Echoes of Grace: 1940

The weather was rough and wet, but we could not stay indoors as the sea air was necessary for the one for whom we had gone. The only thing was to have a tent, and a tent we had. We were sitting in it, enjoying the shelter and coziness the first day of our arrival, when suddenly we heard a voice saying: "Do you ladies know anything about the Master?”

And there stood our friend who let out the tents, at the door of our canvas room, strong, sturdy, bronze; his weather-beaten face fairly shining with happiness and goodness. In answer I put the book I was reading into his hands, and after that he often came to have a chat about the love of God and the preciousness of Christ.

"Yes," he said one day, "I often wish I could write down what the Lord has done for me. I was a sailor, and until I was five-and twenty years of age I could not read a word. Then a mate and I determined to learn together, and so we got a spelling book when in port and began. At first we used to pick out short words in the newspaper for practice. We could always get hold of one of those. But one day I hunted out of my box an old Bible my mother had given me, and I found in the Psalms short words that I could read. I said to my mate, Look here, Bill, here's just as easy words as in the newspaper. I shall read this.

"Well, the more I read, the more I began to feel my need of something; that I was not right. And one night some time after this, I dreamed such a dream. I can't tell it all to you, Miss, it was too much, but I dreamed that I was there standing over the brink of hell, and O! the terrors and agonies I went through.

"I was just going to fall in, and there was nothing and no one to save me, when suddenly a hand, stretched out from behind, pulled me back with a strong pull. Then I woke, and the next morning we got into port, and one of them from the shore came aboard and asked us to go to a mission preaching that evening. Well, full of my dream, I went, for you may be sure I had a sort of horror all day thinking about it, and after the prayer and the singing, the man gave out the text, `As in a dream when one waketh.'

"I felt as though I must leap off the seat, and rush to see if it was really in the Bible or not, but I managed to sit through it, and sure enough, I saw the Lord as the Savior of sinners, and right glad I was to accept Him. Bless His name.

"I go about the beach and talk to one and another, and find out those who know He is precious, and many of those who don't. But once there was a little missy whose parents had been down some time, and she seemed to like to come and talk to 'old Cooky,' as they call me, and one day she said, "Mr. Cook, I want very much to ask you a question.”

"Ask away Missy," I said.

"Are you sure you won't be offended? We are going away tomorrow, and O! I do so want to ask you before we go.”

"I won't be offended, you be sure, Missy." Then, she says, looking right into my face, "Do you love the Lord Jesus?" Aye! And I thought how faithful she was to the Lord. Could not I be faithful too.”

And he was faithful. Day by day he went in and out, speaking here and there a word of Christ and His love. I found he and his wife had quite a large work among the children in the town. Love seemed to characterize his every action. Love to Christ, and the love of Christ flowing through him to other souls.

Dear reader, can you see the love of God watching over that young sailor all those years? Can you see his mother's gift lying unused in the little box, while he went on year after year doing "business in great waters;" often, doubtless, in danger and peril on the wintry sea; often in just as much danger, if he only knew it, in the summer sunshine, for all the time there was no helmet of salvation on his head, no anchor for his soul. Can you see the love of God constraining him to draw out the little Book put there so long before, doubtless with many loving prayers from the mother's heart. The love showing him, through a dream, the brink on which he stood; the hell that is no fancy, no picture of dreams, but a reality for all who are out of Christ. The love preparing him for that message of Christ's finished work; the love revealing a crucified and risen Christ, drawing him from that brink to the gladness and the sunshine, not only of sins forgiven, but of being able to point other mariners on the ocean of life, to the haven he had found, the safety and the shelter he had been brought into.

That love is over you just as strong, just as patient, just as great. Will you resist and pass on towards that terrible future, away from God; or will you yield to the words of love and be drawn to the Savior's feet, to know and follow Him.

The Twelfth Hour

A man once raised his hand in one of Mr. Moody's meetings. The evangelist went to him and said:

"I am glad you have decided to be a Christian.”

"No," said the man, "I have not; but I will, later on.”

His address was taken; and Mr. Moody visited him when he was ill, and pressed for decision.

"No," said the man, "I won't decide now; people will only say I was frightened into decision.”

He recovered; but later he suffered a severe relapse. Mr. Moody visited him again.

"It is too late," he said.

"But," Mr. Moody replied, "there is mercy at the eleventh hour.”

"Mr. Moody," he replied, "this is not the eleventh hour; it is the twelfth." A few hours later he was dead. Mr. Moody says: "We wrapped him in a Christless shroud, we put him in a Christless coffin, buried him in a Christless grave, and he went to spend a Christless Eternity.”

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

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1.

Not yet

"He hasn't tum yet.”

The words came from a little fair haired girl. It was an eager little face, with the blue eyes surrounded by golden curls—and the eyes looked very bright just then, for the voice had something of doubt in it, as the words were uttered. Bright little soul! always singing, although the tiny limbs were paralyzed for life, and she could only walk a few steps and those with difficulty holding on to some strong hand. About a week before, she had heard for the first time of the Lord's coming.

So new, so beautiful, so strange, it seemed to her, that often during the day she would stop in some play, or meal, to ask,

"Tould He tum now?”

But this evening, evidently, doubts had entered in to the ardent little spirit.

"No, He has not come yet," was the answer, "but He will come. He does not tell us when He is coming, He only tells us to watch for Him, because He may come at any time.”

"Seems He's telling me to watch all the time," returned the little one earnestly.

"Not come yet," and the child was disappointed— "Not come yet," and she had watched for Him for a whole week—"Not come yet," and she must soon go back to her home, and its dark surroundings, although she was full of joy at the prospect of telling Willie, her only brother, that He was coming.

"Not come yet," dear reader, and it is more than nineteen hundred years since the promise was given— but, "He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.”

He will not tarry for the unbelief of the world, or the sleeping hearts of His own, or the power of Satan spread abroad.

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye we shall be changed.”

"We," those who know Him and love Him—those born of the Holy Spirit, redeemed by His blood, made members of His body, and united to Him in the glory. That "same Jesus" who went up in the clouds in the act of blessing His disciples after eating with them in His resurrection body, shall so come in like manner. They did not doubt the angel's word, so returned to Jerusalem with great joy, worshiping and praising.

Many of us cannot understand the resurrection, but we can believe it. We cannot understand how the seedling becomes the flower, or the acorn the tree, but we see it, and know the transformation is actual. It is far more wonderful, that "in the twinkling of an eye," this body shall be changed into one like unto His own, without passing through decay and death. But Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection and He tarried forty days to make their hearts sure, before He ascended.

As surely as He is risen, so surely will you and I rise again, but alas! if you are not His, your resurrection body will only be given you to endure the eternal misery which Satan must endure, and which he, in hatred, lures you to suffer with him.

"He has not come yet," and the day of grace is still yours; the call of love still resounding.

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

But if He came today, or comes tomorrow, and you have not hidden yourself under the shelter of His precious blood, you will be left in the world when the Holy Spirit will no more restrain Satan and his tools; no more plead with sinners; no more enable hearts to "see Jesus." And if you die unsaved, you will not rise to meet Him in the air, and so be "forever with the Lord." Your body will lie untouched until the resurrection of the unsaved, and then only rise to receive judgment.

"Depart from Me I never knew you," and so enter the place prepared for the devil and his angels.

"Seems He's telling me to watch all the time," said the child. The wondrous glad hope of the Christian's heart; the ray of gold that gilds every cloud of sorrow, and separation, and death. Only, "until He come," do we part from our dear ones, who pass over unto the other side, and that, "Until" may be "Today," "Tomorrow.”

"Those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”

Only, "until He come," we suffer, serve, and strive—but at any moment we may see His glorious face, and hear His voice and so be with Him forever.

But for those that know Him not, it means the door shut upon everlasting happiness; the Savior changed into a judge; the mercy into wrath; the glory of heaven lost forever.

O! dear reader, if you know Him, He is telling you "to watch all the time," making it the radiant hope to brighten your heart, and strengthen your footsteps.

If you do not know Him, He is calling while your eye is on this page, longing to gather you before the storm breaks. Not yet for you the blackness, and the cry of "Lost, lost." Not yet is the face of Christ turned from you—will you not accept Him and His finished work now, and rejoice in the hope of the glory which shall be revealed?

There is a door that stands ajar,

And through its portals gleaming,

A radiance from the cross, afar

The Savior's love revealing—

O! depth of mercy can it be

That gate is left ajar for me,

For me. Is left ajar for me.

A Volume in a Line

Leigh Richmond, the author of "The Annals of the Poor," was urged to write in an album, "if it were but two lines." He wrote:—

"Can two lines' teach a lesson from above? Yes! one shall speak a volume, God is love!”

Wonderful words indeed. The God we have sinned against. The God of whose glory we come short. "God is love." He loved us while we were far away from Him.

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

He has thus shown Himself to be a Savior-God, whose wish it is that all men should be saved.

The Doctor's Envelope

Debt is a great burden. Avoid it. A man becomes a slave to his creditor, and is no longer free. No wonder that some sensitive folks cower down at the fear of getting into debt.

A schoolmaster who maintained a high character for strict honesty, and paid his way like a man, fell ill. Worse than that, all his children became ill; consequently, during a long period, in which they were cared for by a clever physician, a big account was unavoidably run up with the doctor.

The schoolmaster felt great apprehension about this bill, and dreaded to ask for it.

One day there arrived an envelope from the doctor containing his account; the poor man put it aside unopened, and spent many weary days dreading to face the large sum which must be due. It became such a bugbear to him that, at last, he broke open the letter, and to his amazement, found that instead of a long bill for attendance and medicines, it contained simply a stamped receipt for the whole amount in full. The kind Christian doctor felt for the man's poor circumstances, and frankly forgave him the entire debt.

Then what a revulsion took place in his mind! He exclaimed,

"O! it's too good to be true!”

But he again cast his eyes upon the receipted bill and his heart was filled with gratitude and joy as he saw it was not too good to be true.

This is just how the Gospel message is too often treated. You have been running up a long account; there is a great bill of sins against you to which you are daily adding. It is a perfectly hopeless task to think of paying it off. Does it not weigh on your mind? And are there not times when you feel that the day of reckoning must come sooner or later?

And yet, all the time you have only to open your Bible to find a receipted bill for you there.

"And when they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave them." Luke 7:42.

The Son of Man came to proclaim forgiveness—to give His life "a ransom for many.”

Jesus Christ came into the world to save you, to pay your debt—just because you could not pay it, just because you could do nothing to save yourself. All has been done by Him. "It is finished." Everything is made ready for you: you have but to take the bill in your hand to see that it is receipted. See in God's Word the guarantee that your debt is paid. Look at it, man! Look at it! Do not say, "It is too good to be true," but with believing eyes and heart, accept the Lord Jesus as your sin-bearer and ransom, and thank God for such a great salvation.

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

A Wonderful Savior

Blessed Savior, Lord of Glory!

Gladly we Thy praise proclaim:

Telling forth the matchless story

Of Thy love's undying fame:

Peerless Savior!

Thou hast borne the sinner's blame.

From Thy throne in highest Heaven,

Thou did'st come in wondrous grace;

Man, for whom Thy life was given,

Scorned, disowned Thee to Thy face:

Loving Savior Of a thankless, fallen race!

Sinner, Jesus thee is seeking,

He can make thee truly blest;

O! but trust, and in His keeping

Thou wilt find eternal rest:

Tender Savior!

Folded on His loving breast.

Jesus long with thee has pleaded,

Is thy heart so cold and hard

That His patience thus unheeded

Must remain without reward?

Blessed Savior!

O, receive Him as thy Lord!

February

"All Safe, Thank God!"

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" This was the cry which somewhat startled the residents of W., one quiet Lord's Day afternoon. Rushing to the street to ascertain the danger, or, if needed, to render help, a thick volume of smoke was seen to be issuing from a house close by. It was at first thought the occupiers were absent, but this was not the case, but, unconscious of their danger, all were in the upper part of the house asleep. The noise of the crowd outside and the crackling of the flames within, at length awoke one of their number. At a glance he realized the peril, at once aroused the others, and all hasted to escape.

This was not so easy as anticipated, for by this time the fire had possession of the stairs, so that descent by that means was impossible, and all that could be done by them was to rush to the upper windows and cry for help. Kind hearts were there, and willing, eager hands; but all were powerless to assist. Meanwhile the flames increased in intensity, the smoke and heat become intolerable, and it was evident to all that unless some plan of escape was quickly provided, precious lives must be sacrificed. A ringing cheer was given as a man with a ladder was seen approaching; but, alas! when placed against the house, and even raised upon the shoulders of stalwart men, was found to be too short. Another was obtained from the same source, the two securely fastened together, and raised—this time to the window. With trembling hands those inside one by one laid hold, stepped out upon it, quickly descended, and were safe upon the pavement below. Not a moment too soon, for the flames burst forth in all their fury in the room just left. Anxious inquiries were made,

"Are all out?"

"Are all safe?”

"Yes," was the reply, "thank God! All safe, all safe!”

Being an eyewitness to this exciting scene, I have often thought how strikingly it illustrates the sinner's danger, helplessness, and the way of escape. These people were in no more danger physically than every unsaved one is spiritually. Rocked to sleep, or lulled into indifference by the god of this world, thousands do not realize their peril, but the fact remains the same. God has declared, "The wicked (and in that class every one out of Christ is included) shall be turned into Hell." Psa. 9:17.

"Where is Hell?" said a sneering skeptic to one who had offered him a tract.

"At the end of a Christless life," was the reply. Solemn truth!

An old sailor once said he had been all around the world, but in all his travels he had seen no such place as Hell.

"Grandfather," said a little child seated on his knee, "Did you ever die?”

No, the old man had never died, or he might have seen Hell.

Are you trifling with these eternal realities? I beseech you, trifle not. Awake, awake to your danger, for danger there is, whether you believe it or not! Do you say, "How may I escape?”

Thank God, there is a way—one of His own providing. A ladder has been let down from above, so firm, so safe, so all-sufficient, that none need perish. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." John 3:16.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10.

"He, the Just One, suffered for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18.

Christ is the ladder by which we may get from the danger that threatens, to a place of safety. He Himself said, "I am the Way." John 14:6. Not a way, but the way.

"Neither is there salvation in any other." Acts 4:12.

No efforts of your own, no self-made ladders, will avail. Helpless, hopeless, cast yourself upon Him. Thousands have done so, and are already before the throne of God. Thousands more are on the way. Join their number, venture on Him; He cannot fail. And, being "safe in the arms of Jesus," let lip and life re-echo the words of Paul, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

But, reader, this should be done at once. In the case referred to, a few moments' delay would have been fatal. So it may be with you.

"God is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish." 2 Peter 3:9.

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1.

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

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

The Neglected Treasure

A traveler one day called at a cottage to ask for a drink of water. Entering he found the parents cursing and quarreling, the children trembling, crouched in a corner; and wherever he looked he saw only marks of degradation and poverty. Greeting the inmates, he asked them, “Dear friends, why do you make your home so miserable?”

“Ah, sir,” said the poor man, “you don’t know the life and trials of a poor man, when, do what you can, everything goes wrong.”

The stranger drank the water, and said softly (as he noticed in a dark and dusty corner a Bible), “Dear friends, I know what would help you, if you could find it. There is a treasure concealed in your house. Search for it.”

And so he left them.

At first the cottagers thought it a jest, but after a while they began to reflect. When the woman went out therefore to gather sticks, the man began to search, and even to dig, that he might find the treasure. When the man was away, the woman did the same. Still they found nothing—increasing poverty brought only more quarrels, discontent and strife.

One day, as the woman was left alone, she was thinking upon the stranger’s word, when her eye fell on the old Bible. It had been a gift from her mother, but since her death had long been unheeded and unused. A strange foreboding seized her mind. Could it be this the stranger meant? She took it from the shelf, and opened it, and found the verse inscribed on the title page in her mother’s handwriting, “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” Psa. 119:72. It cut her to the heart.

“Ah!” thought she, “this is the treasure then, we have been seeking.” How her tears fell fast upon the leaves!

From that time she read the Bible every day, and prayed, and taught the children to pray, but without the husband’s knowledge. One day he came home as usual, quarreling, and in a rage. Instead of meeting his angry words with angry replies, she spoke to him gently and kindly.

“Husband,” said she, “we have sinned grievously. We have ourselves to blame for all our misery, and we must now lead a different life.” He looked amazed.

“What do you say?” was his exclamation. She brought the old Bible and, sobbing, cried, “There is the treasure. See, I have found it!”

The husband’s heart was moved. She read to him of the Lord Jesus, and of His love. Next day she read, and again and again; she sat with her children around drinking in the blessed Word of God.

A year later the stranger returned that way. Seeing the cottage, he remembered the circumstances of his visit, and thought he would call and see his old friends again. He did so, but he would scarcely have known the place; it was so clean, so neat and orderly. He opened the door, and at first thought he was mistaken, for the inmates came to meet him so kindly, with the peace of God beaming in their faces.

“How are you, my dear people?” said he. Then they knew the stranger, and for some time they could not speak.

“Thanks, thanks, dear sir, we have found the treasure,” they at length cried out. “Now dwells the blessing of the Lord in our home and His peace in our hearts.”

It was indeed to a transformed home the stranger had returned. They had found that precious treasure—the Word of God, and as they searched through it, they found that supremely glorious treasure—the Lord Jesus. They saw their ruined state, that they were guilty before God, and that sin had caused their misery and wretchedness. But they had found, too, that “God hath made Him to be sin for us, He who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21.

They had received that Saviour as their own and had become children of God (see John 1:12), and were taken out of darkness and brought into His glorious light.

What about you, dear reader? Are your sins gone? Do you stand before God as a poor, condemned, guilty one?

“He that believeth not, is condemned already” John 3:18. But blessed be God! His well-beloved Son has taken the guilty sinner’s place, and was condemned in our stead; “for Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6) is His word. Own yourself as ungodly, for that is what every sinner is, and take the Saviour who died that you might live.

How Does Your Case Stand?

A Client eagerly asked his lawyer, "Will my case be called today? Are you sure that nothing is left undone? If judgment is pronounced against me, I am a ruined man.”

Dear reader, if your case were called today for final judgment, is there nothing left undone? Has the blood of atonement been applied to your soul? Are you prepared to meet God? Does the Spirit of God witness with your spirit that you are a child of God, been saved, adopted into the Divine family, truly regenerate, seeking to walk pleasing to the Lord in all your ways? Has the Advocate with the Father the materials with which He can plead successfully your case?

Now, is the day of salvation! Now, is the accepted time!

In Christ, or Out of Christ

Let me ask you what there is in the present day, in the heart and eye of the thousands around us, that they should so neglect and despise this Jesus—that they should listen to any voice, or follow any person, rather than the One only, who can do a poor soul good—more than do good to him—One who can save him—save him from his sins, and all the dire consequences of sin—can take him to heaven.

Reader, do you know of anything better than this? Is there anything that professes to be so good? This blessed Person is the One in whom Pilate “found no fault.” This is the One Who died for sin—that by dying, made it possible for a sinner to be saved; yea, made it certain for every one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you, my dear reader, in Christ; or out of Christ?

A Little Girl's Testimony

I had been passing a few days at a friend's in the country, and now on a Monday morning my friend had come down to the train with me to see me away. There was no person in the coach which I entered except an old woman. My friend bade me goodbye but he had no sooner left me, than a party of young people entered the train. They were out for pleasure and had no thought but amusement; the one thing important, the salvation of their souls, was apparently the farthest possible from their minds.

The train was at the point of starting when a young lady entered nearly out of breath as she had had to run to be in time. She had with her a pretty little girl, and they took the seat opposite me which was the only vacant seat in the car. The little one interested every one; she seemed perfectly at home, and at once proceeded to take off her hat, remarking:

"The elastic cuts me.”

Her pretty face was encircled with brown curls, and animated by the brightest of eyes. Seeing me smiling, she said to me:

"I am going to see my aunt Julia.”

"Do you love your aunt Julia?" I asked.

"O! Yes; she is so gentle.”

"And how old are you?" I asked again.

"Four years," she replied. Thus we conversed together, and the passengers who were near were very much interested in her frank and childish talk.

Passing through a tunnel presently, she became silent and drew closely to her mother, for the noise made by the train, and the total darkness into which we entered, strangely impressed the child.

For a little, conversation ceased, but generally those who live far from God, and especially those who live in the pursuit of pleasure do not like silence, as it brings them face to face with God. We emerged from the darkness for a moment, and then approached another tunnel, when a young man, with a tired and jaded appearance, stood up and called out in a tone of mockery and derision:

"Ladies and gentlemen; prepare yourselves; we are about to descend into hell.”

He said it, doubtless, because we were about to enter the second tunnel.

The little girl, greatly excited, cast herself upon her mother's knee, and encircled her with her arms, crying out: "No, no, mamma; I will not go down into hell, I believe in the Lord Jesus." Her mother, in a very distinct voice, replied, "No, my child, those who believe in the Lord Jesus will never go into hell.”

These words made a very powerful impression upon all those near, as the silence which followed proved.

For myself, I blessed God for this clear testimony to His Son, in such a place, and by the mouth of so young a child, and I recalled the words of our Lord Jesus, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." Matt. 21:16.

I was to stop at the next station, and as the train drew up to the platform, I gave a farewell salutation to the lady and her little child, who were of those who would never descend into hell.

And you, my reader, are you of that company? Can you say in reality, "No, no, I shall not go down into hell, for I believe in the Lord Jesus.”

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1.

"He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

The Work Which Saves Is Done

“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” John 19:28.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished, and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30.

“I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4.

“This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God.” Heb. 10:12.

Do you believe in that finished work? Have you accepted what the Scripture says about it?

Eternally Saved

Grant me but this, that God has revealed Himself as a Savior, and I argue, with unclouded confidence and holy boldness, that I am, and must be, perfectly saved. It does not rest upon aught in me, but simply and entirely upon God's revelation of Himself. I know He is perfect in everything; and therefore perfect as my Savior. Hence I am perfectly saved, inasmuch as the glory of God is involved in my salvation.

"There is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Savior, there is none beside Me." What then? "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." Isa. 45:21, 22.

One believing look from a lost sinner to a just God and a Savior, secures eternal salvation.

"Look!" How simple! It is not "Work!”—"Do"—"Pray"—"Feel" no; it is simply "Look." And what then? Salvation—everlasting life. It must be so, because God is a Savior: and the precious little mono-syllable "look," fully implies all this, inasmuch as it expresses the fact that the salvation which I want is found in the One to whom I look. It is all there, ready for me, and one look secures it—secures it forever—secures it for me. It is not a thing of today or tomorrow; it is an eternal reality.

The bulwarks of salvation behind which the believer retreats have been erected by God Himself—the Savior—God, on the sure foundation of Christ's atoning work; and no power of earth or hell can ever shake them.

Don't Use the Old Road

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

For many years a man had trodden the old road—the way which “seemeth right unto a man.”

Strong drink had ensnared and was now ruining him. It robbed his purse. It robbed his prospects. And it threatened to rob him of his soul.

He was, as to his age, in the prime of life; but as to his condition he was in the bondage of corruption. Moreover, he was content to be there, for, as yet, he was unawakened to a sense of the peril in which he stood.

A strange means was to be used to arouse him.

On going to attend a funeral, he was walking along a country road, when his attention was attracted by a notice board.

Inscribed upon it he saw the words, “Don’t use the old road. It is dangerous. Keep to the new one.”

The sentences only referred to the branching roads before him. They had nothing to say to spiritual matters. But “all things serve His might.” The message on this board made him think. It made him look ahead. Was not he traveling on the old road of sin? It had been in his eyes, but what was it in the sight of God? And what was to be its end?

“The end thereof are the ways of death.”

The death of another had brought him to the district. His own death was not far off—nearer perhaps than he thought. And beyond that dread event, which would fix his destiny, lay eternity. Eternity, with all its bliss for the saved, but with all its woe for the ungodly.

He was using the old road. It was “dangerous” indeed. It would mean destruction in the end.

As yet it was not too late. He might be saved. The new road was open. He might tread it. Christ Himself is the way of salvation and of peace. God gave Him to be the path of blessing and of happiness for men, and He calls all to tread that way today.

There and then the folly of the past became plain to his view. He was missing the gladness which God had provided for him. The paths of pleasantness and peace he had never trodden. Instead thereof he had been on the hard way of the transgressor.

Why should he pursue it further?

The result of that simple statement on the board was that he was converted. He turned to God from all the idols he had hitherto served. He fled to the Saviour of sinners who was waiting to welcome the wanderer. He received from His hands forgiveness, full and free, without money and without price. And today he keeps to the new road and rejoices as he treads it—while ever nearing are the glorious courts of everlasting blessedness.

Which road are you treading? O, friend, be warned in time.

“Don’t use the old road. It is dangerous. Keep to the new one.”

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

"A Great Way Off"

"Granny, hearing of your great age, I have come to see you.”

"Granny" grunted. She was evidently in no genial mood. Notorious in the village for her great age, and her hard, almost ferocious heart, the newcomer, a stranger in the place, had ventured in the hope of reaching her soul for the sake of Him "Who cutteth out rivers in the rocks," and whose "Eye seeth every precious thing.”

"Granny" sat on her stool in the chimney corner. She offered no chair to her visitor, and as the mud hut was not inviting with such a reception, after a few more remarks, saying she would call again and just catching the surly, "You can if you like," her friend departed. "Granny, I have such good news for you!”

There was her visitor again. Granny looked surprised. It was not often "good news" came to her. She offered her visitor a stool this time. Her friend sat down and without comment read the 15th of Luke's gospel. She read on, and bye-and-bye looking up she saw the large tears falling down the dark, not over clean, time-wrinkled cheeks. Still she read on.

"But when he was a great way off his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Granny's great, hard fist came down upon her knee with a heavy thud, "I never heard the likes of that before.”

Reader, have you? We read and hear of almost foolish ones. But have you ever heard of such love, such wisdom?

"While he was a great way off.”

That watching father knew at once, in spite of the rags and the "hang-dog" step, that it was he. Aye! God knows you dear one, whether starting off with the gay, quick step of independence to the "far country," or returning, weary and wretched, having "spent all." Do you think the elder brother would have known him? I don't.

"And had compassion and ran.”

He did not sit still to see if he was really penitent or not—to prove him. No. "He ran." Be sure no sin-burdened soul crying out for salvation, has ever run as swiftly to Him as He runs Himself. If you are going towards Him, even slowly, lingeringly, with the "Buts" and "Ifs" of doubt and fear within your heart, you will soon meet Him for He is ever "Seeking to save.”

"And fell on his neck.”

He did not give him time to say his say. Love shuts his mouth. God knows our worst.

He sees the heart with eyes that miss nothing, sees the soul black with the sin that cost the blood of His precious Son, and He knows what that sin will bring; "The wages of sin is death.”

If the Father had waited for him to speak, he would only have shown how little he knew of the Father's heart.

"And kissed him.”

With those arms about his neck, and those kisses on his cheek do you think any "buts" and "ifs" remained? When the soul has no plea, but "I have sinned," then God's love can flow out. No matter the rags and the plight, it was the returning heart the Father wanted. No matter what, or who you are, dear reader, it is yourself God wants, just as you are.

"Granny" was saved and changed. She saw Christ in His beauty, revealing the love of God, and had the joy of sitting at His feet; and then went in to be with Him whom she had kept out of her life so long.

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

The Major's Hiding Place

During the Revolutionary War in 1789 Major Andre, a British officer, was taken prisoner. He was charged with being a spy and was executed as such. He had served his King and country well, but this was not his confidence as he looked ahead into eternity.

What was?

Some verses, which he wrote a few days before he was hanged, will tell their story—

“Hail, Sovereign love, which first began

That scheme to rescue fallen man;

Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace,

Which gave my soul a Hiding Place.

“Against the God who built the sky,

I fought with hands uplifted high;

Despised the mention of His grace,

Too proud to seek a Hiding Place.

“Enwrapt in thick Egyptian night,

And fond of darkness more than light,

Madly I ran the sinful race,

Secure without a Hiding Place.

“And thus the Eternal counsels ran,

‘Almighty love, arrest that man.’

I felt the arrows of distress,

And found I had no Hiding Place.

“Indignant Justice stood in view,

To Sinai’s fiery mount I flew,

But Justice cried, with frowning face,

‘This mountain is no Hiding Place.’

“On Jesus God’s just vengeance fell,

Which would have sunk a world to hell;

He bore it for a sinful race,

And thus became their Hiding Place.

“Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll

And shake this globe from pole to pole,

No thunderbolts shall dart my face,

For Jesus is my Hiding Place.

“A few more setting suns at most

Shall land me on fair Canaan’s coast,

Where I shall sing the song of grace,

And see my glorious Hiding Place.”

Blessed indeed is the soul that finding out his need flees to the Saviour. He is then able to say, with David of old, “Thou art my Hiding Place.” Psa. 32:7. Is Major Andre’s Saviour yours?

"I've Been a Fool"

A Christian doctor was called in to see a young man who was ill. He made a very careful examination of his patient and found that he was in a most serious condition. It was his painful duty to tell him that his days were numbered and that, indeed, he had only a few hours to live. This brought from the young man the woeful exclamation:

"Then I've missed it, doctor. Yes, I've missed it at last.”

"Missed what?”

"I've missed the salvation of my soul. I was awakened some years ago, but put it off, thinking I had plenty of time. But I've been a fool, and sold my soul for a straw. Yes, O yes, I've missed it at last.”

O! the folly of procrastination. O! the madness of delay. To risk an immortal soul on the possibility of getting salvation when the heart has become harder and opportunity after opportunity has been frittered away.

"Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish," is the solemn word to those who slight the Savior's grace when it is offered. It is not "Behold, ye despisers, and procrastinate and be saved at last.”

The young man died without expressing any hope. We have to leave his case there. But the Lord has said, "If ye die in your sins, whither I go ye cannot come.”

Are you dying in your sins? Flee now to Christ lest you "miss it at last.”

Die Like a Dog

I met an old schoolmate in a railway train whom I had not seen for years. We talked of old times for a while, and then I spoke to him about his soul. I found he had been associated with atheists and freethinkers. He told me that he should die like a dog. He maintained there was no future for the soul— that all the life he would ever know, would be here; that when he died that would be an end to him. I was glad to be able to tell him that I had everlasting life—that I should never perish. His eyes had that hopeless look in them that told their own tale. His was poor philosophy, the philosophy of despair.

Others try and argue away the eternity of punishment, and fly in the face of the teaching of the Bible in so doing.

Others endeavor to reason away the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Devil sets all these people to work. Before the cold eyes of these false reasoners, no glories shine beyond creation’s range. To their deaf ears no voices sound apart from earth. Their impassive hearts know nothing of the rapturous throbbings of eternal life.

“In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.” Luke 16:23.

But to those whose eyes are opened, what endless glories shine! The vistas of eternity open out in scenes of surpassing splendor; and as glory upon glory bursts upon the enraptured vision, they tell of others still to come, until the eternity of it all absorbs the soul, where all in all is God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ.” Eph. 1:3.

The Harvest is Past “Lift me up to see the fields once again father, the fields in which we reaped the corn a month ago.”

The dying man’s request was granted, and then exhausted by the effort, he sank back upon his pillow, and covering his face with his hands mournfully said, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.” Jer. 8:20.

The closing words were repeated slowly with a trembling voice, and then he lapsed into unconsciousness from which he never woke. That night he entered eternity, I fear, poor fellow, by the gaping door of procrastination. Once and again he had been awakened to see himself a sinner, in need of a Saviour, but he was so fully occupied with football and other amusements, that he seemed to get his convictions stifled as soon as they arose, and soon forgot all about God and eternity. After a short, unsatisfactory career, he was laid down to die, and passed away into the eternal world as I have told you.

What an end for a bright young fellow such as he was! What a death! What an eternity! Are you following in the same course, dear reader? How will it be with you when your thread of life is snapped, when you are called into eternity? Pause a moment and think. He was not ignorant, for his early years were spent in a godly home, where they taught him the truth of God, and sought to lead him to the Saviour. But he did not like to be restrained. He would be his own master; so he left his father’s house, and went in heart and soul for pleasures of every kind. Very soon, he showed indifference to the things of God, refused to go to hear the Word, and became a scoffer. Then he was brought home to die, and after a short illness, he passed into eternity.

“He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed.” Prov. 29:1.

Come Unto Me”

"Come unto Me," no longer stay away,

The Savior's voice is calling you today,

His heart of love is waiting to receive

The weary one who will on Him believe.

"Come unto Me," yea, come in all your need,

'Tis unto such, He'll prove a Friend indeed,

Not one who comes will e'er be turned away,

He bids thee come, and come this very day.

"Come unto Me," your heart will be at rest,

Your sins be gone, He'll bid your sorrows cease,

He's waiting now, with arms extended wide—

It was for you He suffered, bled and died.

"Come unto Me," will you His call refuse?

Will you His love and mercy still abuse?

The door is open wide, O enter now

Before Him as a guilty sinner bow.

"Come unto Me," He's calling once again,

And will that call to you be all in vain?

Decide your fate, remember you must be

In heaven or hell for all eternity.

Let God Rule

Oliver Cromwell’s secretary was dispatched to the Continent on some important business. He stayed one night at a seaport town, and tossed on his bed, unable to sleep.

According to old custom, a servant slept in his room, and on this occasion, soundly enough. The secretary at length awakened the man, who asked how it was his master could not rest.

“I am so afraid something will go wrong with the embassage,” was the reply.

“Master,” said the valet, “may I ask you a question or two?”

“To be sure,” answered the envoy.

“Did God rule the world before we were born?”

“Most assuredly He did.”

“And will He rule it after we are dead?”

“Certainly He will.”

“Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?”

The secretary’s faith was stirred, peace was the result, and in a few minutes both he and his servant were in a sound sleep.

Beloved in Jesus, your heart has been aching within you. You were busy at work for the Master; many depended upon you. You seemed almost to be the mainspring of the machinery. But sickness comes, and you lie helpless on the couch, and unbelief creeps in. Dear friend, let God rule the present. He allows your affliction. He sits by the refiner till He can see His own image formed in you, and there is some gracious purpose to be accomplished in the present dispensation.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Cor. 4:17.

March

Your Race Is Run; "Prepare to Meet Thy God"

It was a notice on a board at the races. Probably the earnest man who carried it never knew the result of his humble service. But a day is coming when it and every effort for Christ's glory will have its reward.

The unmistakable message reached the conscience of a young prodigal. He was sowing his wild oats. Giddy and careless, he pursued the path of pleasure and sin. Eternity was of small account indeed, to him.

Amid the gay scene with its noise and excitement, it was scarcely to be looked for that conviction of sin should be forced home on a man's conscience. Yet so it was. The plain, solemn words of warning did their work, and the young man left the multitude to go its way. He could go no longer on the road of death.

Earnestly he sought to make himself fit for God. But all his efforts at reformation did not meet the demands of his conscience.

How could he prepare to meet God? was the question uppermost in his mind. After all his endeavors and failures, his feelings could be well expressed by the words of the hymn, as he cast himself on Christ for salvation, "No preparation can I make, My best resolves I only break, Then save me for Thine own Name's sake, And take me as I am.

"Helpless I am, and full of guilt

And yet for me Thy blood was spilled;

And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt,

And take me as I am.

"Behold me, Savior, at Thy feet, Deal with me as Thou seest meet; Thy work begin, Thy work complete, But take me as I am.”

Thus he found joy and peace in believing. He rested on Christ, and knew that his many sins were blotted out, and that he was clothed in all the beauty of Christ. Then he became a proclaimer of the grace of God which had rescued him.

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24.

From Doubt to Assurance

When a man finds himself thoroughly down, in utter darkness, perhaps in despair, he is then a fit subject for the grace of God.

When the law has done its work in his conscience and convicted him of sin, then Christ is the "end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." O! how precious then is the work of His cross, when the soul, having learned what its true condition is—one of sin and strengthlessness— discovers the perfect suitability of Christ: His blood purging the conscience, and His boundless love filling the heart. Then it rests! Light divine shines in and dispels the clouds.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

The double need is thus met, the guilt and the weakness. To be ungodly is, alas! our state by nature, and to be without the strength to aid or alter that state is our condition; and yet, when both without strength and ungodly, Christ—blessed be His name!—died for us.

Now, let us find in Scripture—in the written Word of God—a passage that sheds great light on this matter. I will adduce one which has proved helpful to thousands of souls who desired the knowledge of salvation. Indeed, I cannot do better than site a case in point. It was that of a man who had been led to see that salvation could not be obtained by works of righteousness which he had done; but how to know for certain that he could be, and was saved, he could not tell.

I read to him these words.

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

"Here are two conditions, and on the fulfillment of them," I said, "God assures salvation. First, 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.' Now, are you," I asked, "ashamed of the blessed Lord who died for us—afraid to confess Him as Lord?”

"No," he said, "I am not.”

"Then, second, 'If thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead.' Do you believe in your heart this great truth of the gospel?”

"I do," said he.

"Truly?"

"Yes, truly.”

"Then you fulfill the two conditions. Now let me read the consequences— 'Thou shalt be saved.' Mark that! Whose words are these?”

"God's.”

"Then they are sure."

"`Mayest be saved'?”

"No, 'shalt be saved.' Again, mark that! Not feel saved, nor think, nor hope, but shall be. And God's promise and the fulfillment of it are identical. God cannot fail. Do you take Him at His word?”

"I do," he replied; and this was his first confession.

"Well," I said, "I hope to see a friend of yours shortly; may I tell him that you trust in the Lord?”

"Yes," said he, without hesitation. And I did so. Accordingly, after the lapse of three weeks, I received from that friend the cheering message: "I saw last night. You will be thankful to hear he is getting on very nicely. He told me, that after all his struggling, he saw the truth just in a moment, and that it was so simple.”

This man had confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart, and now he rested on the word of assurance— "Thou shalt be saved"; and thus he "saw the truth just in a moment," and found "that it was so simple.”

Reader, follow his example! God has made it very "simple" because He loves our souls. Become like a child. The wise and prudent lose everything; their pride is their hindrance. The child, the babe, the nobody, the man who is down and in darkness and despair, and who gladly repudiates every claim, is just in the condition for grace.

"Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come!”

Straight to Port

Have you ever wondered how the sailors find their way across the tossing waves? We can easily pick out landmarks journeying in town or by country-side, but at sea one wave is just like another.

During the railway strike some of us took a sea trip, and rising very early in the morning, just as it was dawning, we saw two fishing boats making across the water straight for L—.

The white light from the lighthouse and the red light at the harbor mouth were shining brightly, so steering the fishing boats was easy work just when we saw them, but what about the many miles they had traveled from the fishing grounds when no friendly light was in sight?

Ah! but they had a good chart and a faithful compass and a skilful skipper who knew how to read both correctly. That was the secret of their sailing so peacefully straight to port.

What is the secret of peacefully steering straight to heaven? Why, first of all, believing in and submitting to the best of Captains, the Lord Jesus Christ, and then always going by and obeying God's Holy Word, the Bible, which is like an infallible chart, and maintaining a good conscience, which is like a compass.

If you really believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Savior and Lord, and then conscientiously obey His Word, you will not only steer to heaven somehow, but steer there straight, and also have a very happy voyage by the way.

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psa. 119:105.

"Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." Psa. 119:24.

God Says, "Today"!

One fine winter afternoon, some years ago, four men, three of them young, and one past middle age, were driving along a turnpike road. One of the toll gates on the road was tended by an old man, getting very feeble. He came forward, hobbling on a stick, to receive the few pennies he demanded. His form was sadly bent, and his white hair indicated that the snows of many winters had left their indelible mark upon him.

Having paid him his money, the eldest of the four men politely offered him a neat booklet, saying as he did so, that it was something interesting and important about God's way of salvation, and expressed the hope that the old man was saved. An angry flush mantled the faded cheek of the toll-keeper, as he savagely retorted: "No, I don't want your book, and I am not saved, nor is anyone else in the world. And it is my opinion that there is plenty of time, and everything is right in its season.”

Having thus said, he went in, slamming the door behind him. Poor old man! One foot in the grave, and saying, "Plenty of time." His sun almost set, and he had not yet been saved; he had no joy in his life, the joy of sins forgiven was unknown by him.

And this is the case with many. God's warnings and invitations alike fall unheeded, youth gives place to middle age, and middle age to old age, and Eternity and the having to do with a holy God, are counted not worthy of attention.

Dear young friend, take warning: God says "today", Satan ever says "tomorrow", but tomorrow never comes.

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

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

The Basket of Grapes

The reason why many souls have not the assurance of salvation is that they are looking within for something to rest on, instead of simply resting on Christ, and believing what God says about Him, and them, when they believe in Him.

This state of matters was forcibly illustrated by a lady whom I saw some time ago, God had converted her nephew, a worldly doctor, in a remarkable way; and no sooner was he in the enjoyment of the Lord's grace than he sought to get all his relatives to share his new-found joy. Recognizing the state his aunt was in, he asked me to pay her a visit, apprising her of my coming.

The old lady received me very pleasantly, and we had a long conversation. She knew she was a sinner— a lost sinner— and owned it. She desired most fervently to be saved. She knew that no works of her own could avail before God. She believed the Lord Jesus to be the only Savior of sinners. She had often cried to Him to save her, but no answer had come to her cries as yet. After finding out that she was a truly seeking soul— ripe for salvation, I might say— I asked:

"Now, what is the hindrance? Why do you not know that you are saved? You tell me that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is able and willing to save you, and that you are most willing to let Him save you, and yet you are not sure of salvation. Do you think He has anything more to do for your salvation?”

"O, no! I'm sure His work is all finished. He said so on the cross when He cried, 'It is finished,' and bowed His head, and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).

"Quite true; only I suppose you think there must be something wrought in you before you can be sure you are saved?”

"Yes, that's just it," she replied.

"And what is lacking in you?”

"Well, sir, I'm not thankful enough for all He has done for me. I think if I felt more thankful, I should know I was saved.”

"O, I see where you are," I replied. "Now tell me, supposing I were to send you a basket of grapes by my servant tomorrow morning, what is the first thing you would do?”

"O, of course, I should thank you," replied the lady most energetically.

"Well, suppose, on the other hand, you sent me a basket of grapes, what do you think is the first thing I would do?" I replied.

"You would thank me, wouldn't you?"

"Not first.”

"Why, what would you do?" she asked most eagerly.

"I should take them. Then, secondly, I should send you a hearty message of thanks.”

"I see it! I see it!" exclaimed my friend, as the joy-tears welled down over her face. "I've just to take salvation first, and then thank the Lord for what He has given me.”

"Exactly so. 'The gift of God is eternal life' (Rom. 6:23). What He gives, we have only simply to accept, and then thank Him through time and eternity.”

"Dear me, how simple it is!" she again exclaimed. "I always thought I must feel something within that I never could feel; but I see it all clearly now. It is so simple, I wonder I didn't see it before." Thus she entered into sweet peace and rest in the Lord.

Can you say with her: "I see it"? If not, why not? Nothing can be simpler than the Gospel.

God gives, man receives; God speaks, man hears; Christ acts, man believes. To look within for anything is sheer folly. It is the work for, and not the work in, us that saves us.

Christ's work on the cross is perfect. Nothing can be added to it. God has accepted it for us, and has set Jesus at His own right hand in glory, in token of His appreciation of Him (1 Cor. 15:3, 4). His atoning work on the cross has glorified God, and put away our sins forever from His sight. By it, too, Satan's power is broken, and the grave opened, death being annulled.

Every claim of God on us has been met by Jesus. He took our place in death and judgment that we might get His place in life and glory. And He says: "Because I live ye shall live also." John 14:19. Faith believes this. Faith reckons with God, and sees things as He sees them. Feelings or experiences have no place at all.

"Abraham believed God"— i. e., he took God at His word. I believe Him, dear reader. Do you? If so, you will say, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

A Blind Man’s Testimony

At the conclusion of a Gospel address given by a Christian, a man in the crowd asked permission to say a few words. Liberty having been granted, he spoke somewhat as follows: "Friends, I don't believe what this man has been talking about. I don't believe in a hell; I don't believe in a judgment; I don't believe in a God, for I never saw one of them.”

After going on for some time in this fashion, another man asked to be allowed to speak. Permission being obtained, he proceeded as follows: "Friends, you say that there is a river running not far from this place. There is no such thing; it is untrue. You tell me that there are trees and grass growing around me where I now stand. There are no such things. That also is not true. You tell me that there are a great many people standing here. Again I say, that is not true; there is no person standing here save myself. I suppose you wonder what I am talking about, but I was born blind; I never saw one of you; and while I talk it only shows that I am blind, or I would not say such things. And you," he said, turning to the infidel, "the more you talk, the more you expose your ignorance, because you are spiritually blind, and cannot see.”

"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." Psa. 14:1.

"He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:10-13.

Atonement

The blood makes atonement for the soul. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Lev. 17:11.

Let us specially note that God, blessed be His holy name, has graciously given us the blood of His own beloved Son to make an atonement for our guilty souls, so that, instead of our sins being before Him, He has that precious blood which has put them all away forever. "Hallelujah!”

April

What Does "Have" Mean?

An earnest preacher of the Gospel had been sent for, in order to speak words of comfort to a lady who was ill.

Not long before, the lady had been brought to know the Lord Jesus as her own personal Savior, and coming back to her nieces with whom she lived, she had openly spoken of the new found peace and joy which were hers. To their great surprise she would say, "I am saved and I know it, I have the forgiveness of my sins and I know it.”

They feared that she was under some delusion, and thought the preacher might set her right, and so decided to tell him of her mental condition before he saw her.

As he was arriving late at night it was agreed that he should see the aunt in the morning, and that at breakfast time he should be quietly told of her strange words and ways since what she called her "conversion.”

So this was done by one of the young ladies.

Their visitor listened to the story, quietly proceeding with his breakfast, until the tale was told. Then the following conversation took place as he continued his meal:

"Been to school?”

"Yes!”

"Learned grammar?”

"Yes!”

"Know how to parse?”

"Of course!”

"Got a Bible?”

"Yes!”

"Bring it!”

The book was procured and he continued, "Read Eph. 1:7.”

The passage was turned to and the girl read aloud, "In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

"Parse have," he added.

"Verb have, indicative mood, present tense.”

"What does have, indicative mood, present tense, mean?”

"Have, got, possess, own.”

"Humph" was now all the visitor uttered, and the girl was left to look upon the word "have," and the Word of God to do its own work.

And the work was done. She saw that the mistake had not been on her aunt's side but on her own. That it was the portion and privilege of the believer on the Lord Jesus to have redemption, to possess redemption and to know it now.

Rising from the table she rushed to her own room and there poured out her soul before God. She received Christ as her Savior, giving up all hope in herself—trusting in His blood for cleansing, she received the witness of God in His word and knew —because He said it, that the blessing was hers. The redemption—the forgiveness provided "through Christ's blood" belonged to her as to all who believe.

Coming back into the room she walked up to their guest and said with thanksgiving and praise filling her soul. "I have the forgiveness of sins.”

He bade her go and gladden her aunt by telling her the good news, saying, "It will give her more comfort than anything I could say to her.”

The girl became the Countess of Castlestuart, and lived to tell to many how the grace of God had reached her.

How simple is the gospel story told in these words.

In "the riches of His grace" God has opened the way of blessing. "Through His blood," tells of the infinite cost—the precious blood of Christ being shed for us, "a ransom for all.”

"Redemption—the forgiveness of sins" becomes ours by simple faith. God gives, we receive. He provides, we partake, "we have" the blessing. It is ours the moment we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Scriptures give us the assurance that it is ours now.

Fit Only to Burn

A careless, ungodly man, who had bitterly opposed his Christian wife, one Sunday morning swung his ax on his shoulder and started off to cut down some trees.

As he looked around he saw a tree dead and dry, with its leafless branches extending into the air, and he said to himself, "I will cut that tree down, it is dead and dry, fit only to burn." At that moment the though rushed into his mind, "Am not I a dead tree fit only to burn?”

He tried hard to banish the thought, but it was an arrow from the bow of the Almighty. He went to the tree, and struck a few blows with his ax. But the thought still rankled in his heart, "Am not I a dead tree fit only to burn? Will not God say of me, 'Cut him down, for he cumbereth the ground?’”

Again and again he tried to drive away the unwelcome and harrowing thought. But there it stuck, a barbed arrow fixed in his heart, and he could not get it out.

He used his ax with increasing vigor but every blow seemed to deepen the conviction of his own spiritual deadness. At last he could endure it no longer; he shouldered his ax, returned to his home, went up to his room, and fell on his knees before God, confessed his sins, his ungodly life, and cried for mercy. With a penitent and broken heart he implored forgiveness through the atoning blood, and looking to Jesus he found peace which can only be had by believing on Him.

Reader, are you a dry tree, a barren professor, fit to burn? There are many who have a name to live who are dead. They have a lamp—but no oil, no reality.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

Fragment

The Lord Jesus came from the eternal throne of God in heaven, down to the depths of Calvary's cross, in order that He might redeem His people and take them back with Himself, and present them faultless before that very throne which He had left on their account.

"A Solemn Warning"

Some time ago in a small town where I was holding gospel meetings, a young man became very much concerned about his soul. While staying at his house one night, I was endeavoring to impress upon him his great need of a Savior, and of the importance of believing on Him at once, showing him from the "Word of God" that the present moment was all he could call his own. I referred him to such scriptures as these, "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1.

Assuring him too that in a "little while" Christ would come and take His people away, and then the door of mercy would be closed, and the last opportunity of being saved gone for all who would not believe.

I sought to impress upon him, as I would upon you, dear reader, the tremendous risk he was running, in neglecting the salvation of God so freely offered. He was one like many others who had lived in sin, and in the vain hope of finding in this Christless scene something that would satisfy the cravings of the soul. He found, as Solomon tells us, after he had put the world to a most thorough test, that "all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

Everything here had now lost its charm for him. The saloon, the ball, the theater, had no longer any attraction for him. He longed for pleasures that would endure. He set to work to improve himself, to make himself more fit to come to God, as, alas, many thousands are doing today.

No effort of your own, dear reader, will meet your case as a helpless sinner before God. All you do as an unconverted person is done with a selfish motive, and not for the glory of Christ. In the salvation of sinners, God will have His Son glorified, so the work must be all His own from first to last. How do you expect God to approve of anything you do, or of anything you bring, when self in some shape or form is at the bottom of it all? If this is what you are doing, my dear friend, let me beg of you to take heed in time, for this is one of Satan's most successful ways of deceiving people. Under the cloak of religious works, thousands are being hurried into hopeless ruin.

All this, and more, I endeavored to impress upon my friend until the clock reached the midnight hour, and then bade him goodnight, saying, "You have no time to lose, Robert, Christ Jesus may come tonight, and if He finds you still unprepared, you will be forever beyond the reach of mercy.”

"Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”

Just then a knock at the door was heard, and I went down and opened it, and a man said, "Will you give a child of God a night's lodging?”

He was assured of a welcome, and we were soon in conversation about the coming of Christ for His people.

Robert slept in the next room, and as the partition between us was not plastered, he could hear every word we said. At last everything was quiet and the thought came to Robert's mind with great force, "The Lord has come, and I am left.”

He arose, and sat upon his bed, and wept. In great distress of mind he started down stairs to see if father and mother were gone, but when he reached the first step, he could go no farther, but sat down in despair saying, "There is no hope for me now, I am lost and lost forever. O! God, is it possible there is no mercy left for me." Who can describe his feelings as he sat upon that stairway long past the midnight hour?

It makes one think of the awful awakening it will be for this poor world, when Christ comes and quietly takes away His people, and closes the door of mercy against every rejector, and every neglector, of His "great salvation." Then their earnest pleading will be, "Lord, Lord, open to us;" only to be met with that soul-agonizing response: "I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded: But ye have set at naught all My council, and would none of My reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh: Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me." Prov. 1:24-28.

Dear reader, let me out of love, put the following question and ask you to answer it in the presence of God.

"If Jesus Christ were to come today and raise the dead saints, and change the living saints, and in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, have them with Himself, would you be taken with joy, or left behind for judgment?”

"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

Fragment: Truth that Gives Himself

Child of God, may the Lord Himself be more personally with and before us, a nearer and more real object than ever. Truth that gives thoughts is not fully the right thing; but truth that gives Himself that is the thing. Faith finds various excellencies in Him, but it is Himself it reaches.

Leave Yourself in My Hands

"What then can I do?" asked a young man in great trouble. The answer of his friend was, "Leave yourself in my hands, and I will carry you through.”

It was a kind promise. Perhaps it could be fulfilled to the young man's advantage. The issue we know not, but we do know that, "The hand of our God is upon them for good that seek Him." Ezra 8:22.

He will not fail one who leaves himself in His hands of power and wisdom. He is a Savior-God, and delights in the blessing and salvation of all who turn to Him.

Peace with God

There are many who have taken our adorable Lord Jesus as Savior, and are thus eternally saved, who yet need to perceive upon what peace with God depends. It does not depend on feelings. Get firm hold of that.

Against whom have we sinned? God.

Can we render anything to Him to atone for our souls? Indeed we cannot.

Yet, as we read, God "can by no means clear the guilty", that is, without satisfaction for sins being rendered, this, His own Son, has done.

He took what we had earned. Praise His precious name!

On believing the glad tidings of forgiveness of sins through Christ (Acts 13:38, 39), the believer is not only forgiven, but in Christ is justified, that is, cleared from all things, and, being justified, has peace with God. Remember, for it is important that peace with God is a result.

If, as the hymn says, "God is satisfied with Jesus," I may well add the next line, "I am satisfied as well.”

That is faith in Christ's work, being satisfied, because God is, and the proof of His satisfaction is the resurrection from the dead of the One who "bore the punishment instead" of us on the Cross.

Not Trying

Little black Bob was the son of a black chief, and was sent to England by his father to be educated and made a Christian. While at school a lady said to him, "Now, Bob, how is it, have you really given yourself to Jesus?”

"I am trying to do so," was the reply.

"O, no, it is not that at all," she answered. "You see this room, Bob; can these walls do anything? Do they not stand perfectly still and helpless, and we have to come in and sweep, and dust, and hang the pictures upon them, while they just let us do all for them. You are a little room for Jesus to dwell in, and if you will open the door, (Rev. 3:20), He will come in and clean up, and turn out all the rubbish, and dwell in you, and so do it all Himself. It is not trying, but letting Jesus manage you. Will you do this? Will you let Him?" Let me repeat the question, "Will you let Him?”

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.

The Prisoner's Deliverance

The Count of M. was found guilty of treason against the realm and violence against the king, and was imprisoned for life in the impregnable castle of G. That mountain fortress is almost unequaled in its natural facilities, and has been fortified yet more by human skill.

For a year the Count lay in his frightful, lonely cell, without one star of hope in either his outer or inner sky, for he was a skeptic. If forced by consuming weariness and the monotony of idle time, to take up the one book left him—the Bible—he read it with anger and gnashing of teeth against the God it reveals.

But sore affliction, the agent which has brought to the Good Shepherd many a sheep, was effectual in his case. The more he read the Bible, the more he felt the pressure of the gentle hand of God on his forlorn and hopeless heart.

On a stormy night when the mountain gales howled round the fortress, the Count lay sleepless on his cot. The tempest in his breast was as fearful as that without. His whole past life rose before him; he was convicted of his sins; he felt that the source of all his misery lay in his forsaking God. For the first time in his life, his heart was softened, and his eyes wet with tears of genuine repentance. Rising from his cot, he opened his Bible, and his eyes fell on the verse, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

This word of God reached the very depths of his soul; he fell upon his knees, for the first time since he was a child, and cried to God for mercy. God, who, full of grace and compassion, turns not any away from the first movement of faith toward Him, heard the cry of the sufferer in dungeon, and gave him not only spiritual but temporal deliverance.

That same night the king lay sleepless, tortured by bodily pains, and in utter exhaustion he begged of God to grant him one hour of refreshing sleep. The favor was granted, and when he woke again, he said to his wife, the gentle queen, “God has looked upon me very graciously, and I may well be thankful to Him. Who in my kingdom has wronged me most? I will forgive him.”

“The Count of M.,” replied Louise.

“You are right,” said the sick king, “let him be pardoned.”

Day had not dawned when a courier was dispatched to bear to the prisoner pardon and release.

It is the usual way of our Good Shepherd, in gathering His lost flock, for whom He died, to do it, “without observation,” and when He holds up to us a marked instance like this, no doubt it is that our dormant faith may be quickened in His power to save in the face of every obstacle.

Is there one reader, who, though not in a dungeon, has yet hard thoughts of God? Be assured that God is love, and He can pardon us on a just basis because His holy Son bore our guilt.

“This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40.

"Now Is the Day of Salvation"

"There is nothing more perilous than trusting to another day; all the more as to be once excluded is to be forever excluded.”

"The first Adam," said an old writer, "closed the door upon us, but there was a last Adam to open it; but if the last Adam close the door, there is no other Adam to open it.”

Jesus Christ Said —

“I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me.” John 12:32.

A man got a spark of iron in his eye; surgeons tried in vain to extract it; at length the eyelid was held open, and a loadstone drew out the iron spark.

This man was like the woman we read of in the 8th of Luke, who spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any. At last she came to Jesus, and was healed immediately.

Many who know they are lost sinners go from preacher to preacher, to find peace, and after all, they prove that peace cannot be known to any but those who believe that Jesus bore their sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).

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

Saved

Saved is a wonderful word. It describes the condition of one who has discovered from God's Word that he was lost, and has fled to the Savior of the lost, and put his whole trust in Him who "came to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

When the woman in the 7th of Luke came to Jesus, and trusted Him, she received pardon for her sins, salvation for her soul, and peace. And that is true of every sinner who has come to Him, and trusted Him.

Remember, it is not your worthiness but the blood of Jesus; not your doings but His finished work that saves.

When He said on the cross, "It is finished," heaven rejoiced. Now God in righteousness, proclaims pardon and offers salvation to all.

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus... that He might be just and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:24,26.

God's Lamb for Me

“What can be the matter with S—?” I asked of a friend, “she looks so miserable, and wears on her face so different an expression from the bright, happy one which a short time since told of a purged conscience, and a mind at perfect peace with God.”

“Ah,” replied my friend, “she says she is not saved; that she does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that her sins are not forgiven.”

Being much interested in my friend S—, this intelligence sent me to my knees before the Lord, to ask of Him wisdom to deal with her case, and to teach me to know how to speak “a word in season” to the weary one.

Soon an opportunity for an interview occurred, and the following conversation, so far as I can remember, passed between us:—

“My dear S—, I am much grieved to see you so troubled. What is the matter?”

“O, my sins are not forgiven, and I am so very unhappy.”

“But this is a very different tale from what you told me some time since, when you said you were sure your sins were all forgiven, and that you were happy in the Lord. What has made the difference?”

“O, I am afraid I said what I did then to make you pleased with me; and now I fear I don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ at all, and I am not saved.”

“What you say grieves me very much indeed; and I must ask you, in the presence of God, one very solemn question. When you told me before that your sins were all washed away by the precious blood of Christ, did you say so only to please me, or did you really think it was so at that time?”

“O, I could not tell a lie about it. I did think really it was so then, but now I know I was mistaken.”

I turned to the first chapter of Leviticus, and read the following words, “If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own voluntary will, or (for his acceptance) at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make an atonement for him” (verses 2, 3, 4.)

“Now, S—,” I said, “if you were called to die today, what would be your hope?”

With a burst of tears she replied, “I should not have any.”

“Come,” said I, “let us look at this Scripture. You are a poor guilty sinner, are you not?”

“O, yes.”

“You cannot therefore approach to God trusting in yourself?”

“O, no.”

“This man who came to God brought a lamb, we will say, and you remember of whom it is written, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world?’” John 1:29.

“O, yes—the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Very well. When the Israelite brought his lamb, he put his hand upon its head, which was the same as if he had said, ‘O God, I am a poor sinful man, but I bring this innocent lamb as my substitute; please accept it for me.’ Can you this morning say, ‘O God, I am a poor sinful girl, but please accept Thy Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, for me?’”

“O, yes, I can indeed; it is just what I want.”

“That is right. Now tell me, what does God say here?” and with my finger I pointed to the words, “And it shall be accepted for him to make an atonement for him.” She looked at me more brightly, and I said, “Who is the ‘him’ here?”

“The man who laid his hand on the head of the lamb.”

“And whose words are these?”

“God’s.”

“Are they true?”

“O, yes.”

“Now, look, I want to show you another Scripture:

‘He hath made us accepted in the beloved’ (Eph. 1:6). Who is the Beloved?”

“The Lord Jesus Christ.”

“And who are the ‘us’ here spoken of?”

“Those who lay their hands on the head of God’s Lamb.”

“This, you say, is your position; and now, though Satan says you are not accepted, God says here you are ‘in the beloved.’ Which will you believe?”

“O, I must believe God.”

“Now read on.

‘In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.’

You said just now your sins were not forgiven; see what God says here. There are one or two other places where our sins are spoken of, which I would like also to show you.” I turned to Isa. 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” I pointed to the first words, and asked, “Is that you? Have you gone astray?”

“O, yes,” she replied.

Then, still pointing to the following words, “Have you turned to your own way?”

“Yes,” she said again.

“Then you see your sins were laid by God on the Lord Jesus Christ (pointing to the last clause); for the ‘us’ in the last clause refers to the same persons as the ‘we’ in the first and second. Let us see when this was done: 1 Peter 2:24, tells us ‘Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ Then it was He bore our sins on the tree. Is He bearing them now?”

“O, no; He is on the throne of God in heaven, and they cannot be there.”

“Quite true. Let us see what He has done with them, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.’ Psa. 103:12. Do you know how far the east is from the west?”

“No.”

“Quite so; it is a distance which cannot be measured. If God had said ‘as far as the north is from the south,’ I should know the distance was about 8,000 miles; but no one has ever measured the distance between the east and the west. They can never come together, and God says, ‘so far hath he removed our transgressions from us;’ and again, ‘Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back’ Isa. 38:17—that is, where God cannot see them. Now you see that in Christ Jesus we are ‘accepted in the Beloved,’ and that ‘we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,’ and God Himself tells us so in Eph. 1:6, 7. Shall we kneel down now, and bless God together that He has ‘accepted us in the Beloved,’ and for given us all our sins for Christ’s sake?”

“O, yes, please.”

We knelt, and the sorrowful and despairing one rose from her knees with the assurance of salvation, and knowing “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” To the God of all grace be the praise forever!

And now, if any poor doubting, fearing sinner, tempted sorely by Satan, should read this paper, let him remember that Christ is God’s Lamb; that “He has offered Himself without spot to God;” that “He loved us, and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, of a sweet-smelling savor” (Eph. 5:2); and that through the sweet savor of His person and work ever ascending to God, every one who can in faith say, “O God, accept Thy Son for me!” is accepted certainly by God according to all the preciousness of that Beloved One to God, “for unto you therefore who believe is the preciousness” (see Greek, 1 Peter 2:7).

May God seal these consolatory and establishing truths upon the soul of every distressed one, and he shall have “joy and peace in believing,” even a present, personal, perfect salvation, such as the dying thief received, when the Lord said to him, “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43.

What Think Ye?

Your state for Eternity hinges on your estimation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"What think ye of Christ?" is the test, To try both your thought and your scheme, You cannot be right in the rest, Unless you think rightly of Him!

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

This settles the whole question. Your relation to the Son, if in faith, is everlasting life; if in unbelief, is the wrath of God.

In which clause of the verse do you stand?

"HE WAS WOUNDED

FOR OUR

TRANSGRESSIONS,

HE WAS BRUISED

FOR OUR INIQUITIES,

THE CHASTISEMENT

OF OUR PEACE

WAS UPON HIM,

AND WITH HIS STRIPES

WE ARE HEALED."

Isa. 53:5.

Put Your Trust in the Lord.

Psa. 4:5

In the measure in which we truly recognize Him as our Lord, and ourselves as His possession, will it be easy to “put our trust” in Him.

Do not we all take the charge of those things that we purchase? If the shepherd purchase a flock of sheep, does he not intend to provide for and take care of them? And the more they cost, the more carefully will he tend them.

Our Good Shepherd has paid for us an infinite price, and we are not merely the sheep of His pasture, but we are members of His body.

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

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:11, 28.

May

From Time Into Eternity

An actor is upon the stage. He has been perfectly successful; the audience has been thoroughly delighted, and now, as the climax is reached, the excitement is intense. Impersonating Satan—the destroyer, he seizes one of the other actors as his pray, and is about to hurry away with him, when he pauses, hesitates, stumbles, falls, and is carried from the stage, a corpse.

Reader, would you like to die thus?

A well-known singer stands before a large company. The house is thronged with an entranced multitude. Arrayed in the habiliments, and acting in the character of a judge, he asks for the third time the solemn question, “Are you guilty?” Suddenly he leaves the stage, and in a brief space of time has passed into eternity.

Reader, you are guilty before God. You, too, must cross the threshold from time into eternity; it may be today.

An evangelistic company are in the street. One of the number stands forth, and earnestly exhorts the assembled crowd, telling of the Saviour’s love, and of God’s so-great salvation. He stops, drops to the ground, and expires. The servant’s work is done. Absent from the body, he is present with his Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8.)

A servant of Christ is reading Phil. 4 to his congregation. Long and faithfully he has labored for his Master.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice,” he reads. With this as a parting message upon his lips, he sinks before them, and departs to be with Christ, which is far better. (Phil. 1:23.)

Reader, these are no fables, but simple and solemn facts. Surely they have a voice for you, for before another sunset, you may have passed away. Whither?

There is no time to waste; not a moment to lose; “Now is the accepted time,... now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“To-day, if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart.” Heb. 4:7.

Flee at once to the arms of boundless mercy, extended wide to welcome all who will come.

The Lord Jesus says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no vise cast out.” John 6:37.

The Debt Paid

"But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a cry to the gates of heaven,

`Rejoice, I have found my sheep!'

And the angels echoed around the throne,

`Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own'!”

From a rich baritone voice came the song ringing out on the frosty air of the late October morning, and the hills and valley, catching the words and melody, sent back in triumphant echo—"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own.”

Around a bend of one of the hillside roads appeared the singer, tall and strong, carrying in his arms the sheep he had spent the hours of night searching. The animal was trembling with cold. The man looked at it with a smile, saying, "You poor sheep, why did you wander away? Did you think the rocks and the stones on the bleak hills were more nourishing than the green grass in the valley? Did you think you were safer among the wolves than with your comrades in the sheepfold? Why did you turn your back on your shepherd who never turned his back on you?”

Here he paused as he discovered a man standing near one of the buildings, a young man, showing plainly the marks of dissipation and riotous living. He looked him over and then asked:

"Who are you?”

"What, me? I am nobody."

"Where are you from?"

"Everywhere.”

"Where are you bound for?"

"Anywhere.”

"Where do you belong?"

"Nowhere.”

"Do you want employment?”

"I would be glad of a job if I could only get away from my present boss, for whom I have worked faithfully for two years.”

"And, pray, who is your boss?"

"Satan.”

"Does he pay you good wages?”

"Good wages? No; big wages? Yes."

"What kind of wages?”

"Hunger enough for a dozen men. Rags, desolation, shattered nerves, ruined character and a burning appetite for the thing that wrought my ruin.”

The shepherd dropped his head in deep thought and said to himself: "I've spent half the night in trying to rescue a four-legged sheep. Dare I drive this two-legged one from my door, and make no effort to rescue him?" Looking up he said to the tramp: "You look to me as if you could eat some breakfast; how about it?”

The young man was evidently moved by the kindness of the tone of voice in which the invitation was given. He straightened up and said: "Thank you, sir, I am very hungry, but I am not deserving of such kindness.”

"Young man," was the reply, "I never turned a hungry man from my door, and with the Lord's help, I never will, so long as my name is Robert West." At mention of the name the young man gave him a startled look and turned pale. Bracing up he said, "I appreciate your kindness and accept your invitation gratefully.”

After putting the sheep in the fold with the others, he led the young man up to the house where Mrs. West stood in the doorway to greet her husband, of whose coming she knew when she heard a half hour before the welcome news, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!" ringing out through the valley. After both men had washed, they sat down to the table on which was a tempting breakfast. Robert West very reverently asked the Lord's blessing before starting to eat.

While Mr. West gave his wife an account of his experiences in his search for the lost sheep, their guest ate his breakfast as only a hungry man can, yet with the manner of a gentleman. It was plain to be seen that he was thinking as well as eating, and thinking, too, with a purpose as tears trickled down his cheeks.

When the meal was over, Mr. West read from the fifteenth chapter of Luke the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son, and offered an earnest supplication for the wandering one. During the prayer the young man kneeling with the others, was deeply moved.

At the close when Robert West and his wife sang, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!" the wanderer sobbed aloud. As they finished singing, the young man arose and said, "By some strange chance I came to your door this morning, a prodigal, one who is a pauper, clothed in rags, a bankrupt in character, yet at your hospitable board you have treated me as an honored guest. Nearly two years ago I turned my back on a beautiful home, closing my ears to the appeal of a Christian father and mother, trying to drown the memory of their prayers, only to find myself at the end in another Christian home.

I learned to drink at college. I graduated with the highest honors, but gained a consuming appetite. Every effort of my dear parents and friends failed to break the chains that bound me until at last I fled from home, and from those who loved me most. For nearly two years I have tramped hither and thither, until this morning, when we were down on our knees, I confessed my sins and put my trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who promises 'to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.' (Heb. 7:25). Sir, the desire of drink has left me, and He is able to keep me.

I said it was a strange chance that sent me to your door, but I was wrong, it was the Lord that guided my steps hither, and it was His will that you should bring back to the fold this wandering sheep, as well as the one you brought back earlier this morning. Do you wonder why? I think you will understand when I tell you that my name is Robert West Beatty.”

At the announcement of that name Mr. and Mrs. West, down whose cheeks the tears were falling, started in surprise, and Mr. West exclaimed: “Are you the son of my old college mate, Frederick Beatty?”

"I surely am," was the reply, "and my Father named me after you in memory of his college chum.”

"Then it was God who sent you here to enable me to pay a debt of gratitude I owe your father.”

"I never heard my father say anything about your owing him anything.”

"Probably not; listen now to my story: Fred Beatty and I entered college together and soon became friends. Like you and many another foolish young man I began drinking. One evening I returned to my rooms which your father and I shared together, showing plainly that I was under the influence of liquor.

Your father waited until the effect had passed off, and then if ever one man talked out of his heart and gripped the heart of another that man was Fred Beatty. We got down on our knees, and I took your father's Savior, as my Savior, and asked the Lord to help me give up drink. Through His mercy I have never touched another drop to this day. God helping me, I'll be as true to Fred's son as Fred was true to me!”

A great change came over Robert, he really sought to please the Lord and to grow in grace and in knowledge of Him. Mr. West gave him a home and employment.

Some months later, Robert West, unknown to Bob, as they decided to call him, sent a long letter to his old college chum, Frederick Beatty, asking him and his wife to pay them a visit. He wrote: "I have a fine flock of sheep. I spent nearly one whole night last October searching for one of them that went astray and before I got back to the house I found two sheep, the one that belonged to me and another one. I will give you that sheep.”

Early one morning two weeks later, Robert West drove to the station to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beatty, who had gratefully accepted his invitation. Just before they reached the house Mrs. West said to Bob: "Mr. West has gone to the station for a present for you, and I know you will like it. I want you to go to your room and remain there until I call you so we can get the present in the house and ready for you at the breakfast table.”

The company soon arrived and when the greetings were over, just as they were about to sit down to the table, Bob was heard coming down the stairs, and Robert West said: "Fred and Mary, here is the other sheep I found that October morning." As Bob opened the door, Mrs. West said to him, "Here is your present, Bob.”

Who can describe the joy of that reunion? The sheep that was lost was found.

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

The Glorious Gospel

How glorious is the Gospel

Of Jesus Christ our Lord,

That He the mighty Saviour died,

And we believe His Word:

It is all about our Saviour,

The blessed Man who came,

From God the Father He was sent,

Emmanuel His name.

All heaven owned His love and power,

The eternal God was He,

Grace made Him poor, to reach lost man

That we, too, rich might be.

Twas for ungodly enemies

The loving Saviour bled,

For strengthless sinners who were vile

His cleansing blood was shed.

His work is gloriously complete,

On Calvary’s cross He cried,

“It is finished,” (the perfect work,)

And bowed His head and died.

Now every one who’ll take His Word,

Need never have a doubt,

But with a perfect certainty,

Rest on that dying shout.

From the Life of George Whitefield

In the year 1740, the members of a drinking club had a negro boy attending them who used to mimic people for their amusement. The men bid him mimic Mr. Whitefield, which he was very unwilling to do; but they insisting upon it, he stood up and said, "I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not; unless you repent, you will all be damned.”

Through this unexpected speech, the club was entirely broken up.

"His Best Friend"

A distinguished soldier who had taken part in eight campaigns, and who has for many years been a servant of Jesus Christ, recently told a touching story at a men's meeting.

After a terrible battle, he was going among the wounded, doing various things for them, and telling them of the love of God, when he came across a horrible sight. A young horse artilleryman had had his hip shot away, and the condition of the poor fellow was so terrible that even the older man, who was so accustomed to the horrors of war, was deeply moved by it.

"I was going by him," he said, "and just giving the thought that was in my mind, I said, `I am afraid your best friend can do no more for you now.'

"I am not an emotional man, but there is a lump in my throat and a catch in my voice today as I recall his quiet reply, `Yes, He can, sir.'

"I stopped and looked at the poor mangled fellow. His injuries were dreadful.

" 'Who?' I said.

"'The Lord Jesus Christ, sir,' he replied.

" 'You know Him, do you?' I asked.

"'Thank God, He is my Savior,' he said.”

His best friend, in that awful moment of agony and helplessness and approaching death. There was no one there to applaud his pluck; no newspaper correspondent to chronicle the incident. When all human aid failed, the brave Christian soldier breathed the name of the Friend who fails not, the Friend who could supply every need,—and thus he died in peace.

There are times when even the closest and dearest of earthly friends cannot help us. To us all, there may come suddenly the summons to another world. How shall we face it?

O, what a friend Jesus is in a "tight place"! When we have to face the eternal world, what have we to lean upon? Nothing but Jesus. What a Friend He is!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13.

And in the hour of our extremity, who can do without the Friend who sacrificed Himself for us?

Careful Driving

"How near to a precipice could you drive without going over?" questioned a gentleman of each who applied for the position of coachman. The answers varied: "Within a yard;" "Within a foot;" but the one who replied, "I would keep as far from it as possible," got the job.

That is what our attitude toward sin should be. To go as far toward sin as we can without actually sinning is folly. To keep far away from sin as we can, is to live close to Jesus. Careful driving is a worthwhile virtue.

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." Matt. 10:26.

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

A Message for You

You know the old proverb, "One man may lead a horse to the water, but ten cannot make him drink." And why? He sees the water, and knows it is good for him; Why does he not drink? Because he is not thirsty.

So with the careless sinner. He hears about Jesus, and may know the plan of salvation, but he is not saved. Why? He has never felt his thirst, and has never come to Jesus to get it quenched. He cannot sing,

"I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

And now I live in him.”

Reader, have you ever thirsted for the water of life? Perhaps not. Ah, remember, you will someday, sooner or later. Every man thirsts. Either on earth, while the water of life is flowing freely, and he can get his thirst quenched—yea, a well of water put within him; or in hell, where there is no water to cool his parched tongue. O, beware!

"Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation.”

Tomorrow is not yours: even now the messenger of death may be speeding his way with thy death-warrant, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Luke 12:20.

"Why distrust the Savior, sinner?

Has He ever souls deceived?

No! beyond all others, Jesus

Worthy is to be believed.

"Give, then, to the winds thy doubting;

Take the gift His hand bestows.

Haste! accept the offered mercy!

Soon the day of grace will close.”

Christ Is Coming

"Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him." Rev. 1:7.

Say! O, hast thou heard the warning

Note which thro' the world is sounding?

Jesus Christ, the Lord, is coming!

He who once was crucified.

Coming, not in grace, but judgment,—

Coming, as a King—in glory,

And to judge the world in justice,

He who once for sinners died.

O, make haste! and fly for mercy!

While He waits a little longer,

Own thy sins, and cease thy tarrying,

Or 'twill quickly be too late!

Christ is coming! quickly, surely;

Will thy heart rejoice to see Him?

If thou'st found in Him a Savior,

Happy then will be thy state.

But if still thy hand is grasping

Earth's poor, empty, fading trifles,

And thy heart intent on gath'ring

All it offers of its store;

O, how sad—how dread the waking,

When the Judge begins his reckoning,

When to light He brings all thy ways,

And thy treasures are no more!

Will it profit thee, thy toiling

Then,—thy life of hurrying, worrying,

And forgetful of the Giver,

All thy days absorbed in strife?

Stop! O, stop! for Christ is coming!

Yea, in spite of scoffs and sneering,

He is coming, and to judgment,

He will ask thee of thy life.

O, it is no idle fable,

But is just as true, as certain,

As that Jesus died for sinners,

Nineteen hundred years ago.

"As 'twas in the days of Noah,"—

"As the days of Lot in Sodom,"

"So" the Son of Man's appearing

To a world of sin and woe.

Haste O, haste! for time is speeding;

Long and patiently He's waited,

That repenting sinners might have

Life eternal through His name.

Now, before that dread day's dawning

Breaks, a Savior bids thee welcome,—

Even in these last and fleeting

Moments ere He comes again.

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, `Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?'" Rev. 6:15-17.

June

Until He Find It”

Employed in the same bank, we met each other daily; my conversion and confession of Christ he treated with contempt, and blasphemously repelled all efforts to lead him to Christ.

My removal to D. separated us for about a year. Then a young boy entered the bank bearing a note addressed to me. It read:

"My poor boy is dying, and begs you to come to him;" continuing, the writer gave an address in the City of H. urged me to come quickly, and concluded by saying, "May God bless your visit.”

After finishing the duties of the day, I sought a fellow-believer employed in a nearby printing office, showed him the letter, and secured his assent to my proposal, "You pray here, while I go there." (to H.) Reaching the address given me, an elderly lady warmly thanked me for coming, and said, "My poor boy is in the front room upstairs.”

Upon entering the bedroom I was horrified to see terror personified, a face white as chalk, eyes starting from their sockets, body writhing, while the lips uttered the terrible wail, "The eleventh hour is past! My God, there is no hope for me!”

My presence was unnoticed, and words I spoke appeared to be unheard, while the heart-rending wail was repeated over and over again. Seating myself by his side, overwhelmed by the awful spectacle, I silently prayed that One "mighty to save" would deliver his soul from the pit. Then lifting my Bible, it opened at the 15th chapter of Luke, and I read verses 1-4:

"Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And He spake this 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?”

Involuntarily I repeated these words, adding, "O, S. don't you see? It says 'until He find it,' and He hasn't found you yet, so that proves He's seeking still.”

The movements of his body ceased, and the awful wail was hushed, so I read the whole chapter to him, telling of a love intent upon finding sinful souls, and at amazing cost, transforming the straying, lost, and spiritually dead into dearest objects to the Divine Seeker's heart. And there in the stillness of that sick chamber, found of the Good Shepherd, assured by the Holy Spirit, welcomed as a son beloved by the Father, all terror and anguish exchanged for the joy of God's salvation, the heavenly hosts, and I too, witnessed that miracle of redeeming love, the new birth of a believing soul.

Reader, is your soul saved? Beware of the terrors of the damned, escape the wrath to come; but, beyond and above these solemn considerations, give the blessed Redeemer the joy of possessing your soul for Himself. For you He suffered, your soul He seeks, and awaits the joy of finding.

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

Should the Lord Jesus Come Today, Are You Ready to Meet Him?

"If the Lord comes and takes you all to heaven, I will become a Jew, and be saved with the remnant.”

Such was the utterance of a boy to his mother.

At that time he did not know his sins forgiven, and he feared he would be left behind if the Lord Jesus came for His waiting saints. He resolved in his mind that his only chance would be when the Lord again takes up the Jews for blessing, after the translation of the Church to heaven. He thought he might have a good chance to be saved when the Millennium came.

Very often grown people think the same. Religious people generally know something of the Millennium, but perhaps not enough to dispel such ignorance. Hardly any godly person doubts that there will yet be a thousand years of blessing for this poor sin-stricken, sorrow-burdened earth, though all may not be agreed as to how it will be brought about.

Those who have heard the Gospel and rejected it in Christendom, will never witness Millennial blessedness. Such will be morally blinded, like the Jews of old, who, when they had the Light, refused to believe. Hence they were left in darkness. Their minds are blinded, as a people, to this day. Solemn reflection for all Christendom, since Paul says, "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee." Rom. 11:21.

Reader, you form part of Christendom, so that warning is most needful, and it is meant for you. If you are Christless, be wise and heed it.

Before the Millennium is introduced, the Lord Jesus will come into the air for His true Church. Every person who has been born again by the Spirit of God, has the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins, and is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, forms part of the Church, and such only. It is the blessed hope of the Church to wait and watch for her coming Bridegroom. His last message to her is, "Surely I come quickly." Her response is, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.

I Know Not

I know not what of trial or of joy

May lie before me in the untrod way;

But yet I know sufficient grace is mine

For each succeeding day.

I know not whether there may partings be,

The rending of earth's ties that are so sweet;

But this I know, that rest for breaking hearts

Is found at Jesus' feet.

I know not whether I shall serve Him where

The praise of man sheds glamour over toil,

Or in the lonely field of faith and prayer,

Wait for the share of spoil.

I know not—yet I know that He plans all,

All that God chooseth is forever best,

And this He gives to those who only seek

His will, and in Him rest.

How Peter Waldo Found Rest

The history of Peter Waldo of Lyons is full of interest. He lived about seven hundred and fifty years ago, and was a wealthy business man in his city.

He "had lived in great reputation as a merchant. Success had attended his labors, and he was known among his fellow-citizens as a man of honor, liberality and kindness of spirit.”

In the midst of his prosperity an event took place which led him to feel anxious for the salvation of his soul.

He was sitting in the company of some friends. After supper, as they were engaged in pleasant conversation, one of them fell to the ground, and when he was raised it was found that he was dead.

From that time Waldo became a diligent inquirer after truth.

He looked around and saw the people carried away by sin, and then seeking to satisfy a guilty conscience with the false doctrines and vain ceremonies of the religion which prevailed at the day. But in these, peace was not to be found. His mind could not be set at rest as to the great question, "How shall a man be just with God?”

He knew he was not fit to die; and when he asked "What must I do to be saved?" he was not satisfied with all the answers they gave him.

The Bible would have told him; but Waldo had not the holy Book. Rich as he was, he had not the best of all treasures; the few copies of the Word of God which then existed were in libraries to which the common people had not access. Besides they were all written in Latin, so that a person had to be learned in that tongue in order to read a Bible, even if he could by any means get sight of one.

After much labor, however, Peter Waldo was so happy as to own a copy of God's Word. It must have been a large sum of money that he gave for it; yet what a treasure it proved to him! He did not think the money misspent which procured it, or the time misapplied that he gave to the study of it. These were nothing in comparison with the value of the blessed truths which it made known to him. It taught him the "new and living way" of approaching God through Jesus Christ the only Savior and Mediator. It told him that a contrite and believing heart is what God delights in, and that it is heart-service which is acceptable in His sight.

Before, he was perplexed and troubled, now, as he rested upon Christ and His completed sacrifice he was peaceful and glad.

Peter Waldo felt like a new man; the burden was gone from his soul; light was there and comfort, for he had found "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Earnestly now he sought that others should know the joyful sound of the gospel, and, as years passed, he made or caused to be made a translation of the Scriptures into the language of the people, and numbers of copies were written and circulated. Through these, many were brought to know the Lord Jesus as their own Savior, and some of the converts went two and two into the surrounding country. They set forth as hawkers of silk and small wares, and calling at the houses of the great or lowly, would sell what they could, and then bring out parts of the Scriptures which they carried with them, and read from, and spoke of them. They were called "The poor men of Lyons.”

So it was that many heard God's gracious message. Persecuted and martyred some of them were, but the truth spread and was used of God for the deliverance of souls.

Let us, like Waldo, value the Word of God, read and study it for ourselves, and seek to pass on to others that which lives and abides forever.

The Stutterer's Secret

During a revival in a certain place there might often be seen a man with his finger on a certain text pointing men to Christ. Speaking to him you would recognize him as the soul-winner called Tommy the Stutterer. Someone asked him one day: "Tommy, how do you manage; you can't speak plainly, and yet you lead so many to Christ?" Tommy replied, "Doc-doctor, I give them the Bi-bible, and that don't stutt-tut-ter.”

"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. 4:12.

The Knowledge of Salvation

Among those who professed conversion at the Evangelistic services in W— was Miss R., a maiden of sixteen or seventeen summers, whose mother did not look upon the preaching or the preachers with kindly feelings. Though a professor of religion, like most respectable people in W—, Mrs. R. had never been saved, and, in fact, ridiculed the idea that anyone could be certain of salvation while "down here." She attended church, took the communion, said her prayers, and helped on the "good cause" by subscribing to this, that, and the other scheme of her denomination. But "one thing needful" was lacking in her case—conversion to God, through Christ.

Mrs. R. heard her daughter's testimony, but maintained that it was the height of presumption for anyone to say that he was saved until he came to die or reached the glory. Multitudes of persons who pass muster as Christians, when asked how long it is since they were saved assert that "no one can tell.”

If the reader is one of this class, and carefully reads the New Testament Scriptures, he will see that the early Christians were "saved," "converted," and knew it. It is a very popular doctrine with unbelievers that "no one can know that he is saved;" but God's Word completely refutes such a theory.

When Miss R. accepted Christ, she became deeply anxious about her mother's conversion. Again and again she asked her to go with her to the meetings.

"Mother, I don't like to go alone," she used to say; "come with me, and keep me company tonight.”

Her earnestness and perseverance were ultimately rewarded by having the joy of her dear one's presence at one of the Gospel services. After a hymn and prayer, the evangelist read a portion of the third chapter of the Gospel of John, basing his remarks on verse eighteen, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already; because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.”

In the course of his address he showed that the congregation was divided into two classes—believers and unbelievers; that all who really believed on Christ were "not condemned;" and that those who did not believe on Him were "condemned already." There was no middle position, and each one present belonged to one or the other.

In searching, burning words, he spoke of the happy position of the believer, and of the terrible condition of the unbeliever. He also urged those who intended to retire to rest that night unconverted, to take a pen and write on a slip of notepaper the awful words, "Condemned already," and place it over the head of their beds, so that if they died before the morning, their friends would know where they were, and would put no lying epitaph on their tombstones, stating that they had gone to heaven.

Mrs. R. left the meeting place very much in the condition that Naaman the Syrian left Elisha's servant when told to "wash and be clean"—in a rage. She had not been accustomed to hear such pointed preaching.

On retiring to rest that night, she could not sleep. The Holy Spirit was striving with her, desirous that she should renounce her religious profession and take the place of a "lost" sinner. Again and again the words rang in her ears, and laid hold of her heart and conscience,—

"Condemned already!" "Condemned already!”

Her eyes were opened, and she accepted God's verdict as to her state. Having believed what God said against her, she believed on Christ who died to save her from eternal woe. Then she knew that by believing on Him who bore sin's penalty, and paid sin's ransom, she was "not condemned," but "justified from all things.”

If you are unconverted, even now you are "condemned already." Don't believe Satan, or your own heart; condemn yourself, and justify God at once.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," and you will be saved on the spot; for God justifies ungodly sinners who believe in the finished work of His beloved Son.

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

Justification and Redemption

The Blood, the meritorious ground of our justification.

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Rom. 5:8,9.

Through it we have redemption.

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, to the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:5-7; Col. 1:14.

"We Persuade Men"

All blessing comes to sinners through Christ. He died upon the cross to make it possible, and the only way of salvation is through Him. Christ-rejecters miss it, and land themselves in hell; but those who will trust in Jesus, those who will take Him as their Savior, receive salvation, and eternal glory at the end.

How gracious of God to warn men of the consequences of turning away from Christ, and we who have been saved, would take up God's warnings, and reiterate them in your hearing, "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." 2 Cor. 5:11.

As we would persuade a man not to steal, by bringing before him the consequences of so doing, so we would persuade you to flee to Christ for salvation, because of the awful consequences of rejecting Him.

"He that believeth not, shall be damned." Mark 16:16.

But God gives men their last warning—this may be yours—do not neglect it. Beloved reader, turn to Christ, He can save you, and He alone.

"He that believeth on Me, hath everlasting life." John 6:47.

July

The Death Track

Two men set out to reach a new mining camp, hoping to reach their destination before winter with its heavy snows set in. One bright November morning they started on what they hoped was the last stage of the journey. A flurry of snow during the preceding night had almost obliterated the faint track made by the former travelers, but they confidently set forward, believing themselves quite capable of keeping the right direction.

As the day wore on, the woods through which they journeyed grew more dense, until they could not see the sun, which hitherto had been their guide. Still they pressed on, in what they believed to be a western course, choosing the places where the underbrush was crushed, as evidence that others had been that way before.

What was their astonishment later on, to find out that they were apparently not alone in their journey, for there were before them the fresh tracks in the snow of at least two. Reassured by this they hurried on, hoping to overtake them, and were amazed, still later, to find that others had joined the travelers.

This they looked upon as a sure token that they were on the right way, and that the camp was near, and were about to start again, when they were surprised by the appearance of an Indian—who proved to be the mail carrier for the district—standing by the side of a sturdy oak but a few feet from them. So absorbed had they been in examining the tracks in the snow, they had not noticed him before, and involuntarily their hands went to their firearms.

Without, however, moving from his position, the Indian grunted out in broken English:

"White Man, Lost".

This they were ready to indignantly deny, but the Indian, pointing to the track, replied, "White man, lost, he go 'round and 'round.”

Sure enough, they were treading what has been termed "the death track", and that explained the added footprints—they were their own; for they had been walking in a circle. To continue thus meant death, and so, realizing their helplessness, they were glad to accept the proffered leadership of their Indian friend, who safely conducted them to their camp.

It is not difficult to perceive the danger these men were in-an unknown country, a trackless wild, without a guide, and treading the hopeless round of the "death track." But is my reader aware that we are travelers—travelers to eternity, travelers to a meeting with God!

Have you thought of it? Many have, who, being desirous of going to Heaven, but not taking their directions from the infallible Guidebook, the Bible, are also going, each one in their own way. But what saith the Scriptures? "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end there of are the ways of death". Prov. 16:25. They are treading, alas, The Death Track.

They "say their prayers," they "go to church," and "do the best they can," they help to "support the Gospel" at home and abroad, and in all this, and in perhaps much more, they seek to "prove faithful," and their hope is, they are on the straight road to Heaven. But as year after year passes, they are still in the same condition, plodding away and hoping for the best, but never sure. They are going in a circle, and if their eyes were but opened to it, they would find they were lost. They need a deliverer. And, blessed be God, He has provided One, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6.

"Surely, That's Enough"

"It's no use, and I won't try anymore!”

"Thank God for that! You are wise to cease trying. Just you take God's way, and believe; you know what the Lord says about that, `He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.' " John 6:47.

"But I do believe, yet I'm no better!" "Does that verse speak of being better?" "No! but surely I must be different.”

"What does the verse say?”

"'He that believeth on Me'—.”

"Stop there one moment! Do you believe on Him—Jesus, the Son of God?”

"I do! I know He died for me!”

"Very well, then, go on with the verse." "`Hath everlasting life.'”

"What does the believer have?”

"Everlasting life.”

"Who has it?”

"He that believeth.”

"And you do really believe in Jesus?”

"Yes, I do.”

"And you have-?”

"O but it isn't like that, is it?”

"And you have—? Come, now!

Tell me; what does Jesus say you have?”

"Everlasting life! Dear me! how stupid I've been! Why, He says I have it, and surely that's enough. I see it all now. It is His work on the cross that makes me safe, and His Word makes me sure!”

"Yes! that is God's way of salvation."

Meeting in Class, but Not Saved

Traveling on the Great Northern Railway not long ago, I was glad to find myself in a coach with only one other passenger, as I thought, the Lord might have so ordered it to give me an opportunity of speaking to this man about his soul.

As an introduction, I asked him where he had come from. He told me that he had been to see his aged mother, and had found her very ill, and apparently dying. I then asked if his mother were saved, and happy in the prospect of soon being with Jesus. He said he was sorry to say she was not, and, what was worse, he did not think she was troubled about her sins, or at having soon to meet God in eternity. I then said, "I judge that you are saved, and know that all your sins are forgiven?”

"Yes," he answered, "but I have known it only a short time, though I have 'met in class' for twenty years, and have had a very good class leader. Last winter I had influenza, and thought I was going to die; and then as I looked at death and eternity, I asked myself whether I had done anything in all these twenty years of profession which could enable me to stand before a holy God. I went back over the many years that I had been a church member, and I could not find one thing that I had done which was good enough to give me a ray of hope, in having, perhaps soon, to meet God. I was greatly troubled that all my twenty years had been spent, without having found, what I now wanted in the prospect of entering eternity, peace with God. I said to myself, What can I do? Where can I look? To whom can I turn? And in my distress I cried to God, when a text of Scripture came to my mind, `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' I immediately answered, `That is enough, for I am a believer in the Lord Jesus; and God's Word says "Thou shalt be saved," so I must be saved.”

"On this single scripture I found rest at once to my weary soul, and have ever since known what it is to be justified by faith, and have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This little incident is written, trusting that God may bless it to some precious soul who, like this man, may be joining with others in class to tell their experience, without having yet found rest by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Word of Warning

"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." He will not be available always. The day will come when He will have passed by.

Bartimeus seized his chance. Possibly it was his first chance. Likely enough it was his last chance. He used it and was saved and was made happy.

Have you heard of the Savior? Probably scores of times He has drawn near to you, passing by where you could touch Him and be saved. Have you slighted His grace hitherto? O! turn to Him now, lest you miss the salvation altogether.

But if you still His call refuse,

And all His wondrous love abuse,

Soon will He sadly from you turn,

Your bitter prayer for pardon spurn;

Too late, too late, will be your cry,

Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.

"If I Could Only Be Sure"

"If I could only be sure," she said to me.

"And so you may," I answered. "But how do you expect to be sure of salvation? Is it by doing good works, by growing better, or what?”

"No, I know there is no growing better, and that no good works can save me.”

"Then tell me plainly what you think your salvation depends upon.”

"I believe that my salvation depends upon my acceptance of the work of Christ.”

This reply might at first sight appear quite sound; but it struck me that it seemed to account for this lady's deep distress.

"Ah, no wonder then that you have no peace, such being your idea.”

She seemed astonished, and I went on, "No, your salvation does not depend upon your acceptance of the work of Christ, but upon your believing that God has accepted the work of Christ as a full and complete satisfaction for all your sins from beginning to end.”

Her expression seemed suddenly to change, as though a flash of light from above had entered her soul, and she gazed at me inquiringly. I continued, "Suppose you were in debt, having run up a large account at a store, and you are pressed for a settlement, but unable to pay; a rich friend wishes to pay your debt; to whom should he pay the money? To you, the debtor; or to the creditor?”

"To the creditor," she replied.

"Yes, it is the creditor that is to be satisfied, is it not?”

"Certainly.”

"And would not your peace of mind depend upon whether you believed that the creditor had accepted the money as a full settlement of your debt?”

"Yes," she answered.

"Now, tell me, do you believe that God, to Whom you are a debtor, (Luke 7:41,42,) has accepted the death of Christ as a full satisfaction for all your sins from beginning to end?”

"I firmly believe that," she said.

"Do you think He will ever cease to be satisfied therewith?”

"Never," was her reply.

"Then God's justice can never again raise any claim against you on account of your sins, Christ having suffered their full penalty?”

"Never," she answered. "I see it all now so plainly. I never looked at it in that way before. I have been wondering whether I accepted Christ properly or not—whether I believed aright-whether I had the right faith—and I could not get peace.”

"No wonder. A peace that depends upon the estimate you form of Christ's work, or upon your feelings about it, must always be an imperfect one, changing as often as that upon which it rests; but God always remembers the blood shed on Calvary, and is always satisfied with it. He always has the One Who shed it before Him, and He refuses ever again to open a question which was settled once and for all eternity by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, and which He has, accepted for you.”

What a comfort it is to know that God accepts the poor sinner, who believes in Jesus, in all the value of His estimate of Christ's precious blood, and in all the perfection of Christ's adorable Person.

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;... that He might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:24, 26.

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:6,7.

He's All My Trust

God of all grace, I gladly own

What, in His death, Thy Christ has done,

What He is there beside Thy throne,

What Christ is now, and Christ alone—

Is all my joyful plea.

He's all my trust, He's all my boast,

For since He died to save the lost,

I'm sure He died for me.

"God Loves You"

"Hymn, 'Jesus loves me this I know, For the Bible tells me so'," said the young clear voice. They sang it through.

And now I am going to give out my text "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.

It was given out something after the fashion of his father perhaps, but the little face was all aglow, and he evidently loved the Word of God, and the love of Christ.

A few chairs arranged before him, on one of which sat his younger brother—and I think on another, the old nurse—comprised his audience.

"Now Harold, how do you know that God loves you?”

Harold shook his head, he could not tell, "Well," said the earnest voice, "You are not in heaven, are you Harold?”

"No." Harold knew certainly that he was not in heaven.

"And you are not in hell, are you, Harold?”

"O! No." Harold was quite startled.

"Then you are in the world aren’t you? And God so loved the world. So you see how you know that God loves, you," triumphantly concluded the little fellow, and whether Harold saw it or not, the sermon was at an end.

Only a child's "pretend preaching." But how quickly the young heart had learned the right to claim that wondrous love.

Reader, do you know it?—God loves you.

You, infidel, perhaps, hating Christ's name, and spending all your intellect to prove His word a myth.

You, drunkard, trying to deaden your sorrows by drink.

You, half wild with despair, not knowing where to turn except to death, and afraid of that. Dear ones, it is not such as Joseph, Daniel, and David that God is thinking of when He tells us by the Holy Spirit, that "Christ died for the ungodly," and "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Although we know all whom Scripture speaks of were sinners. But it does not say, "God loved those who were striving to follow Him"—but "the world." The same world that closed around the cross, after crying, "Away with Him." "Away with Him.”

The world that today denies and blasphemes His precious name. All day long while the heart, is a (perhaps, alas! willing) receptacle of Satan's thoughts and ways, God's love is brooding over you. He sent His blessed One to call "sinners to repentance." Not "the righteous." No! Thank God. For then none 'would have been saved. But sinners, He came "to seek, and to save.”

O! that everything might echo this as you go along, and that you might be forced almost, to accept that love, and hide yourself under the precious blood once shed while still He "waits to be gracious," to the world He died for.

Extract: Never Alone and Always Cared For

Never alone and always cared for, is the happy condition of every child of God. It may be, and ought to be the experience of all those who wait to see His face.

Rest

Come ye souls by sin afflicted,

Bowed with contrite sorrow down;

By the Word of God convicted,

Through the cross behold the crown.

Look to Jesus;

Mercy flows through Him alone.

Take His easy yoke, and wear it;

Love will make obedience sweet;

Christ will be your strength to bear it

And the light to guide your feet

Safe to glory,

Where His ransomed captives meet.

Sweet as home to pilgrims weary,

Light to newly opened eyes,

Or fresh springs in deserts dreary,

Is the rest the cross supplies:

All who taste it,

Shall to rest immortal rise.

Rest, full fruit of grace's story;

Rest from sin's oppressive thrall;

Rest in God's eternal glory;

Rest for pardoned sinners all.

Faith believes it;

Hope perceives it;

Love Both it with joy forestall.

August

Believing Aright

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

A hot north wind blew as I started across the paddock that lay between me and the dwelling in which lived a woman who was in deep anxiety about her soul. I had been staying at a farm house in the bush and had heard of the deep exercise of soul she appeared to have passed through for some two years. A few days previously she had been overtaken by a neighbor as he was driving to the meeting house they attended, and which was situated some three miles from where she dwelt, trudging through the heavy rain on her way to the same place to hear the Word of God. As he stopped to take her up, he asked her why she ventured out on such a day, when she replied: "O, I daren't stay at home, my soul's at stake.”

Entering the house I found her busy cutting potatoes, which the children were carrying out and planting in the furrows made in the land adjoining the house where the father was plowing.

Seating myself on a form to which I was directed, I inquired:

"Well, Mrs. M., how are you today."

I had seen her once before at a meeting.

"Very well in health, thank you, sir."

"But what about the soul?”

"Bad enough, sir, as bad as it can be. I get no rest, no peace, yet I seek it. I go to hear the Word of God, and feel happy sometimes when listening, but then it all goes, and I feel worse than ever, but then I don't deserve it. I lived for five years near Mr. W., yet never went to hear him preach until two years ago. I felt very unhappy, and thought I must go. I went, and the Word of God seemed to plow up my very soul, and ever since then, when thinking of my past life, I feel, as it were, all ground up.”

"But how is that; have you not read what Jesus did for such sinners as you?”

"O, yes; but how may I know it is for me?”

"Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God?”

"Yes, every word of it; I was reading it as you came in.”

"Have" you ever read the twenty-fourth verse of John 5?”

"I have read it all many times.”

"You have your Bible, will you kindly read that verse?" Turning to it she read: "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”

"Ah, that is very beautiful, but it's not for me. I don't believe aright.”

"Now will you kindly read that again, and see if it says anything about believing aright.”

Again she read it, and now the Spirit of God applied the word to the liberation of a soul so long in bondage. The next few minutes were occupied by her in reading again and again this most precious statement of Gospel truth, making her own comments after each reading.

It needed not that I should make further remark. God had given entrance to His word, which gave light and understanding to the simple.

At the second reading she replied, in answer to my question: "Well, no; it says nothing about believing aright; dear me, I never read it so before; I must read that again.”

And turning the leaf down, put the book on the table, but immediately took it up again and read it a third time, saying: "Well, that's wonderful.”

The Bread Is God's Gift

A poor soldier lay dying in a Swiss hospital. His father coming to him, found him hardly able to speak. "You must not die," said the old man. "I have brought money. You shall have medicines, delicacies, everything; and as soon as you are strong enough, I will take you home.”

The sick man shook his head. He did not want the medicine nor tempting morsels. He felt that he was past help.

The father's heart sank, and he turned away to hide his tears. Presently he opened his traveling-sack, and took out a loaf of bread. Breaking off a piece, he gently placed the piece in his son's mouth.

After a moment the sick man swallowed it, and soon he opened his eyes and whispered, "More.”

"Your mother made that," said the father.

"I know it," the sick man replied, "it is so good.”

The father laid the loaf on the bed, and the poor soldier took it up in his hands and began to eat, with tears rolling down his face. From that hour he grew better, and in a few weeks was restored to health.

Jesus said of Himself: "I am the bread of life," and "If any man eat of this bread he shall live forever.”

Just as the sick man, eating his mother's bread, was restored to health and life; so we may take of the Bread of Life, and gain life for the soul, and have eternal life. By faith we take Christ the living Bread, and we rest on His Word. If we believe in Christ, we will enjoy Him, and live for Him.

"Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." John 6:35.

"I Go to Meet God"

A man guilty of many crimes, and hardened in iniquity had been arrested, tried and sentenced to death. Having learned that this wretched being had refused to listen to the exhortations of the many who had besought him to think of his soul, a servant of God, Mr. R., requested permission from the authorities to pass the last night with him which he was to live, hoping to be an instrument in the hands of God to lead the condemned to Christ before he should be cut off from the earth.

The permission having been granted, Mr. R. was locked in the cell with him.

For several hours Mr. R. remained seated trying in vain to attract the attention of his companion, that he might enter into conversation with him. The prisoner, although he was evidently in a state of extreme agitation, retained a lowering and defiant reserve, walking up and down in his cell like a caged lion, rattling the chain which connected his hands and groaning loudly. Hour after hour he continued this without stopping, except to heave from time to time a deep sigh, seeming to wholly ignore the presence of another.

At length, Mr. R., fixing upon him a supplicating look, he suddenly stopped, shook his chain and fell heavily to the ground with fearful groans, which seemed to come from the depths of his being. Then raising himself and turning to Mr. R., he said, with a frightful accent, "Mr. R., do not think I am afraid to die!”

"What!" said Mr. R., "not afraid to die! What mean then this agitation, these groans, and these looks of terror?”

"No," replied the condemned man, "I am not afraid to die. I do not care for death more than that," said he, snapping his fingers. "But, Mr. R., the fearful thought which torments me is, that tomorrow morning, at eight o'clock, I go to meet God! To meet God!”

Eternity only can reveal what the result was of Mr. R.'s visit.

Dear reader, stop a moment, you have also to meet God; yes, you must one day be face to face with Him. How shall you endure His looks, the brightness of those eyes, too pure to behold iniquity, and which will search you through and through?

"But I am not at all like this criminal, I have never broken the laws of my country," you may say.

Granted, but it is no question here of human laws, it is a question of holiness and the rights of God; and as to this, listen to the sentence: "There is no difference for all have sinned"; and remember that a single sin makes a man a sinner, and brings him under the righteous judgment of God. You have not to compare yourself with this or that one; the question is: "Are you ready to meet God?”

"Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:12.

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

Willing to Save

Some time ago a number of young men were bathing in a river which at some parts is very deep. It was, suggested by one of the number, who was himself a strong swimmer, that he would swim across the river carrying another young man on his back. Accordingly the two young men entered the water, the one on the back of the other, and started for the other side. When about mid-stream the young man, who had his arms around the neck of the one who carried him, evidently became timid, and began to cling to the other rather tightly, with the result that the swimmer began to struggle for freedom, the one on his, back clinging the more tenaciously to his neck.

A third young man who was on the bank of the river saw the danger, and swam to the rescue. Reaching the drowning men, he cried to the one who was clinging so desperately to the other, "Let go, Jamie, and I'll save you!" but to no purpose. Jamie would not let go, but clung with firmer grip to his drowning comrade, with the sad result that both sank and were drowned.

Like that young man, many young folks are clinging to something with the vain hope that it may be the means of saving them. Some are clinging to their moral standard of character; others are clinging to the hope that God will be merciful at the end, and look over the sins and failures of a past life; and yet, as we read the Scriptures, we learn that any so believing are just as hopeless, so far as getting saved is concerned, as was that young man clinging to his drowning comrade.

The saddest part of our incident is that there was one who stood by ready to save if he would only let go. There is today no need that any sinner should perish. A Savior, "mighty to save," has come to the rescue.

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

What He asks the perishing one to do is to cease clinging to anything and everything of human merit, and cling implicitly to Him. He gives His word that the sinner who trusts Him shall "never perish." (John 10:28).

Regarding that young man who swam to the rescue of the drowning men, he was willing to save; yet his ability to do so might have been questioned. Not so with the Savior Christ Jesus. He is both willing and able to save every one who will trust Him, no matter how vile.

If unsaved, turn your eyes away from anything of your own doing, and fix your gaze by faith on Him who "suffered, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Look and live now!

The Man of Rest

The way that the Word of God acts in the power of the Holy Spirit is well illustrated in the case of a Chinese restaurant-keeper.

Desiring to become acquainted with the English language, he procured a copy of St. Matthew's Gospel in diglot form—that is, in Chinese and English side by side.

The opening of the gospel, giving the genealogy of our Lord Jesus, greatly attracted him. All about ancestors always appeals forcibly to the Chinese.

As he improved in his knowledge of the language, he read on through the chapters of the gospel and grew more and more uneasy. He was being convicted of his sin and of his need of salvation. Reaching the eleventh chapter he read the invitation of the Savior: "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

That was what he earnestly sought—rest, and he said, "This is the Man of rest—the very man for me, I must find Him.”

And it was not long before peace filled his soul and he became a consistent Christian.

Roosevelt's Mistake

During the Spanish War Theodore Roosevelt, much attached to his men, was greatly concerned when a number of them fell ill. Hearing that Clara Barton (the lady who devoted herself to the work of nursing the wounded soldiers) had received a supply of delicacies for the invalids under her care, Colonel Roosevelt requested her to sell a portion of them to him for the sick men of his regiment.

His request was refused. The colonel was very troubled. He cared for his men, and was willing to pay for the supplies out of his own pocket.

"How can I get these things," he said. "I must have proper food for my sick men.”

"Just ask for them, colonel," said the surgeon in charge of the Red Cross headquarters.

"O," said Roosevelt, his face breaking into a smile, "that is the way, is it? Then I do ask for them." And he got them at once.

Often the colonel's mistake has been repeated in connection with the matter of salvation. People seem to expect to receive it in exchange for something that they can offer. One brings an earnest prayer; a second brings a vow or promise to turn over a new leaf; a third brings an inwardly-made resolution to live a better and purer life; a fourth thinks that before he can receive salvation he must produce some evidence of his sincerity in the shape of an improvement in his conduct; a fifth imagines that he can obtain it by adherence to an orthodox creed and conformity to certain religious observances.

Now the truth is that God's salvation can only be had as a free gift. Why should there be any difficulty in understanding this? The words of Scripture are very plain: "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely" Rev. 21:6.

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

Pride rebels against such terms. It would rather pay, however small the price. But God is too great to sell His blessing, nor could any man merit salvation in the smallest degree, however long he might try. God is prepared to meet the sinner with His hands full of the richest blessings, if only the sinner will come with empty hands to receive it as a free gift. Will you?

"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9.

"Not by the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5.

"The Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh"

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8.

Every writer of the New Testament speaks of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, Jude, all proclaim this glorious advent.

The Lord is coming for His own first, and then the Lord is coming with them.

"When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory." Col. 3:4.

As to the first part, or stage of His coming, let us ask, Who is coming?

"The Lord Himself." 1 Thess. 4. "This same Jesus." Acts 1. "If I go away, I will come again." John 14.

When is He coming?

"Behold, I come quickly." "Surely, I come quickly." Rev. 22. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1 Cor. 15:52. Why is He coming? "To receive His own to Himself, that where He is, there they may be also." John 14. To catch up His loved ones, whether they may be dead or alive, that they may be forever with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4).

This, not death, is the Christian's blessed hope. He may come today! Are you ready?

The One Who so Loved Me

Jesus, I know that Thy blood can save,

For I know that it has saved me;

I once feared death, and the cold dark grave,

And the darker eternity.

I felt my sins were a fearful load;

No language my sorrow could tell;

And O, as I walked the broad, broad road,

I knew 'twas a journey to hell.

But I heard of One who loved me so,

That He came from His throne on high,

To bear the weight of my sin and woe,

And to bleed on the cross and die.

He washed my sins in the crimson flood

That flowed from His opened side,

And I knew I was saved by the precious blood

Of the Lord who was crucified.

So now, a sinner, redeemed by blood,

In Christ accepted I stand,

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

For my home in the heavenly land.

And this is the joy I seek below,

As I sing of His love so free,

That others the wondrous love may know

Of the One who has so loved me.

September

The Heavenward Pointer

"In what are you trusting for your salvation?" I asked a young woman at the hospital, who confidently affirmed that she was saved.

"In Jesus and His blood," was her answer. How my heart rejoiced to receive this bright testimony!

This is the one foundation upon which God's salvation rests—Jesus and His blood. The Scripture recognizes none other. It is the one unerring signal that points heavenward.

"It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Lev. 17:11.

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

Reader, in what are you trusting for salvation? What road are you traveling in the hope of reaching heaven at last? Your moral, social, racial, or intellectual status has no bearing in relation to this question. Be wise and abandon every other course, enter the bloodstained way, that begins at Calvary,—it will lead you heavenward, in company with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"O, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

The Next Step

"My next step is to get deeper conviction," said one troubled about her soul.

"No!" replied a Christian who was seeking to help her. "Your next step and only step, is to go to Christ just as you are. He does not say, 'Come to conviction, come to a deeper sense of sin.' This you have been laboring to get. But He says, 'Come unto Me'.”

"O! I see it now," she cried, "O how self-righteous I have been, really refusing Christ while all the time I thought I was preparing to come to Him.”

"Will you go to Him now?" she was asked.

"I will," she replied. Enabled to do so, she found rest in Him. Rest is to be found alone in Christ, and His finished work of redemption on the cross.

"Are You Ready to Meet God?"

"Have you ever spoken to your niece about her soul's salvation?" said I to a Christian, "because she looks very unhappy and ill.”

"O yes," he replied, "sometimes when we take a walk together, I introduce the subject, but she always appears to me perfectly dead and indifferent to the things of God, and I can get no response.”

This did not satisfy me. I had an impression, though I had never had any conversation with the young person, that the Lord had some blessing in store for her, and that already He was at work with her conscience as to her sins, and her lost state before God. Having prayed to God that He would reveal Himself to her soul, after the preaching of the gospel one evening at a public hall, the question was solemnly put to the conscience of this unsaved one: "If God were to call you tonight, are you ready to meet Him?" The question seemed to strike home to her heart, and after a pause, with much emotion, she replied, "No," and passed out of the hall.

Five days elapsed before another opportunity arose for speaking to her, but one evening, on our way down to the hall, where the gospel was again to be preached, I said to her, "Five days ago I asked you a question, and I should now like to ask you again, Are you Ready to Meet God?”

"Yes, I am," she replied.

"But you told me the other evening you were not ready to meet Him.”

"I told you the truth; I was not ready then, but I am now.”

Having expressed my thankfulness to God for hearing the prayers offered up on her behalf, I asked her to tell me how this came about.

"The other evening after the meeting, when you asked me that question, I was about to retire for the night, when suddenly the thought came forcibly home to me, 'I have told that man I am not saved, that if I were to die I should be lost forever, and here I am just going to get into bed as if all were secure, whereas I might be in hell before morning; so I said to myself, I'll not go to bed until I am saved.'”

"And what did you do then?" I asked.

"I fell down on my knees before God, and told Him I was a poor, vile, miserable sinner, that I could do nothing to save myself, that all my efforts to become good had failed, and I just asked Him to take me there and then, as I was, in all my sins. As I was praying, that little verse came into my mind, "The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son Cleanseth us from all sin!" 1 John 1:7.

"It seemed just the word for me, though I had known it all my life. I saw at once that the blood of Jesus was sufficient to pay my debt to God, that He was satisfied, and that I was cleansed from all my sins.”

"What happened then?" I inquired.

"I got up from my knees, and retired to rest for the night, when, as I was going to sleep, feeling all was happy and secure, Satan seemed to say to me, 'How do you know the blood is for you?' Instantly all my peace was gone, and I was as unhappy as ever. But at this moment another verse came to my mind, `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.

"'Whosoever,' I thought, 'that means me; I do believe in the Lord Jesus as my Savior, and God says, I have everlasting life.' So I went to sleep, and woke quite happy, and have remained so since, resting on those two texts.”

"Had you been long anxious about your soul?”

"Yes, for a whole year, since one evening they were all singing hymns in a light way, without thinking of the words. When they came to that hymn beginning—

`I left it all with Jesus long ago,

All my sins I brought Him and my woe,'

I thought to myself, 'I have never brought my sins to Jesus,' so I could not sing it, and this has made me long to be saved ever since.”

The day had arrived for my leaving the town, and previous to going, I called with a friend to say good-by. Thank God, all was now peace, rest and happiness. As we left the door, she said, "You remember the other night in the hall, when the people were requested not to sing the hymn unless they could do so truthfully—well, I could not sing it, but now I can!”

"Happy day! Happy day!

When Jesus washed my sins away!”

Two years later I was glad to hear from one who knew her intimately, that since then she has been a happy and consistent Christian, and soon after was able gratefully to take her place with the Lord's people who are gathered to His name. The story is now related, in the belief that God will graciously deign to use it for the blessing of anxious souls, in encouraging them to rest entirely on the simple statements of His own Word.

Confess Christ Now

Dr. P. once heard a voice calling to him, "Is that Dr. P.?”

"Yes, I am Dr. P.”

"Well, if you spare me a minute or two, I would be very grateful. I have been to several of your meetings, and last night I wanted to confess Christ, as you explained it, but something seemed to hold me back.”

"Well, friend," Dr. P. said, "I am very glad to hear you are interested about your soul; but why do you not accept Christ as your own Savior? You may do so right where you are.”

"Yes, but I am a very hard case; if you can tell me anything that will make it plain to me, I will thank you very much.”

"Are you a sinner?”

"I am, and a great one.”

"But will you believe what God says?”

"Yes sir; God is saying to me all the time, unless you are saved you will be lost.”

"But," Dr. P. said, "God tells us something more than that we are sinners. He tells us that Christ came to save sinners," quoting John 3:16. "Do you believe that?”

"O, yes; but I am a hard case, I am very ignorant.”

"Do you not see that your very ignorance and sinfulness are the very reasons why God sent His Son to die for us. Do you believe that Christ is willing to save you? Ought you not to surrender to Him at once?”

"How am I to take Christ as my Savior? If I come tonight, will you explain it?”

"You need not wait till tonight, you may take Him here and now.”

Tears came into the man's eyes, and looking full in the Doctor's face he said, "I confess Him, Jesus Christ, as my Savior, and I take Him with all my heart.”

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

An Officer’s Message

A young officer, who was well known as having led a careless, worldly life, was lying at the point of death in hospital, when he was visited by a trooper of his regiment. After speaking kindly words of sympathy, Taylor received from the man, as he had received from hundreds of others, messages for loved ones at home.

"Promise me, Taylor, that when you get back to E. you will call and see my mother, and tell her all about me.”

"Your mother, sir?" and the look of sorrow and regret on the dying face made him say gently, "May I tell your mother that you died trusting in Christ, sir?”

"No, no," was the answer given bitterly. "She is a good woman, and a Christian. It will break her heart, I know; but no, it is not true of me!" and he turned his face away.

"But Christ will receive you now just as you are. Why not come to Him?”

"Taylor," was the bitter answer, "I have lived only for myself, and given God no thought all my life. How could I be so mean as to turn to Him and to ask Him to help me now when I am dying? No! it's too late. I couldn't come now; it would be so mean.”

"Wait a minute, sir. Look at it this way. Look at it from Christ's side. After all He has done for you—and He died for you—give Him the chance of reaping your soul. He has suffered enough for you. Don't cause Him still more disappointment! Give Him at least the chance of saving you now, late though it is.”

The man's eyes opened in astonishment. This was a new way of looking at it—that Christ would be disappointed if he held back, and that he would be wounding Him still further—that was a new thought.

"Leave me, Taylor, and come again this evening. I must be alone; I must think.”

And that evening, when the trooper went, there was no need to ask whether or not he had come. The light in the man's eyes told the tale. He had not disappointed Christ. The lost sheep had let the Shepherd find him "to the uttermost.”

"Tell my mother her prayers have been heard," he whispered.

When back in E. Taylor did tell that mother, and found, as he expected, a saint of God, whose prayers had followed her boy and been answered for him.

You, who read this may have a praying mother. Send her the good news that you have taken Christ as your Savior.

Listen! Jesus says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

"He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.

Life is found alone in Jesus,

Only there 'tis offered thee,

Offered without price or money,

'Tis the gift of God sent free.

Take salvation,

Take it now and happy be.

"Why Don't You?"

Jim was brought to feel his need of a Savior. He was very unhappy and could find no peace; over and over again, the gospel of the grace of God was presented to him. He was told it was for sinners Jesus came, that it was "to seek and to save that which was lost." He left the glory and became a man. But all this could bring no comfort to poor Jim, and for some days he continued very wretched. At last he told his wife the cause of his unhappiness, and said,

"I want to come to Christ."

"Why don't you?" she replied.

This word was used of God. Jim saw that Christ had finished the work, and was offering him salvation as a free gift, and all he had to do was to take it. So he came to Jesus as he was, and since then has gone on his way rejoicing.

And now, dear reader, if you are not saved, why don't you come to Jesus? Are you troubled and unhappy as Jim was? Then why not come to Jesus just as you are?

No matter how bad you feel yourself to be, Jesus knows all about your badness much better than you know yourself. He knows all, yet loves you better than you know. His word to you is, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out" John 6:37.

"As many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God" John 1:12.

"And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ" Rom. 8:17.

It can be all yours if you will only take Christ as your Savior. O, then, delay not; now is the accepted time.

No Back Numbers

A woman in the city of D. who had been very wicked but through faith in Christ had been saved and confessed it, was met by the sneer of a self-righteous woman to whom she testified of God's grace; who said: "Do you remember what you used to be when I knew you years ago?”

"Yes, and you do not know the half of it; I was worse than you or anybody else knows. But you forget one thing, `The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.'—How many sins are left after that?”

This silenced her accuser, as it does the devil. He cannot stand before the all-cleansing blood.

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

Christ, the Central Object in the Gospel

When I was young there was in my heart a great desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, Who had loved me and died for me. I felt that to be permitted to speak to others of Him, would be the highest privilege that could be given to any man, and so I went to Him in prayer that I might have that privilege.

The Spirit-wrought desire was soon answered, for in a few days I was invited to address a meeting in the country a few miles from my home. The subject I chose was Luke 6:46-49, and for days before the meeting, the man who built his house upon the rock, and the folly of the man who built upon the sand filled my mind.

On that Sunday evening as I walked towards the meeting place, my experience was probably that of many another would-be-sermonizer, everything I had thought of saying, vanished from my memory.

Filled with anxiety, I reached the room where the people had assembled, and sat down to find my text; it seemed to be blotted out from the pages of my Bible. Through the Gospel of Luke 1 searched in vain. But there pressed on my mind one blessed sentence, "Behold, the Lamb of God!”

So often did these words come to me, that I closed my Bible, and thought, That must be my text. Lifting my heart to the Lord for help, I opened the hymn book, and the first hymn I saw was,

Behold the Lamb of God! 'tis He who bore

My burden on the tree,

And paid in blood the dreadful score,

The ransom due for me.

That verse gave me the assurance that the Lord was guiding; and so it turned out for I had liberty in presenting the Gospel in its blessed simplicity and fullness to meet the need of every sinner. To the joy and delight of my heart, an old man, 74 years of age found peace in believing. He had groaned beneath the burden of his sins for years; then and there the burden rolled away as he by faith beheld the Lamb of God.

Upon reflection I understood that it was as though the Lord said to me, "If you are to serve Me, you must speak about Me. I must be your theme, the central Object in the Gospel.”

Yes, He is every true and faithful preacher's theme, and God forbid they should waste their time on any other.

October

Two Infidel Neighbors

Two infidel neighbors lived among the hills of N. E. One of them heard the gospel, was convicted of his sins and believed unto eternal life. Soon after he went to his infidel neighbor's house and said, "I have come to talk to you; I have been saved.”

"Yes," sneered the other, "I heard that you had been down to the meetings, and had gone forward for prayers. I was surprised, for I thought you were as sensible a man as any in town.”

"Well," said the first, "I have a duty to do to you. I haven't slept much for two nights for thinking of it. I have four sheep in my flock that belong to you. They came two years ago with your mark on them, and I took them and marked them with my mark. You inquired around, but could not find them. They are in my field now, with their increase, and I want to settle with you if you are willing, or you can settle with me by the law if you will.”

The other infidel was amazed, and told his neighbor that he could keep the sheep only please go away. He trembled at the thought that something had got hold of his old friend which he did not understand. He repeated, "You may keep the sheep, if you will only go away.”

"No," said the Christian, "I must settle this matter up, and cannot rest until I do. You must tell me how much.”

"Well," replied the other, "pay me the worth of the sheep when they went to you, and six percent interest, and please go away and let me alone.”

The Christian laid down the amount and then doubled it. He went his way, leaving his old friend's heart heavily loaded. The full result of that scene is only known to God. But today the infidel is no longer infidel, but a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is a bright testimony to his Lord.

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

Wanted: Something More

At the close of a gospel meeting, a woman in great distress of soul remained to speak with me.

"Will you tell me what is troubling you?" I asked.

"O, sir," she said, "there is something more wanted.”

"Indeed! what is it?" I inquired.

"Well," she said, "I really trust in Jesus, I know that He died for me, but something more is wanted.”

"You are sure that Jesus died for you?" I asked.

"Yes, I am sure of it.”

"And that He is able to save you?" "Yes, I am sure of that.”

"Do you think that He is willing to save you?”

"O, I know that He is willing," was her earnest reply.

"And you tell me that you really trust Him as your Savior?”

"Yes," she said, "I do; but I am not happy; something more is wanted.”

"There is nothing more wanted to make you safe," I replied. "If you have really believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are as safe as He can make you. Not one poor sinner who trusted in Him was ever lost. But it is one thing to be safe and another thing to be sure about it. What you need is to have assurance, and this you may have on the authority of the Word of God.”

Taking my Bible, I turned to Acts 13:38,39, and read: "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.

"Now here we have God's unchanging truth. He says, 'All that believe are justified.' Are you a believer?”

"Yes, I am," she answered.

"Then what does God say about you?" I asked.

"I'm justified," she answered with a sigh of relief.

"How do you know?" I queried. "It says so there," was her reply.

"Then do you want anything else?”

"Nothing more now, sir; that's enough" was her emphatic answer, as she saw for the first time, on the authority of God's Word that she belonged to the justified company, because she was one of the "all that believe.”

Thank God! His Word is true, and upon the authority of God's Word, every believer may say, "I'm justified.”

I quoted those same words to a young fellow who was longing to have peace with God.

"Let me look at the verse," he said, "I never saw it like that before.”

Slowly he read the verse over, and then rubbing his eyes as the light broke into his soul, he said, "Praise God, I'm justified.”

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"Why, 'The Book' says so," was his triumphant reply. Yes, the Book that never lies says, "By Him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.”

Well might we praise God.

"What does justified mean?" said a hardheaded but conscience-stricken miner to me on one occasion.

"The man who is justified stands in God's sight as clear of all his sins as is Jesus the Savior.”

Placing his finger on the verse in my Bible, he asked, "Do you mean to tell me that if I believe that verse I shall be clear of my sins like that?”

"No," I answered. "What I say is, if in simple faith you look to Jesus for pardon and salvation, what that verse says about `All that believe' will be true of you.”

"I see that, and I thank God for it," was his happy response.

God's Word is reliable. You may safely rest in what it asserts, beloved, anxious soul.

I Have Found Jesus

There was a general meeting in progress, in which there was noticed a Jewess several evenings. Her husband, a gay man of the world, was in the habit of passing his evenings with congenial friends at the theater and other places of amusement, leaving her at home alone.

To relieve the monotony of an evening (the nearest church being situated in the same street), she slipped out, and, impelled by curiosity, attended one of the services. The first evening's services left no particular impression. The question simply arose in her mind, just as a cloud floats over the sky, "Suppose that Jesus was the Messiah!”

The next night Jesus again was preached, and before the sermon was over, the question became more than a question; she said to herself, "Jesus was, perhaps, the Messiah," and it greatly distressed her.

On the third night the thought seized her soul and shook it through and through: "Jesus was the Messiah.”

Of course there came with it—inevitable to a Jewess—the conviction, "I am lost forever, for my people slew Him." And in that spirit she went home sobbing and wailing.

Her husband returned at midnight, and she met him in tears and said at once, "Go to some Christian neighbor and borrow for me a New Testament.”

He tried to laugh her out of her impressions, or argue her out of them; but it was of no use, and so for the love he bore her, he went out at half-past twelve in the morning and rang up a Christian neighbor. When he came to the door, the caller said, "I beg your pardon, but will you be so kind as to loan me a New Testament?”

You may be sure the request was most cheerfully granted. The neighbor thought, "There is a work in that house to be done for Jesus tonight;" and as soon as he could properly dress himself he hurried to a Christian brothers, and with him repaired to the Jewish mansion.

The door was instantly opened, and the mistress met them with a smile, saying, "I have found Jesus!”

And then she told the story I have told you, with this addition: she said that when the New Testament was put in her hands she went into her room, and kneeling, lifted up her face toward heaven, and cried, "O Lord God of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, give me light, give me light!”

She opened the Testament with closed eyes, and opened it at the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans.

She read slowly, and the verses went tearing through her soul like hot thunderbolts, until she came to the sixteenth verse,—

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth, to the Jew first"—there she stopped; her bursting tears blinded her. She looked again.

"It is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

As she read these words she believed them, and she knew it. When the Christian brethren came, she was a Christian.

A Chart of Heaven

"I was one day seated behind the counter," said a clerk in a book store, when an old sailor entered, and regarding me with a serious air said:

"Young man, I want a chart.”

"Very well, sir," I replied, "what chart do you wish, the Gulf of Gascony or the Mediterranean?”

"Stop, stop," said he, "how ready young people are! I want a chart, but these you have mentioned would be of no use to me. I want a chart which will guide me to heaven, for the one I have been using up to the present is out of date. Do you understand me young man?”

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.”

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psa. 119:9,105.

I understood at once that he wanted a Bible, and taking down several I placed them before him. He selected one, evidently happy that I had so soon caught his thought. He asked the price, paid it, and before leaving turned to me, and said with earnestness of voice and manner: "Do you understand this chart?" "I often read it," I replied, "That is well," said the old man, "and I am glad to hear it, but remember, young man, that is not enough.”

Reader, perhaps you are also one of those who often read the Bible, but the question is this—Has it made you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus? (2 Tim. 3:15).

Alone With God

Have you ever had a distinct transaction with God? Alone in His presence have you ever gone into the matter of your sins with Him? Sooner or later you must have to say to Him. There is no escaping it. There is no way of eluding the day when "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.

Mockers may mock and scoffers may scoff, but this avails not in the least. The God who made man, made Him for His glory. Man has rebelled against his Creator. Instead of doing the will of God, he seeks to do his own will, and fulfill his own desires.

He may be more or less moral. He may be more or less kind or considerate in his home or business associations, but self, not God fills his vision. Even if somewhat religious, it is himself and his own well-being he has in mind. He needs to be born again, for "in the flesh," that is, as being part of a fallen race, he cannot please God.

Man's back has been turned upon God. He counts God as an enemy. His whole endeavor is to do without his Creator.

"No God for me" is in all his thoughts day by day. And if the remembrance of God's being comes to him, he is miserable until he can banish it from his mind.

You must meet God. Today, in grace, He calls you, "Come now, let us reason together... though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow." Isa. 1:18. He longs to bless you.

You must meet God. "Tomorrow" may mean naught but judgment.

My Religious Experience

In a pleasant town there lived a lady who was wealthy, who devoted her time and means to religious and charitable objects. But notwithstanding all her kindness, she lacked the one essential thing, faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the instrumentality of a niece she was brought under the plain, searching preaching of the Word of God, which discovered to her that she lacked the one thing needful, to be a Christian.

At the close of a gospel meeting, in which the preacher had spoken of the need, the nature, and the way of the new birth, from John 3, and pointed out that Nicodemus, the Jewish Rabbi, whose night visit to the Lord Jesus Christ is described in that chapter, was a learned, a moral, and a religious man, yet he needed to be born again before he could 'see or enter the kingdom of God.' As they walked together on their way home along the quiet moonlit streets, the elder lady broke the silence by saying to her niece, "That was a powerful discourse we listened to tonight, but I confess, that part of it seemed very strange doctrine to me. If the new birth is what the preacher stated, then my religious experience has nothing like that in it.”

It was a delicate and difficult matter for the niece, who was much younger, to say all that she desired, in pressing home upon her aunt the full force of the truth, so she modestly said, "Well, aunt, if you have any difficulty or doubt about, I am sure Mr. B. will be pleased to come to our house tomorrow afternoon, and then you can have a talk with him about it." That arrangement found favor and so it was settled.

A full hour before the appointed time, Amy's aunt walked into the room with a beam of brightness on her face, and clasping her niece to her bosom, said, "I have it now, Amy. I had a great struggle after I left you last night. First I was angry at the thought that I who had been so well brought up, and have been so busy in religious and church work, should be classed among those who were not saved.

But as I looked up the various Scriptures we were referred to in the address last night, I was obliged to own that I had never personally known any such experience as they describe, and then my misery became intense.

"All at once the thought came to me, if you have not been born again, why not like Nicodemus know that experience now. So I turned to the verses which say, "As many as received Him (Jesus) to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name" (John 1:12), and that they have everlasting life (John 3:16).”

"It was there clear and simple, yet I had missed it, but I am saved now, and O, I am so thankful that God showed me what I lacked.”

That night's experience had mighty results in the afterlife of that lady. She did not cease her efforts for the good of others, but they had a new motive power behind them henceforth. She did not do good to get life, but because she had it as a free gift from God, whose child she now was, born into His family, with His love shed abroad in her heart.

Reader, have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? Are you sure your religion began with a new life or is it only `dead works' without Christ?

The Boundary Line

There is a time, we know not when,

A point, we know not where,

That marks the destiny of man

To glory or despair.

There is a line, by us unseen,

That crosses every path,

The hidden boundary between

God's patience and His wrath.

O, where is that mysterious bourn

By which our paths, are crossed,

Beyond which God Himself hath sworn

That he who goes is lost?

How long may I go on in sin?

How long will God forbear?

Where does hope end, and where begin

The confines of despair?

An answer from the skies is sent,

"You, who from God depart,

While it is called today: repent,

And harden not your heart.”

November

The Great Election Day, or Who's to Be the Man?

The whole place is in an uproar. Nothing but canvassing, and election speeches! What excitement! What a great ado! And soon it will be voting day; and then the excitement will reach its height. Meanwhile the cry is,

"Who's to be the man?”

And strange to tell, that was just the cry in a certain great city many hundred years ago. It was voting day in Jerusalem. What! you say, you did not know there was any voting day there. O, but there was. And what crowds, and what excitement there was then! You could have numbered the people by the thousands—aye by the tens of thousands. It was Election Day; and there never had been a day like it before; nor has there been a day like it since. The governor of the city presided at the meeting, and took the vote of the people as to whether they were for Barabbas or Christ—Barabbas the murderer, or Christ Jesus the Lord, the Savior of lost sinners,

"Who's to be the man?”

That was the question.

And it was soon to be settled.

"Who are you for?" said the governor;

"Are you for Christ?”

"No," they cried out, all at once, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.”

Their choice is made; their vote is recorded. They have elected Barabbas. They won't have Christ. They will have anybody but Him. They will rather have Barabbas, murderer though he be. And what is to be done with Christ?

"Away with Him, crucify Him.”

And so Barabbas the people's man is set free, and Christ the rejected one, is led forth and nailed to a cross on Golgotha's hill, and hung up between heaven and earth, as if unworthy of a place in either!

But God has not forgotten that terrible deed—the murder of His own Son. Ah! no. And there is a day coming when the world shall have to stand before God, and tell Him what they did with His Son. And Jerusalem's governor shall have to say what he did with Christ. And you, reader, shall have to answer the question—

"What have you done with Christ?" "What!" you say, "me?" Yes, you. The question before you is the very same one that Pilate asked: "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”

Have you received Him, or have you rejected Him? Remember that that is the question God has in store for you. On the great day that is coming, God will not ask, "Whom did you vote for in this election?" or "What party did you sympathize with?" Or "Who was your favorite?" But He will ask, "What have you done with My Son?”

You need not say, "I'll be neutral. I'll neither receive Christ nor reject Him. Pilate tried that, but failed. There was no middle ground. It was simply

Christ or the World—Which?

And that is the question with you, reader.

Does the world think any more of Christ now than 1900 years ago? O no. Go into that company there, and say, "Let us have a little talk about Christ;" and they say, "Away with Him; we don't want to hear about Him; we'll talk of anything, anybody but Him.”

The vote of the world is still the same. God says, "Seek first the kingdom of God." But people say No; we must see this election over first. Mr. So-and-So is to be the man, and he must be put in. God says Christ is to be the man, and He is to be first; and the world virtually says He must be second this time. What terrible folly!

Reader, you may be a voter, although possibly you are not, but no matter. In the midst of all this noise I ask, Are you born again? Is your soul saved? If not, what will this great ado profit you if God were to say, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee?" What then?

Ah! "Lost forever," you would cry; "and I might have been saved had I taken God's plan and received Christ first." Then reader, I beseech you, even as you are reading this, to be reconciled unto God.

People say they don't believe in excitement. But look at the great excitement that prevails just now. And if you had only half as much excitement about your soul's salvation, the world would say you were getting into "too great a state!" How Satan is blindfolding the people! But don't be deceived, reader! Don't be afraid of getting excited about your soul. It will be terribly exciting for you to go to hell, for there you must go if you have not Christ—if you are not converted to God. Then don't tarry. Let others get excited about the election or whatever they like—

"Make your calling and election sure." Take the lost sinner's place and claim the lost sinner's Savior. While others are crying up this one or that one, and wondering who's to be the man, let the language of your soul be—

"The Man Christ Jesus for me.”

"My heart is fixed, eternal God—

Fixed on Thee;

Any my eternal choice is made—

Christ for me.”

I Would Like to Know for Certain

While walking along a country road one Sunday, I overtook a man who was going to a church a short distance off, and as we talked together I asked him if his sins were forgiven. The question surprised him, and he answered, "I cannot say that they are.”

"Would you like to be able to say they were?" I asked.

"Well, sir, I would like to know for certain they were, but we cannot know that here that God for certain has forgiven us; we must wait and see.”

"Indeed!" I said, "that is something new to me. I do not find it in God's Word. May I ask you where you are going?”

"To church, sir; I always attend.”

"Do you join in the Apostles' creed?"

"Certainly I do.”

"Then you say, 'I believe in the forgiveness of sins.' If you believe in the forgiveness of sins, how is it yours are not forgiven?”

He told me he had never thought of that; and as we walked on, I showed him how God could be just and the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus, and could righteously forgive on the ground of atonement. Before we parted, he took God at His word, and said he knew for a certainty that his sins were forgiven, and would be remembered no more.

Sin leads to death; for the wages of sin is death,' (Rom. 6:23), but forgiveness of sin ensures everlasting life.

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

He is a happy man, who knows his sins are forgiven, and has a bright prospect before him of being forever with the Lord and all the redeemed. If you have not the knowledge that your sins are forgiven, you cannot be truly happy.

"Blessed (or happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." Psa. 32:1, 2

"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, 39

Bidden

You are bidden to the great feast of salvation. (Luke 22:2-13.)

What are you doing with the invitation?

You remember the parable. The invited ones made excuse. They had other engagements. They cared nothing for the great supper. Their business matters, their family concerns filled their thoughts.

But the feast was furnished with guests without them.

And God's house of blessing will be filled whether you are there or not. But if not there, where will you be?

We cannot toy with God's invitation without danger.

It is a small matter to slight the offer of hospitality of a fellow mortal. But God. Dare we treat Him with scant courtesy and not be condemned.

"None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper," was the decision of the provider of the feast. They might choose to change their minds and come after all. They were to be excluded, however.

No further message was dispatched.

You have been asked to the supper. What have you done?

The Guide-Post

Most readers have seen a guide-post, and know its use; there it stands at the cross roads, with its arms pointing in different directions, and the needed information painted on them. How convenient to the perplexed traveler! He looks up, reads, and passes on with a light heart. The guide-post points the way, the traveler follows the road pointed out, and finds himself, in the course of time, at his destination.

God in His great mercy has not left us to travel on to eternity in ignorance of whither we are going; He has set up His guide-posts, so that we may not in anywise mistake our way. Let us pause for one moment, and read this one, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the, way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow 'is the way, which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13,14.

Now, my reader, here is the guide-post calling your attention to the two roads. Where are you? On the broad road which leads to destruction, or on the narrow way which leads to life? On one or other you are most certainly traveling, whether you know it or not. Like the river rolling on to be lost in the ocean, so you are speeding on to eternity, every breath you draw bringing you nearer to everlasting glory, or eternal misery, which?

One of these roads has a wide gate, and many there be which go in thereat. The road is broad—no need to crush each other—plenty of room—souls are born on it, live on it, die on it. It is large enough to hold all, and on it are attractions to suit all as they pass along, according to their various tastes. Moral or immoral, religious or profane, it matters not, so long as Satan gets souls to the end of that broad road.

O reader! beware, lest you are one of those whom he is beguiling with his attractions. The broad road is the road to hell.

The other road is the road to heaven. Its gate is strait, its road is narrow; but it leads to life, and few there be that find it.

Reader! have you found it? Have you passed in at the strait gate of conversion, and are you upon the narrow way that leads to life eternal? There is plenty of room for you to get through, but no room to take anything with you; every rag of righteousness must be stripped off which you would fain take with you, and if you enter the strait gate it must be as an empty and naked sinner.

"Just as thou art, without one trace

Of love, or joy, or inward grace,

Or meetness for the heavenly place,

O guilty sinner, come.”

"Come, for all things are now ready." Come in, sinner, come in! It is Jesus who says "Come." Will you believe what He says, and enter while "yet there is room.”

"I am the door," says Jesus; "by Me, if any man"—how precious, any man—"enter in, he shall be saved"—mark the word, saved —"and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9.

Now, which road are you upon? Do not say, I do not know. You do know. You were born on the broad road; and if you are not born again, you are still hastening to eternal ruin and misery, in spite of the warning cries which have been raised to arrest you. Do not continue your present course, it is an awful incline, lest when you want to stop, you cannot. Like a wicked coach-driver when dying, "Ah," said he, "I am on the down grade, and I can’t find the brake." Poor fellow, with fearful rapidity he was rushing into hell. I beseech you, stop and listen to this good news, "God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

The sin question was raised and settled at the cross. There Jesus glorified God about sin, so that God could glorify Him in heaven, and now there is a Man in yonder glory.

"Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39. He has done the work. "It is finished" (John 19:30). May it be yours to accept it now.

Remember the guide-post calling your attention to the two roads, and where they lead to, the narrow one to heaven, the broad one to hell. God has told you so, therefore you are without excuse.

Decision

Again the blessed gospel I have heard,

That word divine and true,

And God again has spoken to my soul;

O, now what shall I do?

My wayward heart has wandered far from Thee

And known no rest or home,

No present peace, no hope of joy beyond,

But now to Thee I come.

No works of mine, no merit can I bring,

No holiness within;

I only trust the precious blood of Christ,

It cleanses from all sin.

Peace

Peace is not a feeling, it is not an emotion, it is not an experience, it flows from the fact that the claims of God have been met by the Lamb of God, and God respects His precious blood. As one has said, The blood of Jesus has reached, and touched the very memory of God, for we read in Heb. 10:17, "Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more.”

"The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins, but the blood of Jesus does. Its value God alone knows. You and I do not know the value of the blood of Christ. We do value it surely, but our value of it is very poor and inadequate. God knows its value perfectly, He esteems its worth fully, and He says to you and me, Trust that blood; get under its shelter. If your soul and mine can each answer, "Lord, I trust it," then God's says, I shall treat you according to My estimate of the value of that blood, not according to yours. And that is wherein peace lies. It does not rest on your estimate, or mine, of the blood of Christ, but on God's estimate of it. And what is God's estimate of it? He estimates it so highly, that there is nothing too great for Him to do on the ground of it. He delivers you from judgment, and brings you to glory, on the ground of the shed blood of His own dear Son. And more than that, it will give you the sweetest peace and confidence of heart towards God.

When, o'erwhelmed with sin and shame,

To Jesus' cross I trembling came,

Burdened with guilt and full of fear,

Yet drawn by love, I ventured near,

And pardon found, and peace with God

In Jesus' rich, atoning blood.

My sins are gone, my fears are o'er,

I shun God's presence now no more;

He sits upon a throne of grace,

He bids me boldly seek His face;

Sprinkled upon the throne of God,

I see that rich, atoning blood.

Before His face my Priest appears,

My Advocate the Father hears;

That precious blood, before His eyes,

Both day and night for mercy cries;

It speaks, it ever speaks to God,

The voice of that atoning blood.

By faith that voice I also hear;

It answers doubt, it stills each fear;

The accuser seeks in vain to move

The wrath of Him whose name is Love:

Each charge against the sons of God

Is silenced by the atoning blood.

Here I can rest without a fear;

By this, to God I now draw near,

By this, I triumph over sin;

For this has made, and keeps me clean,

And when I reach the throne of God

I'll laud that rich, atoning blood.

Extract: Onward and Upward

The whole deportment of a Christian should declare him a pilgrim and a stranger here. "Onward" and "upward" should be his motto. O, for more of the onward bent and the upward tendency! for more holy fixedness of soul, and profound retirement from this vain world.

Extract: Strength

Strength is the effect of having to do with God in the spirit of dependence.

December

"Anything New?"

A group of young men were engaged in an earnest discussion, and a very unusual one. They were healthy, boisterous fellows, several of them giving promise of being more than average players of football; but on this occasion they were deeply serious, for one of their special friends had died after a short illness, which had made them think, and now they were giving expression to their thoughts. One of them was saying: "He wasn't a bad fellow, and he went to Sunday School and church, so that he's gone to heaven right enough.”

Another had been very quiet, listening to what his friends were saying. He had been brought up in a home where the Bible was read, and he had not forgotten its teachings. Now he broke into the conversation, and said, "I'll tell you the Bible-way to heaven if you'll listen to me. It isn't going to Sunday School or by any works that we can do. We are all sinners and we need salvation, and we can't save ourselves; but Jesus Christ died to save us, and only those that believe in Him are saved, and the Bible says: `He that believeth not shall be damned.' " Mark 16:16.

As he poured out what he knew, he grew very earnest, and his friends listened in astonishment, until one of them said, "You are talking to us like this, but you're not saved yourself.”

"No," he said, "I'm sorry to say I'm not," and then, that they should not hear the sobs that were almost choking him, he turned hurriedly away and wandered off alone And yet he was not alone. The Spirit of God was with him, using his own words to his friends to awaken his conscience, which for some time he had silenced; and his desire to be a great footballer and to have a good time in the world, faded away with his desire to be saved.

In a secluded corner he knelt and spoke to God, and God, who is ever near to those who call upon Him, heard and answered his prayer. He owned to God that he was a sinner with no hope but in Christ, and there and then he found that the gospel he had preached to his friends exactly suited him.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

He believed that to be the very truth of God. He was a sinner of 18 years; that also he knew, not only because the Word of God declared it, but because his own conscience corroborated the Word of God. There was no denying these two unimpeachable witnesses. But if Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he was a sinner, Christ Jesus must have come to save him; it was thus that his newly-gotten faith reasoned, and the result for him was that he could thank God for salvation.

So he rested in Christ, where you who read this may also rest. For all may find salvation in Him who died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:4, 5).

Our young friend was not slow in telling his chums what had happened. The next day he was walking along the street when an old friend hailed him from the opposite side of it.

"Well, J—," he shouted,

"Anything new this morning?”

"Yes" answered the young convert, "I have. It's `To Him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' " Rom. 4:5.

This answer astonished his friend, astonished others who heard it, it even astonished himself, but it had been his text that morning, and he had been turning it over in his mind and thanking God for the freeness and simplicity of His way of blessing for ungodly sinners, whose best works are but splendid sins, and so it came out as the best bit of news he could give his friend.

The gospel that saved him is still God's power unto salvation to every one that believeth.

New theology, Modern Thought, Spiritism, Christian Science, and all these cults and notions that feed the pride of men, blind the minds of men to the truth of the Word of God, and destroy their souls at last; but the gospel of the grace of God is the light that delivers from darkness; it is life that delivers them from death; it is salvation from hell and destruction; it is the pure fountain of the Water of Life that yields satisfaction and joy to the heart.

O, reader, believe the gospel of God, concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Through this Man is preached unto ye you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe, are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39

Peace to Your Heart

I was employed in a hotel in the mountains, and had to wait on a very sick man in his room. One day he felt his end approaching and asked for a pastor. But the nearest pastor was a long distance off, and he happened to be away from home.

`Is there no one about who can give a word of comfort to a dying man?' he asked. I knew of no one.

`Waiter,' he said, and seized my hand, `say a good word to me.'

The perspiration rose to my forehead, but just then a splendid idea came to me. I rushed to my room. Down at the bottom of my trunk lay my dear mother's Bible. Her favorite verses were all marked. I read them one after another to the dying man, until I came to the verse, `God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.' John 3:16. This verse he asked me to read again and again.

`Waiter, you have brought peace to my heart, so that I can die quietly.'

Dear reader, the above verse has brought peace to many millions of hearts, will you not let it bring peace to your heart through your believing it fully?

The Land of the Living

One person said to another, "Well, you are still in the land of the living.”

"No," said he, "I am in the land of the dying, but I'm going to the land of the living; they live there and never die.”

This is the land of sin and death and tears, but up yonder they never die. They live to die no more. It is perpetual life; it is unceasing joy.

"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4.

Salvation without Works

On returning home from an open-air meeting we had been holding one Lord's day, I met at the B—bridge a man who had traveled much in the far west, where he had more than once successfully refuted those who contended that there was no God.

The works of Tom Paine were especially obnoxious to him, but he was still, alas, a stranger to salvation through faith alone. As we were changing from the bridge train to the elevated road, I asked him: "Do you believe, sir, that man is, in God's sight, a total ruin morally?”

"No, I do not," he replied, "there is much that is good in man that may be developed and brought out.”

"But," I continued, "do you not believe that the Scriptures are inspired of God?”

"Yes," he responded, "every word of them." Opening my Bible to the third chapter of Romans, I read as follows: "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that doeth good, no, not one. * * Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

"But how about Paul," interrupted the man; "was he not doing good when he wrote the Epistle to the Romans?”

"Yes, but he had bowed to God's judgment that all had sinned.”

"Howbeit," Paul continues, "for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." 1 Tim. 1:16.

"Well, then, Paul did do good," he replied.

"Yes, after he believed from the heart, the gospel. Have you ever noticed the Scripture in the 6th chapter of Genesis, 5th verse: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."?

"Every imagination" being evil did not admit of any good, and that little word "only" shows that there was no intermission, for it was "only evil continually.”

The verse admits of no other interpretation; it interprets itself.

"But how about Noah?" interposed my companion. "Noah, as Paul, believed God," I responded, and accepted God's one means of salvation. We read in Heb. 11:7, "Being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Christ is God's refuge for the lost now; as the ark was for the temporal safety of Noah and his family then; and Noah was justified by faith.

"Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

"Yes, but not altogether lost," said he.

I turned in my Bible to the 2nd chapter of Ephesians, which states, "And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.

"What is grace?" queried my friend. "The unmerited favor of God," I replied. "Unmerited favor?”

"Yes, unmerited; man deserves nothing from God.”

"You are wrong," he retorted, "it is sometimes merited and sometimes unmerited. What is your ground for stating that grace is always God's unmerited favor?”

From the 4th chapter of Rom., I read him the 4th verse.

"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." The apostle shows conclusively that if one merits the reward, he receives it as a payment of debt, and it cannot consequently be grace. The 2nd chapter of Ephesians quite agrees with this, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Paul could not say that our good works form no part of our salvation, if grace meant anything else than unmerited favor.

"But, James tells us that as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

"True," I said, "but Scripture cannot contradict itself; Paul is speaking in Ephesians of salvation and James of justification. Good works form no part in our salvation as Paul so positively states, but they do in our justification.”

"How do you distinguish the two?" he questioned.

"Salvation is God's work," I replied, "through faith in Christ, 'who died for us and rose again,' Christ did the work on the cross for us.' As to justification, in the 4th chapter of Romans, Paul teaches us that before God, it is by faith only, and James tells us we are justified before men by works (3rd chapter of his Epistle.)”

God sees the faith and it is enough for Him; but I cannot see the faith of another, save as it expresses itself in works. This is most clearly shown by Paul and James in these very chapters. They both take Abraham as one who illustrates these truths.

As I have said, faith must always come first; and one is justified by faith, first. The good works only show how real the faith is. Consider, for a moment, what Paul says about Abraham, in the 4th chapter of Romans.

"For what saith the Scriptures? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Now the question would naturally arise, when, in Abraham's life, was his faith counted for righteousness? Was it before or after the time that James speaks about Abraham being justified by works? In Gen. 15:5, 6 we read that God brought Abraham "forth abroad, and said: Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them; and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Now let us turn to the 2nd of James 21st verse, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" If you will turn back again to Genesis you will find the account of this given in the 22nd chapter: Many years having elapsed since the time that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Isaac was not even born at that time.

I think you will see, sir, if you believe the Scriptures, that "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:5. The statement is simple and cannot be misunderstood.

"Yes, but you are interpreting," retorted the man.

"No," I responded, "it is a simple statement of Scripture.”

I leave the above account with the reader, trusting that through God's rich mercy he may, like Abraham, believe God, and thus give Him the glory (Rom. 4:20).

The Jews said to Jesus: "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?”

"Jesus answered them and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:28-29.

Extract: The Cross

There is nothing like the Cross. It is both the righteousness of God against sin, and the righteousness of God in forgiving sins. It is the end of the world of judgment, and the beginning of the world of life. It is the work that put away sin, and yet it is the greatest sin that ever was committed.

The Right Faith

Have I the right kind of faith? This question is raised in many believers' minds and often occasions deep distress.

Now what is the right kind of telescope to use, do you think? Surely the one with which you can see best. The telescope which most clearly brings before you the object gazed at, is the most suitable instrument to use.

A proper telescope is not purchased to be looked at, but to look through.

Faith is for looking at Christ. And if your faith brings Him and His atoning death clearly into view, your faith is good faith. It is the right faith, if it shows the right Savior.

Wrong faith—if we may call it so? is that which leads a sinner to be occupied with himself instead of with the Son of God.

Right faith sees the right object, and produces the right result.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30.

The Cross

On the cross the Savior died:

With a thief on either side:

Sold by one-by one denied,

Mocked and scorned and crucified—

'Twas for me the Savior died—

Died for me.

O what love to suffer so;

Love that stooped so very low;

Wondrous love, so full, so free,

Wondrous love for such as me,

Wondrous love, O can it be?

Died for me.

Now the mighty work is done,

By the Father's only Son;

"It is finished," Jesus cries,

Bows His holy head and dies,

Low in death the Savior lies-

All for me.

But the grave could not retain,

God has brought Him back again,

See Him now ascended high,

Far above the starry sky,

Never more to bleed and die;

There for me.

Echoes of Grace: 1940

Table of Contents

A New Year's Wish

The Cords of Love

The Twelfth Hour

Not yet

A Volume in a Line

The Doctor's Envelope

A Wonderful Savior

February

"All Safe, Thank God!"

The Neglected Treasure

How Does Your Case Stand?

In Christ, or Out of Christ

A Little Girl's Testimony

The Work Which Saves Is Done

Eternally Saved

Don't Use the Old Road

"A Great Way Off"

The Major's Hiding Place

"I've Been a Fool"

Die Like a Dog

Come Unto Me”

Let God Rule

March

Your Race Is Run; "Prepare to Meet Thy God"

From Doubt to Assurance

Straight to Port

God Says, "Today"!

The Basket of Grapes

A Blind Man’s Testimony

Atonement

April

What Does "Have" Mean?

Fit Only to Burn

Fragment

"A Solemn Warning"

Fragment: Truth that Gives Himself

Leave Yourself in My Hands

Peace with God

Not Trying

The Prisoner's Deliverance

"Now Is the Day of Salvation"

Jesus Christ Said —

Saved

God's Lamb for Me

What Think Ye?

Put Your Trust in the Lord.

May

From Time Into Eternity

The Debt Paid

The Glorious Gospel

From the Life of George Whitefield

"His Best Friend"

Careful Driving

A Message for You

Christ Is Coming

June

Until He Find It”

Should the Lord Jesus Come Today, Are You Ready to Meet Him?

I Know Not

How Peter Waldo Found Rest

The Stutterer's Secret

The Knowledge of Salvation

Justification and Redemption

"We Persuade Men"

July

The Death Track

"Surely, That's Enough"

Meeting in Class, but Not Saved

A Word of Warning

"If I Could Only Be Sure"

He's All My Trust

"God Loves You"

Extract: Never Alone and Always Cared For

Rest

August

Believing Aright

The Bread Is God's Gift

"I Go to Meet God"