless the Spirit of God has given their history to encourage others who have been and may be called upon to take a similar stand. (See Rom. 15:4).

The sad history of God’s earthly people is closed by the prophet Malachi, the voice of the people, and expresses their state of soul: “Behold what a wearniness it is.” “It is vain to serve God.” (Mal. 1:13; 3:14) Can one find a darker period in the history of Judah or Israel? Yet in the midst of this appalling declention there is a record of the faithful, those who stood for Jehovah. Do you think, dear young Christian, that it was an easy matter for God’s people in those days to stand apart from the world and from those who had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof? (2 Tim. 3:5). It was not a whit easier for them than for us? Undoubtedly the cost was great, but Jehovah’s appreciation was not less.

What precious words of approbation! “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” (Mal. 3:16; 17).

It is more than probable that those faithful souls were very unpopular; they may have been despised by the others, who considered themselves more advanced and broader-minded, and thought they were getting more out of life than “those narrow-minded, religious cranks.”

How gracious of our God to let us know His estimate of “him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not.” (Mal. 3:18). Of what value can man’s estimate or opinion be, since it is God with whom we have to do, and the judgment seat of Christ before which we all have to appear? But it is natural for us to court man’s approval and shun his disapproval; this we have to guard against.

Thus the revival in Judah’s day ended in the “love of many waxing cold.” The days of their captivity were ended and Judah and Benjamin were restored to their land, although, sad to say, some were content to stay in Babylon. Their idols were left behind, the house had been swept and garnished, but they chose the easy path, to go along with the world.

Can we find an analogy in this our day? Yes. Before the apostle Paul passed off the scene he warned the saints, the elders at Ephesus, of the approaching decline. Not long after this faithful warning, the Lord Himself, addressing the assembly at Ephesus, through the apostle John, said, “I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou are fallen, and repent and do the first works.” (Rev. 2:4, 5, N. T.).

How touchingly here does the great apostle who “labored more abundantly” warn the elders. “Take heed, therefore. unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.” “For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30). “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32).

What better could the apostle Paul have done than to commend those elders to God and to His Word, as he saw the day of ruin approaching? He commended them to God, who alone could through His Word build up.

The apostle’s leave-taking called out all the tender affection of the saints. “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.” (Acts 20:37, 38). The decline which had already begun, and had caused the apostle Paul such grave concern, went on apace, and dark indeed has been the history of the church which has failed as a witness just as signally as Israel or Judah. Now we find ourselves in the last period or state, that is, as a whole) which is “Laodicea.” In Revelation 3:20 the Lord presents. Himself on the outside, saying, “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.”

The Epistle of Jude corresponds to the book of Malachi; and Jude speaks through spiritual discernment of the apostasy which he saw coming, if not already present. He could see the danger of the faith being given up. He had purposed writing to the saints of the common salvation, but is impressed with the necessity of writing, instead, a warning of the coming storm cloud that would sooner or later envelope the unwary Christian and completely obscure the light, the truth of ‘God, the “Lamp” for the feet, and the “Light” for the path. Thus Jude writes, “Beloved, using all diligence to write to you of our common salvation, I have been obliged to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. For certain men have got in unnoticed, they who of old were marked out beforehand to this sentence, turning the grace of God into dissoluteness and denying our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 3, 4, N. T.). Here we see that what the apostle Paul had warned the elders of at Ephesus only a few years previous, was now a dreadful reality.

The Christian, the young especially, needs to be warned against being caught in the current. The current of evil which the Apostle Paul saw in its incipiency has since been flowing, ever broadening and gathering impetus as it flows on and on, engulfing many a soul, and carrying it out into the ocean of infidelity.

We may see a similar warning in the case of Hiel the Bethelite. (1 Kings 16:34). “In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundations thereof in Abiram, his first born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son, Segub, according to the Word of the Lord, which He spake by Joshua, the son of Nun.”

The solemn warning had been given long before by Joshua, concerning the rebuilding of Jericho, the city of the curse (a type of the world). Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” (Josh. 6:26).

What the Spirit of God seems to lay stress upon in 1 Kings 16:34, are these words, “In his days.” Whose days? Ahab’s days, the most wicked of all the kings. “Ahab made a grove: and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.” (1 Kings 16:33). It was in his days that Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. Hiel means “God liveth;”

Bethel means “House of God.” He was one caught in the current of evil, and was influenced to go counter to the Word of God.

Abiram means “my father is lofty;” Segub, “elevated.”

Jude calls upon the saints to remember God’s dealings in the past, the calling out of His people from Egypt; the destroying of those who believed not; the angels who had not kept their own original estate, hut are kept in chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day; Sodom and Gomorrah; and the cities around them. Then he speaks of those in his day who despise lordship (authority), and cites by way of contrast the case of the archangel, Michael, who when disputing with the Devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a railing judgment against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee.” Next he takes up a class of people, whose characteristics we have long been familiar with. But these, whatever things they know not, they speak railingly against, but whatever they understand, as the irrational animals, in those things they corrupt. themselves. (Verse 10, N. T.).

The whole is summed up from beginning to end, in the history of three men. Woe to them because they have gone in the way of Cain (a Christ-less religion); and given themselves up to the error of Balaam for reward (making profit out of the Word of God); and perished in the gainsaying of Core (calling in question God’s Word, which is infidelity).

From the 12th to the 20th verses we have portrayed the evil character of those who had crept in unnoticed, like wolves among the sheep. In the 14th verse Enoch’s prophecy is applied to them, and in the 17th verse Jude recalls to their memory the warnings of the apostles concerning these mockers. (2 Timothy 3).

One has truly said, “Infidelity is a system that pulls down, but puts nothing together again:” Here we see the ruin so vividly pictured by Jude, but he gives this timely exhortation to the Christian, “But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.”

Some one has illustrated it thus: Suppose one is on the shady side of the street and begins to feel the dampness and chilliness, he would naturally cross over to the sunny side and would soon feel the warmth. A story has been told of a certain association offering a prize for the prettiest and healthiest pot rose. After the inspection and a decision had been reached, the owner of the plant was summoned. It was a ragged little girl. When she was questioned there was a doubt in the minds of the judges as to her title to the prize, who thought it impossible for one in her circumstances to raise such a pretty plant. But she took them to her dingy room, which had windows on several sides, and explained to them that she moved the plant from one window to another, always keeping it in the sun.

The Christian should always abide in the sunshine of God’s love. Just here one can see the goodness and wisdom of our God in setting apart the first day of the week, the Lord’s day. (Under the law it was the last day). We begin the week with renewed thoughts of the love and grace of God, our Father, and the Lord, our Savior. Without the Lord’s table, a consistent walk, and a judged conscience, how cold and indifferent one would become!

Then how needful the exhortation, “Praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.” Prayer will keep one in the evil day. The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, and exhorts them to “take to them the panoply of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having accomplished all things, to stand.”

The various pieces of armor having been described, the last piece named being an offensive one, all the rest defensive, one would think the Christian fully armed for warfare, but there is one thing more, without which the rest would be useless. “Praying at all seasons with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6:13-18, N. T.)

What consolation in the remaining two verses of Jude, “But to him that is able to keep you with exultation, blameless before His glory, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, might and authority from before the whole age and now, and to all ages. Amen.”

The Great Mystery - Christ and the Church

The Father hath sent from His glorious throne,

Where He dwells in effulgence bright—

Fountain of life, and of love, unknown

Through eternity’s waneless light—

He hath sent His Son, in whom God doth shine,

To unfold that love divine.

The Son, He hath found the one whom He sought

Who was lost, and who knew it not,

All unconcerned in the death she had wrought

And the sting that embittered her lot.

With His own life blood, the purchase He paid,

The life He so freely gave.

The Spirit hath come from those blest scenes above,

Where the river of life doth flow;

He’s come to tell of that wondrous love,

That made Christ a stanger below.

‘Mid ruin and death, where He wandered alone,

In paths where He had no home.

He’s come and He meets her, thirsty and lone,

Afar from the haunts of man;

He shows her the One who for sin did atone,

God’s willing and spotless Lamb.

“Daughter,” He says, “ ‘tis the Father has given

Him who claims thee from heaven.

“Wilt thou arise and leave house and kin,

For a love so sorely tried,

And follow the One who, thy heart to win,

Hath suffered and bled and died?

So shall He greatly desire thy beauty

E ‘er thine for eternity.

“Fear not the waste, His arm He hath bared.

The mighty shall carry thee through;

Weakness His burden, strength He’s prepared,

His manna will daily renew.

On thee He joys all His gifts to bestow.”

She answered and said, “I will go!”

“I will go! for this heart is no longer mine,

This place is no rest for me;

Afar I look... and the glory doth shine

From His home, where I long to be!

Hasten, O hasten my steps by the way,

I pray thee, make no delay.”

She journeys, but oh! she heeds not the track

Where glitters the scorching ray;

The past is behind, she will not look back,

On each wearying, toilsome day.

With Him her rest shall forever be,

“Tis Himself she will surely see.

Correspondence: Heb. 9:26; Rev. 2:9, 3:9

Ans. (a) Hebrews 9:26 presents to us the finished work of Christ. It is done at the end of the world, or age of man’s trial. God’s “due time” when man was proved to be ungodly and without strength to improve himself (Rom. 5:6). All the sacrifices under the law were but shadows of this great Sacrifice, and these could not purge from sin. The one Sacrifice alone can give the certainty that the believer’s sins are gone forever, so that the worshiper once purged has no more conscience of sins. He knows, therefore, that by one sacrifice he is perfected forever in the sight of God. (Heb. 10:14).

In Verse 19 he has now access into the holiest; that is, the immediate presence of God. He goes in in his priestly character, having his heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, and his body washed with pure water. (This alludes to Lev. 8:6, 30—our priestly place). But in approaching to God we also need the daily cleansing that gives us a moral fitness spoken of “a true heart, in full assurance of faith,” for though we are true children of God, and holy priests, we need always self-judgment of our ways.

(b) The verses, John 20:17-23, belong to Christianity. The new relationship as children of God our Father, and as Christ’s brethren is seen; also Christ as the center and object of gathering. Then His disciples are sent ones (apostle means sent ones); and these are seen here as having His new risen life and the Holy Spirit (this anticipates the coming of the Holy Spirit); so Verse 23 is the result of their ministry. The Lord committeed to His apostles the truth of the gospel and through them we now have it in the Scriptures, so that they had a special place of authority to administer this truth that we have not, vet it belongs to the word which any Christian may speak. Personally they had the authority, and in this sense were ambassadors for Christ, so that this 23rd verse does not belong to any man or set of men now, and if any claim this place, it is usurpation: This refers specially to their testimony in the gospel. (See also 2 Cor. 2:14-16).

Question: What is taught by the Seven Churches? What is the “Synagogue of Satan?” (Rev. 2:9; 3:9.) M. D.

Answer: Seven is the number of spiritual completeness. Revelation 2 and 3 gives us a complete picture of the spiritual state or condition of the church as the Lord’s witness here on earth from the time John wrote, till its end when Christ comes to claim His own out of it. The chief mark of each we might say: Ephesus, declension; Smyrna, persecution or suffering for Christ; Pergamos, worldliness; Thyatira, seeking worldly power; Sardis, formal religion; Philadelphia, revival of the truth of Christ’s person and coming; Laodicea, indifference to the claims of Christ. The last four run on concurrently till the end. May the Lord keep our hearts true to Himself.

“The Synagogue of Satan” is spoken of in the two phases of the assembly where no fault is found with them. It is there traditional religion opposes the truth, they “say they are Jews”—the people of God—but “they do lie.” They try to improve the flesh and to keep the law, and this recognizes good in man, whereas the truth is “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” Compare for the word “Jew,” which means “praise” (Rom. 2:21, 22; Gen. 29:35), those that say they are Jews, praise themselves; they are good in their own eyes.

The "Me" Did It!

What grace and wisdom are needed, when paying visits to the sick, so that the right word may be spoken. Especially when addressing the unconverted, a place should be taken side by side with: them, in a spirit of humility and tender sympathy. We, who are Christians, and seek thus to serve the Lord, should remember, that once we were “without Christ in the world,” quite as far off from God as any other poor sinner to whom we may speak, and that we owe all that we have, and all that we are, to sovereign mercy, which has called us out and blessed us. The following little incident will illustrate this.

During the summer, a lady who was staying in a country town, used to purchase fruit and vegetables at a store, the owner of which was always glad to have an opportunity of talking a little, if a customer would stay to hear her. One day, this woman told her of a Christian, who had recently left the town. “I shall never forget him,” said she, “for he was the means of saving my husband, who was sick for seventeen weeks. During that time, Mr. W. came very often to see him. Once when he was explaining to my poor husband about sin, he says to him, ‘We are all sinners, you and me,’ and,” added the woman, “the ‘me’ did it. If he had said ‘you’ are a sinner, my husband would not have listened to him, he would not even have let him stay in his room!”

The poor invalid evidently had a proud, unbroken spirit, but the good Christian visitor humbly took his place with him, as by nature a sinner, only with this difference—that one was a sinner unsaved; and the other was a sinner saved by grace. “The ‘me’ did it.”

Come to Jesus

O ye who in the darkness stray

With fainting heart and weary feet,

Yet longing for a safe retreat,

O come to Jesus, for ye may.

O ye who in the twilight grope,

If haply ye may find a way,

Come unto Him without delay,

Exchange your doubts for faith’s sure hope

O ye who sorrow—Jesus died,

O list to His divine behest,

“Ye weary, come to Me, and rest,

My arms of love are opened wide.”

Such were the words of Godhead veiled

‘Neath sorrowing manhood’s lowly guise,

Whom sinners saw but to despise,

And last to Calvary’s cross they nailed.

For three and thirty years He trod

This sin-stained earth, and then He gave

His spotless life unto the grave,

And paid the heavy debt we owed.

Then, sinner, turn thine eye to Him,

Who shed His blood for such as thou,

With life and death He’ll thee endow,

And will thy soul from death redeem.

So thou eternal life shall gain,

So shall thy toil and travail cease,

So shalt thou win eternal peace,

And God’s own rest in heaven attain.

God's Salvation: Is It Yours?

“What a magnificent sight,” I exclaimed as I observed a young man on a wagon in the open street of a large city, reading his Bible. I was at once attracted by such a sight, and stopped to inquire what he had found in the Bible to make him pore over its pages, when others were hurrying to and fro after the busy concerns of life.

“Do you know your sins forgiven, and are you saved by the One of whom your Bible speaks?” were the pointed questions I addressed to hint.

“I am,” he replied, “if I continue in the faith, and hold on to the end.”

“On what ground are you saved, or on what ground do you hope to be saved, may I ask? Is it on the ground of your own works, or the finished work of Christ?”

“Of course it is on the ground of the finished work of Christ,” he said, “but must we not hold on to the end?”

“It is time enough for you to talk about holding on to the end, and continuing in the faith, when you know that you are in the faith, and that you are resting on the solid rock—Christ and His finished work, and when you know that the whole question of your sins has been settled with God. It would help you greatly if you saw the force of those words in Romans 5:9, 10. ‘Much more, then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 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.’ It is plain from those verses that the believer in Christ is already justified—cleared from all charge of guilt by the blood. of Christ, and that he is also reconciled to God—brought into a place of nearness in which formerly he was not.

“The argument of the apostle is, if all this has taken place, that is, that we have been perfectly justified and brought near to God, is there any danger of our being lost after all? Clearly not. As to the future we shall be saved from wrath by the very One through whose blood we have been now justified, and through whose death we have been reconciled; and as to the present, we are being saved by His life.

‘Because I live, ye shall live also.’ ‘He ever liveth to make intercession for us.’ And because He ever lives with God for us as our great High Priest, and as our unfailing Advocate with the Father, He is able to save unto the uttermost—on to the very end of our pilgrimage-pathway—all that come unto God by Him. But to be explicit with you, turn over in your Bible to Hebrews 10:9, 10, and read: ‘Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’

“You know the meaning of sanctified—it simply means being set apart. Well, is it not clear to you from the verses you have read, that the believer in Christ is set apart to God, by God’s will having been accomplished through the work of Christ done once for all?

“Yes, it does seem clear that we are absolutely sanctified by the work of Christ done once for all which certainly needs none of our doings appended.

“He was a perfect Savior. He offered Himself a perfect sacrifice according to the will of God, and God has accepted the work done. It needs no repetition, and indeed never will be repeated. Well now, read verses 14-17: ‘For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them: and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more. Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin.’

“Could anything be plainer than these verses as to the entire satisfaction or setting apart to God of all true believers in the full value of the work of Christ? And, moreover, those who are thus sanctified, are said to be perfected forever, which simply means in perpetuity, like a lease which never runs out. And the Holy Spirit testifies to us (not in us yet, though He dwells in every saved person) by the written Word, that our sins and iniquities God in His marvelous grace remembers no more. All are forgotten, thank God. How gloriously grand is such a salvation, and how worthy of the God of all grace.”

Having said these few words as a passing stranger, I left my friend to ponder them, in the hope that his soul might be established in the true grace of God.

That salvation is entirely of grace, and not of works or merit on our part, Scripture over and over again asserts. Paul says, “And if it be grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then grace is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom. 11:6).

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:4, 5). And also, “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8). shall never forget once conversing with a lady upon these matters. Our conversation turned upon a deceased gentleman, whom she had rightly held in high esteem. She wound up the conversation by saying, “If there be one man in heaven that man is sure to be there, for he was such a good man.” To her great surprise I said, “Well, ma’am, if that man be in heaven he could not be there but on the same ground as the dying robber—as a sinner saved by the matchless grace of God.” “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:9).

For nearly six thousand years the minds of men have been filled with doing. Cain tried it, when he brought of the fruit of the ground, that God had cursed, to atone for his guilt, and to find acceptance with God; but God rejected him and his bloodless offering. Abel, on the contrary, came on the ground of simple faith. Disclaiming any and all merit on his part, “he brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof,” (type of the Lamb of God who Was to come) and offered his sacrifice to God, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, and stood before God an accepted worshiper.

Extracts From Letters From the Front

Dear Mother:

I am still on board ship. The scenery has an attraction and again it hasn’t, for it makes me feel sick, for the more I see the more I feel like Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Vanity of vanities.....all is vanity,” and all my life seems like a dream. Some days I feel quite happy and full of hope, and others I am quite sad and brokenhearted, and I have to go to the Lord about it and look up some of those verses in the Psalms, then I feel better again. The devil tries hard to discourage me but in that hymn in the “Messages of Love” Hymn Book, No. 66, it says we should never be discouraged but take it to the Lord in prayer.

I feel something like David did in the 51st Psalm, but I can thank the Lord for what I have had to pass through, for I don’t believe I would have learned what I have if I had not been here. I can realize a little more of His wondrous love to me. The other day I started to read 2 Timothy and to put my name in the 5th verse instead of Timothy’s and yours and grandmother’s but before I finished it, I could not see for crying and thinking how much I came short of it.

Tell W. he can’t study his Bible too much, for I feel sorry now that I neglected it as much as I did. There is nothing I like better now. I received your last letter the day before we left, and was glad to get it, and even if it does make me cry, it makes me feel better. Well, this may be my last, or it may not, the Lord only knows. If this is the last, you will know where I am and why, but there is one thing, I will be happy up there, and I hope we shall all meet up there soon. It is the only thing I can look forward to with joy, and I like to sing about it.

I received your letter, father’s and Mr. H.’s

Yesterday, and I was glad to get them.

I trust I will soon be delivered from this, but I may have a lot to learn yet, and it is the Lord who will have to open the way and let me out. I can’t see Him coming yet., but I have to wait with patience. (Psa. 27:14). O, if I only knew exactly what the Lord would have me do. I haven’t given up asking Him yet, for the answer must be sure to come some day, but may be not in the way I look for it. (Luke 11:9, 10; Matt. 7:7, 8; John 14:13,14; James 1:5, 6). He knows what I am passing through.

Well, I thank the Lord that I still have a little time to study His Word, although we are kept pretty busy, but I hope the rest of them at home will learn a lesson from me.

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.” Sometimes I feel as if I could stand anything for Him, and at other times, the flesh comes in and tries to frighten me.

One fellow just passed, and asked me if I was writing a sermon, because I have my Bible and Testament open here on the ground by my side and your letters strewn around me.

Well, mother I wish it was all over, and that I could understand Jesus’ commands as well as man’s, and had more courage to do them. I long to have another talk with you but we are thousands of miles apart, though I feel sure we shall meet some day.

There are a lot of heavy hearts here now.

God has been very near and dear to me these past weeks. Some days were more trying than others, and then was the time He proved His nearness. I have had some fine talks with some of the boys, and I was surprised how many, in fact all, who believe that works will get them to heaven. The “Precious Blood” meant nothing. Pray for me, and if I never come back, know that my sleep in Christ Jesus will be far sweeter than anything this world can give.

The Gift of an Evangelist

“What marks the gift of an evangelist is love for souls, not love of preaching. Where the gospel is preached, and God, blesses it, there is fruit, which gives His servant confidence to go on; but when the evangelist is beginning, there may be very little development of the gift, and no fruit seen, but still there will be love for souls, and the endeavor to get at them. He must work by faith, therefore, until he gets proof in results.”

“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2).

Scripture Study: Luke 18

Verses 1-8. This parable puts prayer as the resource of God’s people passing through the time of judgment described in the previous chapter: They are God’s witnesses amid the evils of that day, and are oppressed by the enemy because of their godly ways. Like this widow, they cry to God a Jewish cry for vengeance on their adversaries. The judge hears her because she troubles him, but the Lord looks on tenderly waiting the moment when He can step in for the deliverance of His people. When the right moment is come, He will avenge them speedily. He has heard their day and night cry, and borne with them. “Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Alas! while there are many believers, yet how feeble the cry of faith that counts on deliverance in that day. It is more to be relieved of their distress, than to answer to the Lord’s thoughts, or to be with Him.

And does this parable not also speak to us?

What encouragement to prayer! Do we know God as our unfailing resource? We may be sure His tender heart takes in our need, and looks for a broken will on our part, and that faith that trusts Him amid the storms of this life, and that looks forward to the happy moment when He shall see of the travail of His soul in having us with Himself. Is it to see Him, or is it to be freed from trouble that we pray? May He have the first place in our souls, so that to be with Him may be our greatest desire.

Verses 9-14. We see the moral character that suits God’s Kingdom in contrasting the self-righteous Pharisee „with the self-condemned publican, who go into the temple to pray., The Pharisee, praying with himself, begins with God: but just to thank Him that he is so different from other men. He is so good, does not commit big sins, fasts twice, every week, and gives a tenth of his income for religion. What people call now-a-days “a good church member,” yet does not know that he is in, the sight of God, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Rev. 3:17, 18).

And the Publican, standing afar off, brokenhearted by the conviction of his guilt, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, Wit smote upon his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me the sinner.” Truly a sinner and humbled before God, this confession sends him down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. How different God’s thoughts are from man’s. God shows grace to the man who owns his guilt. And the grace of God bringeth salvation, full and free, to those who feel their need of Him.

Verses 15-17. They brought unto Him infants. His disciples rebuked them, but Jesus called them and said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” The lowly, confiding spirit of the simple child that believes what its mother says, is here set before us as a picture of what is suitable to God in us. The Lord delighted to have them brought to Him in their sweet simplicity. And do not our hearts tell us how pleased He is to find in us this simple confiding; trust in Him? Let us sit as little children and hear what He has to say to us.

Verses 18-27. What blind ignorance is seen in this ruler! He does not know his own badness, nor God’s goodness, and imagines he can get eternal life by doing good works. He sees in Jesus only a good man. The Lord’s answer to this is, “Why tallest thou Me, good? None is good, save one, that is, God.” Yes, Jesus was good, for He was God, but the ruler pretends also to be good, and to have kept the law from his youth up. The. Lord knew his covetous heart was set on his riches, and said, “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me.” This touched his covetous heart, his riches were more important than God, or his soul. The eternal life he wanted was second to his riches. Mammon was his god, and he did not know it till then, and now he goes away grieved, “very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! for it is, easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” What a snare after all riches are! The heart is twined round them, and what self-importance possessions work in a person’s mind. The Jews might argue, “Riches are a blessing from God.” Do they ever do the heart good? What grace is needed to use them rightly!

The disciples, are astonished and ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God He knows how to make the spirit poor and to humble man’s pride, and to give one a holy nature Old cleansing from sin through the work of Christ on the cross and by the work of the Holy Spirit in him.

Verses 28-30. What Peter says here is a suggestive word. The Lord’s answer takes any self-esteem out of it, so that the truth applies itself to all who have left anything for the kingdom of God’s sake, and promises that they shall “receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” “Manifold more.” What? (Compare Mark 10:30; Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 1:5). And those who are thus, devoted to Christ’s interests, can bear witness to His faithfulness at every turn in all their need.

Verses 31-34. He tells them what is to happen to Him at Jerusalem: He must fulfill the Scriptures in suffering, be delivered unto the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on: scourged and put to death: And on the third day rise again. They did not take it in, it was thus hidden from them, they knew not the rejection that would come to them, nor the blessing that they would be brought into through it.

Verses 35-43, begins a new division. He is going up to Jerusalem as the Messiah, and nigh to Jericho a blind man sits by the highway side begging. As the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. They told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. Jesus of Nazareth He was, in the multitude’s eyes, but to the blind man who wanted his eyesight, he was the true Messiah, and so he cried, saying, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” The people that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” He offended the crowd, but it did not offend the dignity of the great King who had come to bless His people, and that they which see not, might see. Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto Him, and, when he was come near, he asked him, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” and he said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Well did the Lord know what he wanted, but He loves to hear needy sinners tell out their need to Him, and like an echo the answer came, “Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee.” As ever He delights to meet the needy and to bless them, opening their eyes to see His glories.

The man with the opened eyes (for immediately his eyes were opened), followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. And so will it be when Israel’s eyes are at last opened to behold their King.

A Sure Refuge

Go when the morning shineth—

Go when the moon is bright—

Go when the eve declineth—

Go in the hush of night:

Go with pure mind and feeling,

Fling earthly thoughts away,

And in thy chamber kneeling,

Do thou in secret pray.

Remember all who love thee,

All who are loved by thee;

Pray too for those who hate thee,

If any such there be.

Then for thyself in meekness,

A blessing humbly claim,

And link with each petition

Thy great Redeemer’s name.

O! not a joy or blessing

With this can we compare,

The power that He has given

To pour our souls in prayer!

Whene’er thou pin’st in sadness,

Before His footstool fall,

Remember in thy, gladness

His grace who gave thee all.

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

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” (John 16:23).

“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 14:24).

The Writing of the New Testament: Part 2

The Gospel of John on the other hand has scarcely any incidents in common with the others. It was written long after the others. We may ask, Was it written to supply needs which arose after the first three gospels were written? The first generation of witnesses had passed away, and John, the last of the apostles, emphasizes the reality of the things which he had heard and seen. (John 19:35). “Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples.” (John 20:30). “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24). “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which. we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life;..... That which. we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” (1 John 1:1, 3).

False teachers had arisen denying the divinity of the Lord and these John abundantly answers.

But the Gospel of John is much more than this. It is the last and fullest testimony, the revelation of the Father and the Son.

But to return to the writing of the gospels, we can see that at length the need for a written gospel would be felt. Christians were found in all parts of the world; of the original church at Jerusalem, many were scattered, many were dead. Then Luke tells us that “many had taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.” Luke tells us that the book of Acts was written after the Gospel. Many have thought that the Gospel of Luke was written during the two years when Paul was in prison at Caesarea. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem in the year 60, and sailed with him from Caesarea in the year 62. During the interval which he spent in Palestine he would have opportunity for converse with many who had known the Lord, even possibly with Mary, the Lord’s mother.

No other clue is given us in the New Testament as to how the gospels were written, but a tradition, which reaches back to apostolic times, gives us a few particulars.

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, who knew Poly-carp who had known the apostle John, writes as follows about 100 A. D.:

“Matthew indeed produced his Gospel written among the Hebrews in their own language, whilst Peter and Paul proclaimed the gospel and founded the church at Rome. After the departure of these, Mark the disciple and interpreter of Peter also transmitted to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. And Luke, the companion of Paul, committed to writing the gospel preached by him, that is, Paul. Afterward John, the disciple of our Lord, the same who lay upon His bosom, also published his Gospel whilst he was yet at Ephesus in Asia.’

The next witness, also about 100 A. D. is Papias who knew the elders who knew the apostles. He gives the following on the authority of the Presbyter John: “Mark being the interpreter of Peter, whatsoever he recorded, he wrote with great accuracy, but not however in the order in which it was spoken or done by our Lord, for he neither heard nor followed our Lord, but as before said, he was in company with Peter who gave him such instruction as was necessary; but not to give a history of our Lord’s discourses. Wherefore Mark has not erred in anything by writing some things as he has recorded them, for he was carefully attentive to one thing, not to pass by anything that he heard, or to state anything falsely in these accounts.” Of Matthew he says, “Matthew composed his history in the Hebrew dialect and everyone translated it as he was able.”

Eusebius who was born towards the end of the third century, passed through the last great persecution under Diocletian. When it was over, and Constantine had granted liberty of worship to Christians, Eusebius tried to gather up all the remaining records and traditions of the first three centuries of the church, and thus wrote the first church history. It is a most wonderful and interesting book, and will well repay careful study. Although not infallible, much of it is certainly correct, and it is the basis of all the histories of the church for the first three centuries ever since.

Eusebius, whose opinion, therefore is worth regarding, sets down his conclusions as to the writing of the gospels as follows: “Of all the disciples, (apostles) Matthew and John are the only ones that have left us recorded comments, and even they, tradition says undertook it from necessity. Matthew having first proclaimed the gospel in Hebrew, when on the point of going also to other nations, committed it to writing in his native tongue and thus supplied the want of his presence to them by his writings. But after Mark and Luke had already published their gospels, they say that John, who during all this time was proclaiming the gospel without writing, at length proceeded to write it on the following occasion. The three gospels previously written having been distributed among all, and also handed to him, they say that he admitted them, giving his testimony to their truth; but that there was only wanting in the narrative the account of the things done by Christ, among the first of His deeds and at the commencement of the Gospel. And this was the truth. For it is evident that the other three evangelists only wrote the deeds of our Lord for one year after the imprisonment of John the Baptist and intimated this in the very beginning of their history.” John has passed by in silence the genealogy of our Lord; he commenced with the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ, a part reserved for him by the divine Spirit.

It is evident that this account of the writing of John’s Gospel is quite inadequate. That it was written last is evident from the little explanatory notes on the institutions and feasts of the Jews which show that it was addressed to people to whom they were unfamiliar. It would appear also that it was written after Peter’s martyrdom on account of the reference in John 21:19 to the death he was to die, that is, by crucifixion.

(To be continued).

The Father's Care

A gentleman was laid on a bed of sickness for about eighteen months. He had been a man of business, but through his illness and the depression of trade at that time, he was compelled to retire into private life. He was not only a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also a faithful servant of His. His wife, who was also a believer, and whose faith was to be commended, had to take the duty of nurse while having the responsibility of a large family. Through this time of trouble and anxiety, no one expected to see this servant of the Lord live, and many were the deliverances in the trial, that I could relate. Among them, the following may prove to be an encouragement to some fainting child of God.

The wife was seated one day by the bedside of her afflicted husband, discussing how they were going to get bread for the next day, for they had no flour in the house. They were both praying to God, with tearful eyes, yet with faith that their heavenly Father would provide for their necessities. While they were thus engaged, a knock was heard at the door, which was answered by one of the children, who found a sack of flour had been placed there by a boy, who would not say where it was from. They then thanked God for His great deliverance.

Dear Christian reader, has some great sorrow overtaken you, some trial which has stripped you of much which your heart has held dear, and left you in poor circumstances, and all but helpless?

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust His promised grace;

Behind a frowning; Providence

He hides a smiling face.”

Remember, your faith has to do with One of whom it is written, He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” To His feeblest child He says, whatever the circumstances and trials may be, “Ask of Me great and mighty things, and things thou knowest not of,” and He “will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths they have not known: I will make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.”

In regard to over-carefulness, dear reader, hear His voice to you through the Son of His love, “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. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matt. 6:28-30).

However tried, therefore, dwell not upon your sorrows, nor look to your own wisdom and resources, but to the love and faithfulness of Him who is able to restore what you have lost—at any rate, turn your very adversity into blessing, and enrich your spirit. (Rom. 8:28, 32).

Hold firmly to God’s Word for He has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5).

Obtaining Peace

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1). We are justified by God upon our believing Himself. Here is a divine action, which is everlasting. True, we may not realize that we are justified, neither could we know that such was the case unless God told us so in His word; but if we take it simply, and believe it, that we are justified by God, the consequence in our souls will be peace with God. We look through a telescope, and see a star which our unaided vision could not discern, but the telescope enables us to say without doubt that a star shines yonder! So as we fix our gaze on these words, “Being justified,” we can say with certainty, “we have peace with God.”

Correspondence: 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Mat. 24:34; Luke 21:32; 1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 4:6

Question: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Here the coming is for the church, is it not? Will all the Old Testament saints, before and after the flood be raised at this time, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air? G. E. F. P.

Answer: Yes, 1 Corinthians 15:23 is quite clear. “They that are Christ’s at His coming.” All the saints who have died and are at that time in their graves will be raised and caught up together with the changed living ones to meet the Lord. The Old Testament saints are dear to Him, though they are not in the church.

Verse 14 is Christ’s coming with His saints to reign.

Verses 15-18 explain that He comes for them before that. These verses are a parenthesis.

The twenty-four elders in Revelation, include all the heavenly saints, of both Old and New Testaments.

Question: What does “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” mean? (Matt. 24:34; Luke 21:32). H. G. C.

Answer: It means that the Jews will have the same unbelieving character when the Lord comes to fulfill His Word as they had when He was on earth.

Question: What is the meaning of the word “Castaway”? (1 Cor. 9:27).

What connection has “keeping the body under and bringing it unto subjection” with “salvation”? C. M.

Answer: Castaway, means: utterly rejected, reprobate, totally bad. “The word castaway troubles some. People have tried to make out that a castaway is not a castaway Paul was perfectly well assured as to himself; but he says if he had been merely preaching, he would have been falsely assured; but if not merely beating the air, he was rightly assured.” (J. N. D. notes on 1 Cor).

To keep the body under and bring it into subjection is to apply the truth of the death of Christ to myself, and this no unconverted person could do, only living Christians. Many preachers are not converted and will perish. (Compare Rom. 6:6, 11, 12; 8:10; 2 Cor. 4:10; 1 Peter 4:1, 2).

Question On Galatians 4:6, by C.

Answer: The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of His Son in the passage, to assure our hearts of our relationship as children to the Father, and that He, loves us with the same love wherewith He “loves His Son. (John 17:26).

Trying and Trusting

L. had been anxious about her soul from early childhood, but she grew up to womanhood without knowing the forgiveness of her sins. It may have been partly owing to the wrong teaching she received; for she was told by those who, while professing to be guides, knew not the way of salvation themselves, that if she gave up the world, and prayed more, she would at length get peace.

But L. loved the world, and though she made many solves to give it up, she found herself unable to resist its pleasures. The illness or death of a friend would make her feel very miserable, for she not only grieved for such, but thought afresh of her own unpreparedness for eternity. At such times she would go to church oftener, and try to conform outwardly to religious observances, which only made her the more unhappy.

If L. had read the Word of God, instead of resting on man’s word, she would have found that God’s way is quite different from man’s way. Man looks within, to find something he can give to God. God gave His Son for the sinner, and says, “Hear ye Him.” L. had yet to learn her utter powerlessness to give anything to a holy God from a fallen, corrupt nature.

When L. was about eighteen, she thought perhaps she should feel happier if she was confirmed; so she went to have a conversation upon the subject, with the clergyman. Mr. G. seemed to think her hardly eligible for confirmation, as she was not sufficiently acquainted with the Catechism, and advised her studying the same, and would then see her again.

“But, sir,” said L. “if I should die before I am confirmed, what will become of me?” “Confirmation.” he answered, “will not fit you to die; it will not make any difference to you whether you are confirmed or not.” “Then, Mr. G. I will not be confirmed.” “Very well,” he said; and they parted. As L. walked home she thought over the conversation with the clergyman.

“He never told me how to prepare for death,” she thought. “Perhaps he did not know my misery. O, that I could be a Christian! Will God have mercy upon me?”

Later on a fierce thought took possession of her, that she would throw herself into the river flowing silently at her side. But there came to her remembrance, “After death the judgment.” Why did that thought stop her wicked design? Many years afterward she would speak of what she then feared; it was not death to the body, but the great white throne, the having to give an account of herself to God. How could she face a holy God unwashed, unforgiven? How could she dare to rush into His Presence, so vile, so unsuitable for eternity? How good of God to hold her back from destruction, and how little she then knew it was His goodness leading her to repentance.

Several years passed away, only leaving her more anxious and dissatisfied. She had tried the world’s pleasures, and she was weary of them. She had passed through deep and bitter sorrows, but the only One who could have sympathized was yet unknown. Would she ever find rest for her burdened conscience? Yes. The One who seeks the lost was seeking her. He was only waiting for her to give up trying, then she would trust Him.

Mentally worn, and really ill, she, went with a Christian aunt to a seaside town. While there it was thought desirable for L. to have medical advice. Dr. M. happened to be staying in the place, so the aunt consulted him about her niece, telling him also of her distressed state of soul. He was greatly interested, and saw her at once; not before he had specially prayed on her behalf. When D. M. handed L. her medicine, he said, “Do you believe this will do you good?”

“Yes,” she replied, “or I would not take it.” “True; so you can trust me, a man, for the healing of your body; and can’t you trust God for the healing of your soul? ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’” There was a slight pause, then L. looked up. “Doctor,” she said, “I do believe.”

A heartfelt “Thank God,” and shake of the hand, and he was gone.

“My dear L.,” said her aunt, “do you really mean what you told Dr. M.?”

“It would have been untrue to have said anything else. As the question was put to me, I knew that I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“And are you clear as to the forgiveness of all your sins?”

“No, aunt; but I trust God to show me now, for a great light has dawned upon me, and all fear of the future has gone.”

The following day these scriptures came with power to her soul: “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isa. 43:25).

“Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Mic. 7:19).

Her burden was gone; she rejoiced with all her heart. She saw how God could blot out her transgressions; not by her strivings, her prayers, her tears, nor anything the ever did, or could do, but solely on the ground of the finished work of the Lord. Jesus Christ. O, how good to her weary soul! What sweet rest! How could she have been so blind, as not to have seen before, that Christ died for her sins, according to the Scriptures; and thanksgiving and praise went up to the precious Savior, whose blood had cleansed her from all sin.

L. was a new creature; she felt she was. Her old companions saw the great change, for her happiness was as apparent as her misery had been, and confession followed. Wherever she went, she ceased not to tell that God had put away her sins, through the precious blood of Jesus, and that He would remember them no more; and then in the words of Scripture she would say, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” (Psa. 34:8).

L. had arrived at a wonderful stage in her soul’s history—the forgiveness of sins! Could she know anything better? She thought not, and for a time it was her theme. Then she began to think of the One who had wrought such a great deliverance for her, and her heart said, Where is He? Not in the grave surely, for did not the angels tell the women at the empty grave, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:5, 6). And in the fifty-first verse she read, “He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”

What a new thought for her, she had a living Savior in glory! What an object for her soul’s worship and praise! O, what a salvation! How she would like to see the One who had redeemed her. She read the Lord’s own words, “I will come again, and receive you, unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Would that coming be when she died? No, a living Lord, coming for living saints. L.’s joy became deeper and deeper as she learned more of Christ and His finished work for her.

“As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2).

“Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18).

Extracts From Letters From the Front.

Was indeed surprised to receive your letter, but was very glad to hear from you. Thank you for the leaflets. I left the others where anyone wishing any could take one.

You asked me when I was saved. I can’t exactly give you a definite answer. About eight years ago I was working in one of the offices of the city of W., and one of the, men with whom I used to work, used to come to the office after business hours to study his Bible. He and I got to talking on religious topics, and I became very much interested and vowed to myself that I would inquire deeper into these things. Well, I often used to have long talks with him, and I used to read the Bible on my own account. Gradually the conviction grew upon me that Christ had died for our sins, and the thought came to me, Why not take God at His word and accept His salvation.

Well, I did so, and to cut a long story short, I know that I am saved through the blood of Christ, and that all my sins are forgiven.

The temptations in the army are many. Yet He keeps me from sin, and in the time of great danger I find comfort in the knowledge, that He is near, and able to save to the uttermost.

Continue to pray for me, for I know how weak we are of ourselves. Our strength is in Him. One can hardly keep from getting so careless in the army.

Could you send me a Testament in, a leather case, pocket size? I have one, but the edges of the leaves have all got torn, as I have no case to keep it in.

The war shows no signs of finishing for a while yet. One hardly knows what to think about it. One thing I do know is that God is still in heaven and over all.

Received your gift of the Testament a couple of days ago. It is a beauty and I value it very, very much. It was very kind of you to send it, and I want you to accept my sincere thanks. As God’s Word, it is my most precious possession.

When I first opened it, the verse Jude 24 was the first that caught my eye. You had marked it, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, because as I told you, I think one of the greatest difficulties of the Christian life is to live in the way that we know He would have us live.

“Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling,” had a special significance for me.

The copies of “The Sower” have been reaching me safely, and I am glad to get them.

They refresh one and I pass them on to others, so that they, too, may be helped. It has been a great comfort to me out here to be able to feel Him near in the hour of danger.

One realizes in this land of sudden death, the futility of earthly riches. Only spiritual wealth counts. You will pray for me, won’t you? that I may grow in grace, and serve Him better day by day.

I was thinking of all the ruined towns I have seen here, and the thought came to me of how little value are worldly goods. A few short years ago I suppose the inhabitants of these different towns never dreamed that soon their homes would be laid low, and all their worldly possessions lost to them. But spiritual riches are ours forever.

I thank you for your prayers on my behalf. To know that one is being prayed for is of great spiritual aid. I often think it is the prayers of our friends, even more than our own, which help to keep us on the true pathway. I know that God does hear when we call upon Him.

I would say to anyone coming out here that they need Someone to turn to in the hour of danger. When death is all around you, the things you used to count upon for support, seem trivial indeed. Personally I do not know how I would have “carried on” on one or two occasions unless I had felt His presence near. It is a comfort to breathe up a prayer and to know that you are heard. I also believe that no harm can come to one unless He wills.

I value the Testament you sent me very much. It is my most precious possession.

I am sincerely grateful that C. and I are being prayed or at your prayer meetings. It always seems to me that one can never drift far if one’s friends are praying for them. I do need your prayers: There are many temptations here, but I know that there is victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. I often wish the war was over, and one had more time to devote to Bible study. One cannot seem to get alone with God in France or here, that is so essential to spiritual growth: You cannot get by yourself, still one knows that God is everywhere and always hears our cry.

God for Me

God is for me—wondrous story!

Can such goodness really be?

God, the God of Light and Glory,

For a ruined thing like me.

Blessed they who learn to say it!

In a risen Christ, who see

Him who could alone display it,

Spite of ruin—God for me.

Once against me, Satan’s power,

Once against me, self and sins,

All o’ercome in that blest hour

Which at Calvary begins.

God is for me—words of glory,

Secret to my heart made known:

Blotting out its own sad story,

Filling it with Christ alone.

When shall dawn the day of glory,

Face to face I then shall see

Him who told in death the story

Of His perfect love to me.

God for me—O, wondrous story!

Secret from which heaven doth shine,

All the praise and all the glory,

Lamb of God! be ever Thine

Luke 19: Scripture Study

In the end of the previous chapter, the blind man proclaimed Jesus, the “Son of David,” while the multitude told him that “Jesus of Nazareth” passeth by. The blind man owned Him as the Messiah. In this chapter He goes on to present Himself at Jerusalem as the King. On the way He acts in sovereign grace, bestowing blessing on the outcast sinner, and entirely opposed to the thoughts of the religious leaders.

Verse 1. Jesus entered and passed through Jericho—the city of the curse—and the city of Israel’s entry into the land.

Verses 2.-4. Zacchaeus, the rich chief of the despised tax gatherers, hated because of in the employ of the Roman government and which taxing put the Jews ever in mind of their sin that made them of their sin that made them subject to Gentile rule. It was a position of reproach for a Jew to hold, and all this made him a fine case for grace to display itself in.

This man had an earnest desire to see Jesus, who He was, a desire wrought by the Spirit in his soul, but being little of stature, he could not see Him for the press, so he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way.

The grace that had wrought in this man, made him oblivious to what people might say or think. One purpose was before him, and difficulties must be overcome, though it makes him little in the eyes of others. The Lord could rightly estimate this wholeheartedness, and answer the desire He had implanted in his soul. Here we are reminded of how He met us in our need.

Verses 5-8. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”

What a surprise to the publican, and such gracious words, actually inviting Himself to abide in his house. It did not take him long to respond, for he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.

More than he were surprised, for when they saw it, they all murmured, as they had done on another occasion (15:2), saying “That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”

Yes, indeed, He came for that very purpose. Blessed be His name!

Zacchaeus heard the murmur too. It touched him, and he stood, and said unto the Lord: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Notice this is not a new beginning, a resolve for the future; it is “I give,” “I restore,” that is, what he had been doing. It does not say when he commenced doing this. It looks like an apology for his position as tax gatherer, a wrong position for a Jew, but it also shows an upright life, and he could not have said it if it had not been true. Was there another man in the crowd who could say it? Could any of us Christians say it? But what answer does the Lord, make? He ignores it altogether. He needs no apology for His actions, and the ground of His going to a sinner’s house is grace alone. It should make the murmuring Pharisees, ashamed of their ways also, and alarmed about themselves, but blind men cannot see; their orthodox religion had no such pity for the poor, nor upright behavior in money affairs, yet they boasted in their goodness. The Lord knew them better (chap. 20:46; 47).

Verses 9, 10. And Jesus said unto him, “This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” There is no merit in the sinner; he cannot make any. The Savior comes to seek, to beget a desire in the sinner’s soul; and to save, to satisfy that desire. All the sons of Abraham need a Savior, for all are lost. And he was the good Shepherd of Israel come, calling His lost sheep by name, as one of His own. O blessed day for Zacchaeus! What a happy day in that house where Jesus has come to abide as God’s salvation. Does the reader know of joy like this?

Verse 11. Those who heard these things began to think that the Kingdom of God was about to be set up in manifest power. The Lord spake a parable to correct this thought.

Verse 12. He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” In this we see the Lord sitting on high at the Father’s right hand Waiting the time when He will claim His Kingdom in power and glory.

Verse 13. Meantime his servants left behind are supplied with the means, and told to “Occupy till I come.” This is our present service for Christ.

Verse 14. “But his citizens, the Jews, hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’” In Acts 3 Peter was authorized to tell the Jews that if they would repent, Jesus would return and fulfill prophecy and set up the Kingdom, but they arrested and persecuted His servants, and then murdered Stephen, thus sending this message after Him. Jesus received the messenger on high, so the door was closed.

Verse 15. Each of the servants is called to give an account when the lord returns. In this parable each servant receives alike one pound, and is rewarded according as the lord approves his success. In Matthew 25 each is given talents according to his ability, and each good servant receives the same approval, so that Matthew 25 shows the Lord’s sovereignty in giving. Here it is more the servant’s responsibility in laboring.

Verses 16, 17. Then came the first, saying, “Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.” And he said unto him, “Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” And indeed it is in a very little any of us have been faithful. (See Luke 17:10). What an enormous reward for a little faithfulness! It surely is all of grace. Even the small return we are able to make is what grace, His grace, has wrought in us.

Verses 18, 19. The second gained five pounds, and to him is given five cities to rule over. Should not these examples stimulate us to more diligence to, please Him?

Verses 20-26. Another came with his lord’s pound laid up in a napkin; no use to himself, nor to any one else, nor to his master, but he did not know his master’s character, he misjudged him, and feared. Alas! he was a wicked servant, his mind was set on other things than his Lord’s service. His Lord judges him out of his own confession. So—what he had is taken from him, and given to the one who had the most, for the more we use, the more we get. Yes, the diligent soul has an entrance ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10, 11).

Verse 27. The doom of the Christ-rejecting Jews is here declared, “Slay them before me.” (And Matt. 22:7; Luke 21:23, 24; 1 Thess. 2:16; tell that it is carried out).

Verse 28-38. Having thus spoken, He leads the way going up to Jerusalem. He prepares for the entry into Jerusalem. And it is to be noticed, that everything favors this. The divine influence makes the hearts of all respond for the occasion. The owners of the colt let it go, the people place their garments on the colt and strew them in the way. They set Him on the colt, and when He was come nigh, even now to the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples, swayed by the power of God and the remembrance of all they had seen and heard in and of Him, began to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. It is the pathway of the great King entering His city, but, alas! because of man’s condition, He is there in lowly grace, the meek and lowly one come to suffer.

Verses 39, 40. A discordant note breaks into this joyful scene. The Pharisees, the religious Christ-rejecters, cannot bear it. They said unto Him, “Master, rebuke Thy disciples.” And He answered and said unto them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Alas! for the hearts that would quench such a song.

But it is “peace in heaven.” “It is glory in the highest,” and earth is still the abode of sin and opposition to God. And the Savior must be rejected and suffer.

Verses 41-44. His tears now flow as He looks on the beloved city, soon to be in the throes of judgment, to be leveled to the ground because of its sin, because it knew not the day of its visitation. The things which were for its peace were hid from its eyes. Nothing remained for it but judgment.

Verses 45-48. He went into the temple and began to cast out the avaricious dealers that now occupied it, saying unto them, “It is written, My house is the house of prayer” (Isa. 56:7), “but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Jer. 7:11). Still He went on with it, teaching daily. The chief priests, scribes and chief of the people seeking to destroy Him, but unable to find how to do it, as all the people were attentive to hear Him.

The Mission of Prayer

The divine wisdom has given us prayer, not as a means whereby to obtain the good things of earth, but as a means whereby we learn to do without them; not as a means whereby we escape, evil, but as a means whereby we become strong to meet it.

The Cry of the Four Winds

“How long is it,” asked an old Mohammedan woman in Bengal, “since Jesus died for sinful people? Look at me! I am old; I have prayed, I have given alms, I have gone to the holy shrines, I am become as dust with fasting; and all this is useless. Where have you been all this time?”

That cry was echoed from the icy shores of the farthest North-West Territory.

“You have been many moons in this land,” said an old Eskimo to the Bishop of Selkirk, ‘did’ you know this good news then? Since you were a boy? and your fathers knew? then why did you not come sooner?”

It was heard in the snowy heights of the Andes.

“How is it,” asked a Peruvian, “that during all the years of my life I. never before heard that Jesus Christ spoke those precious words?”

It was repeated in the white streets of Casablanca.

“Why,” cried a Moor to a Bible-seller, “have you not run everywhere with this Book? Why do so many of my people not know the Jesus whom it proclaims? Shame on you!”

It is the cry from the four winds. How shall we answer it?

The Writing of the New Testament: Part 3

In passing on to the writing of the epistles, little need be said, for their authorship is undisputed and the occasions of their being written is usually quite clear from their contents.

The Epistle to the Romans was written by Paul from Corinth about the year 60 when he spent three months in Greece just before, setting out on his last journey to Jerusalem. (Acts 20:2, 3). It was carried by Phoebe, the servant of the Church at Cenchrea, which is the port of Corinth, and it contained greetings from Gaius, who lived in Corinth. (1 Cor. 1:14).

1 Corinthians was written a short time before Romans, about the year 59, probably from the house of Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus. Acts 18:26. We see that Priscilla and Aquila were living in Ephesus when Apollos passed through that city shortly before Paul’s visit. Paul had in mind (Acts 19:21) to visit Achaia (where Corinth was situated), but delayed his visit and instead wrote a letter to the Corinthians, whose conduct had caused him so much grief.

2 Corinthians was written a short time later from Philippi, after he had received from Titus the cheering news of the repentance of the Corinthians. “And after the uproar was ceased (Acts 20:1) Paul called unto him the disciples and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.” 2 Corinthians 1:8 speaks of the ordeal which he had just passed through in Ephesus. 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13 tells how he reached Troas, the first port of Macedonia, but was in too much grief of spirit over the conduct of the Corinthians to preach there. However, on his return journey, on his way to Jerusalem after visiting Corinth, he stayed seven days at Troas, and on the first day of the week preached till long after midnight (Acts 20:7). 2 Corthians 8:1 speaks of the liberality of the Macedonian churches which Paul was visiting at the time. 2 Corinthians 13:1. Paul tells the Corinthians that he expects to visit them in a short time, as in fact he did.

The Epistle to the Galatians was written from 14 to 20 years after the call of the apostle, perhaps during his sojourn in Ephesus; in any case not long after the founding of the churches of Galatia.

Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were written during his two years’ captivity in Rome about the year 64.

The Epistle to Philemon, who probably lived at or near Colosse, was written during the same period at the end of Paul’s captivity, when he expected soon to be set free.

1 and 2 Thessalonians were both written from Athens apparently after Silas and Timotheus had joined Paul there. (Acts 17:15, 16). The Thessalonians had only been converted a very short time and were going through a season of trial and persecution. Paul wrote to encourage them.

The First Epistle to Timothy was written as the apostle was leaving Ephesus for Macedonia. The date is uncertain, but many have thought that it was after his first imprisonment, when, for a short time, about the year 65, he was free again.

The Epistle to Titus was written about the same time, after a visit to Crete, of which we have no other account.

2 Timothy, Paul’s last Epistle, was written from prison in Rome shortly before his martyrdom in the year 66.

Although Hebrews contains no salutation or mark of authorship, it is generally believed to have been written by Paul. I cannot do better than quote. Mr. Darby’s remarks on Hebrews and the Catholic epistles contained in the Introduction to the French Bible. He says: “The Epistle to the Hebrews was written at a comparatively late period in view of the judgments which were about to fall on Jerusalem. It calls the Christian Jews to separate themselves from that which God was on the point of judging.”

The Epistle of James relates to a time when this separation had not taken place in any way. Jewish Christians are looked at as still making part of an Israel which is not yet definitely rejected. They recognize Jesus only as the. Lord of glory. Like the other Catholic epistles, that of James was written in the last days of the apostolic history when Christianity had been widely accepted among the tribes of Israel, and judgment was going to close their history.

Those of John were written later still.

The First Epistle of Peter shows us that the gospel had already been widely spread among the Jews; it is addressed to the Christian Jew of the dispersion.

The Second Epistle of course is later, and belongs to the end of the apostle’s life when he was about to “lay aside this tabernacle” and leave his brethren. He did not want to leave them without the warnings which his apostolic care could soon give them no longer; for this reason, as in the Epistle of Jude, this Second Epistle of Peter speaks of those who had denied the faith, and of those who were denying the promise of the coming of the Lord.

In the First Epistle of John, according to the witness of this apostle himself we are in the “last hour.” The apostates are already manifested, the apostates of the truth of Christianity, denying the Father and the Son, and joining in Jewish unbelief to deny that Jesus was the Christ.

The Epistle of Jude comes morally before that of John. It shows us the false brethren who had slipped in unawares in the midst of the saints and brings us to the final rebellion and judgment. It differs from that of Peter in that it does not look at evil as a simple iniquity but as a leaving of the first estate.

Revelation completes the picture by showing us Christ in the midst of the churches represented by golden candlesticks. The first church, having abandoned her first love, is warned that unless she repents and returns to her first estate, the candlestick will be removed. The final judgment of the church is found in Thyatira and Laodicea. This book then shows the judgment of the world, and the return of the Lord, the Kingdom, and heavenly city, and finally the eternal state.

The Voice of My Beloved! - “Behold He Cometh.” - Song of Solomon 2: 8

I am listening for the footfall

Of my own beloved Lord;

Searching daily in the Scriptures,

His most blest and sacred Word,

Where He tells me He is coming—

Coming soon to take me home;

Yea, and all His blood-bought children,

Who shall share His glorious throne

I am listening for the sounding

Of the trump of God—the last;

When the sleeping saints awaken

As they hear the mighty blast;

And the living and remaining

In a moment changed shall be;

For this mortal then, God tells us,

Puts on immortality!

O, the shout when He descendeth—

His triumphant shout we’ll hear,

As He comes to the mid heavens,

And we all behold Him near!

Yea, the very sight will draw us

From the earth to His blest feet.

Say, can words describe the rapture

As our Bridegroom thus we meet!

It may be while we are listening

For His summons: “Come away!”

We shall hear those words so precious—

He may utter them today!

Then how urgent His commandment:

“Go out quickly,” gather in

Poor, lost sinners, sad and weary,

Whom the Savior died to win!

Be of Good Courage

The word of exhortation to God’s people to be of good courage runs all through the Bible. He who undertakes to fight for God must do so with a Wave spirit, or he will certainly be defeated. The secret of courage lies in the sense that God is with us, and this sense flows out from obeying God’s Word.

A work is given to every Christian to do for Christ. It must be undertaken and pursued with courage. Faint hearts win no fights. Successful workers for God are men and women who believe God has sent them to accomplish an end for Him on the earth.

Has God given us a work to do? Then go forward and do it in His strength! Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. On your knees you may plead and pour out your fears, but before the foe fear should have no place.

Consider Him

The sky of Palestine, we know, is far clearer than our own; the starry worlds above appear to be suspended in the heavens—some nearer, some more distant from the earth than others—while the milky way shines again with its soft, clear light. If the innumerable could be numbered, the stars as seen there seem capable of being counted, so vividly do they shine. As David looked up to those heavens he exclaimed, “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him?”

Let us for a moment consider together with David, and then turn to a word which speaks of our Jehovah-Jesus: “By Him were all things created:... all things were created by Him, and for Him.” (Col. 1:16). The great Creator has been mindful of us. He is our Redeemer; Jehovah-Jesus is our Savior, our Shepherd, and our Friend.

It is well that His majesty and glory should engage our hearts, especially when our own anxieties and fears threaten to cast us down. Our Savior, who is God over all blessed forever, is He who holds us in safety in the hollow of His hand. Further, it is well that His glory should be before us in the presence of the irreverence and unbelief of our times. There can be no true prosperity of soul where reverence of Christ is lacking, and real reverence flows out from the faith of who our Lord is.

Correspondence

Question: What does Matthew 24:32, 33 teach? (See also Mark 13:28, 29; Luke 21:29.) Does it mean the distress of nations at the present time?

Or is it like Revelation 6? M. D.

Is the olive tree (Rom. 11) Christ or the church? Into what were the Gentiles graffed?

W. G.

Answer: There are three trees specially mentioned in the New Testament. The vine, the fig and the olive; each teaches its own lesson.

1st. The Vine. Israel was the vine brought out of Egypt (Psa. 8:8), but it became a degenerate vine. The Lord setting it aside, said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman,... and ye are the branches.” This was while He was on earth, and now as crucified, dead, risen and ascended to the Father, He is Head of His body, the church. Our relationship with him is members of His body. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). This is a living union where no cutting off can be. The lesson now for us in the vine is a lesson on fruit bearing—a lesson on how to walk in communion with the Lord. We all should know how easy it is to get out of communion with the Lord, and we need to remember that He has said, “Without Me ye can do nothing (Ver. 51). The word for us here is, “Abide in Me.”

2nd. The fig tree is Israel in the flesh, that bore nothing hut leaves, though the Lord had taken great pains with it. The Lord cursed it, showing us that it never will bear fruit. (Compare Luke 13:6-9; Matt. 21:17-20; Mark 11:12-14). But in John 1:48-50 we see Nathaniel (the figure of the believing remnant among the Jews), an Israelite in whom is no guile, under the fig tree, showing us how the Lord respects the godly ones, and after the death of Christ, when the Holy Spirit came, those godly Jews were brought into the body of Christ, and into the House of God (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; 1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 2:5-47).

3rd. The olive tree is God’s witness or testimony on the earth. Abraham was called out to be this, then his children, Isaac and Jacob, then Israel, then because of Israel’s failure, some of them were broken off, and the Gentiles were graffed in. Israel had what was of God—the Word of God, Moses and the prophets (Rom. 3:2; 9:4), but now it is in the Christian profession we find what God owns. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and with us, and we have the whole Word of God—the Bible. Then the Gentile assembly is seen to fail, and these wild olive branches will be broken off, and the natural branches grafted in again. So that when the church, the body of Christ, is taken home at the coming of the Lord for His saints, the testimony will again return to the Jews, and Israel as a whole will be saved. No child of God can be broken off from Christ. He cannot cease to he one of His members, he cannot lose his salvation.

When the Jews get back into their land, and are seen prospering, it is the fig tree budding, but they are in unbelief, and do not believe on the Lord Jesus as their king till they see Him.

Till the Lord Jesus comes for to take home His heavenly people, there is no prophecy being fulfilled. The distress of nations spoken of, and Revelation 6 are to be after we are gone.

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

Young Christian: Volume 8, 1918

Table of Contents

Saved Through a Hymn

Present Forgiveness of Sin

O Grace Divine

My Conversion

Never Forgotten

Scripture Study: Luke 10:1-24

Who Loved Me, and Gave Himself for Me

The Blesser and the Blessing

Insensibility

The Lord Our Shepherd

The Shepherd's Presence

Yet a Little While

In Season and Out of Season

Correspondence: Faith; Matt. 8 vs. Luke 7; 1 John 5:1-2; Luke 10:33

A Free Ticket

What God Has Done for Me

The Lord Answers Prayer

Reading

Scripture Study: Luke 10

Waiting for the Glory

The Writing of the Old Testament

The Ungrateful Child

The Knowledge of God's Word

The Peerless One

The Growing of the Gospel

Christ's Interest in His People

Correspondence: Exo. 15:11; Rev. 20:4; Phi. 2:17; Matt. 25:21,23

Living Water

Secure in Christ

The Work of Christ

Be of Good Courage

My Way

Scripture Study: Scripture Study

Far Above

Running With Patience

Between the Testaments, and the Septuagint

The Great Question

The Source of Power

In the Midst

Correspondence: 1 Cor. 2:6-7 - the Meaning of Perfection and Wisdom

Not of the World

The Broken Arm

It Is Time to Seek the Lord

Scripture Study: Luke 12

The Value of the Death of Christ

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Correspondence

Are You Really a Christian?

Extracts From Letters From the Front

Dear Mother

Scripture Study: Luke 13

The Moral Security of a Lowly Path

O, Speak of Jesus!

The Father's Care

Looking Unto Jesus

The Pitcher Under the Spout

Work

Correspondence: Position a Believer Should Take

The World Is Not What It Seems to Be

Jesus Only

The Uncertainty of Riches

The True Remedy for a Bad State of Soul

From the Pen of Our Dear Alice

God's Living Word

Scripture Study: Luke 14

Peerless Worth

The Lord's Coming in the Air

I Shall Be Like a Child at Home

Correspondence: 1 John 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:11; Matt. 16:28

I Am Saved Already

Sent Forth Lacking Nothing

What Are You Doing for Your Master?

Careful for Nothing

O Grace Divine

Extracts From Letters From the Front

The Change of Masters

Scripture Study: Luke 15

The Authority of God's Word