Messages of God's Love: 1920

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1920, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address. E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Out., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in Romans.

1. Write the verse containing the words: “Guilty before God.”

2. Write the verse containing the words: “Every tongue shall confess.”

3. Write the verse containing the words: “That all have sinned.”

4. Write the verse containing the words: “Wages of sin is death.”

5. Write the verse containing the words: “Simple concerning evil.”

6. Write the verse containing the words: “Against all ungodliness.”

7. Write the verse containing the words: “Dead indeed unto sin.”

ML-01/04/1920

He Will Cleanse Him.: Part 1

THERE was once a little girl, a long time ago, in a far away land. She lived in a large, splendid house, in a very old city. Don’t imagine that she felt very happy in that beautiful dwelling, for it was not her father’s house. Ah, no, the poor child was very far from her parents’ home, and there was not much chance of her ever seeing it again. When she was still at home with her parents, she had certainly never dreamed that she should ever come to Damascus. But on a certain day, rough soldiers came and brought terror and dismay into the little village where she lived. They forced their way into the houses, and took everything they could lay hands on. They took also men, women and even children, to sell as slaves. And so our little Jewess came to Damascus to the home of Naaman. She knew not what had become of her father, mother, brothers and sisters. Ah, what a sad fate was hers! Many and bitter were the tears that she shed. When she thought of her home, and of her former merry life without care, then her heart would become heavy. She was indeed to be pitied!

One thing was fortunate. She feared the Lord, and loved Him with her whole heart, and therefore in spite of her sorrow she was not unhappy. Although she often felt lonely, yet she was not forsaken. For God never forsakes His own. And this poor little slave was one of His own. Her knowledge was certainly very limited. She knew little of God, much less than we do. But she loved Him truly, and put all her trust in Him.

Her master, Naaman, was a man of great importance, a mighty warrior. If he lived in our day he would very likely be field-marshal. The king thought a great deal of him, because by his means God had given freedom to the Syrians.

But this rich, great, powerful Naaman was a leper. He was sick, very sick of a terrible disease. We know nothing of leprosy here, and do not know how dreadful it is, to be a leper. But there in the East they know all about it. A leper is dead while he is alive. He must leave his home and family, and wander about alone, or in the company of other lepers. If he meets other people, he must cry out: “Unclean, unclean.” At least, so it was in Israel. In Syria where Naaman lived, they seem not to have had such severe laves.

I think that he sought the advice of many physicians, and tried many enemies. But it always ended in disappointment. And now he had given up all hope. Nothing could be done for him. Ah, what a sad contrast! So rich, so mighty, so honored, and yet so miserable!

People who did not know that he was a leper, may have envied him. When they saw him enter his splendid home, or driving by in his richly ornamented chariot, they may have thought, “What a happy man Naaman must be!” Not knowing that, under that princely raiment, a very diseased form was hidden. No; this rich man was not happy. Neither did Naaman’s wife know what happiness was. Surrounded by luxury. Everything that money could buy was to be found there. Sumptuous furniture and precious ornaments. But the possessor of it all was deeply to be pitied. In bitter grief she sat there. Of what use is all that luxury to her! What good does all this wealth do her! She would gladly give it all, if she could buy health for Naaman with it. But she can do nothing for her husband, she can only weep and complain.

What do you think? Who was the best off, of these three? Naaman, his wife, or the little girl-slave? Surely, the latter! She knew, at least, where to go with her sorrow. She had help in time of need. Her cross was not the heaviest. She could even pity her master.

One would scarcely wonder to hear that the poor child hated Naaman. Many in her place would have thought: “It is just right that Naaman is a leper! To him I owe all my misfortunes. He is the cause of my misery.” But such was not her thought. Instead of being glad at the sad condition of her master, she pitied him even more than herself. She did not know the words of the Lord Jesus; “Love your enemies," but she acted according to them. See, there she stands before her mistress. Her heart is full of pity, and there is nothing she would like better than to help them. But what can she do? She, a poor despised slave!

Yes, there is something she can do! There is something that she has often thought about. And now she will say it. “Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would cleanse him of his leprosy!” The prophet was Elisha, of whom we read so many wonders in the Bible. The girl had often heard of him, while still in her own land. She had never heard that Elisha had healed a leper, but she did not doubt that God who had performed so many wonders through his servant, would also heal a leper.

How beautiful this was in that girl! How strong her faith was in the power of God! And how dear it was of her to wish to send Naaman to Elisha! How simply, too, she tells it! And still so decided! As if she would say, “What a pity that Damascus is so far from Saria; if my lord was only there, then he need not remain a leper one day longer.”

Is that not beautiful in this girl? To forget her own grievances, and think only of her suffering master and sorrowing mistress? And that she was able to do, because she loved God with all her heart, and received so much from Him.’ And now she longed that Naaman, also, should learn to know this God. For Naaman was a heathen. He was in the habit of bowing down before Rimmon. But Rimmon could not help him, and all his prayers and all his offerings availed him nothing. No; he must go to Saria; there was the prophet of the Lord; there he would learn to know the power and goodness of the God of Israel! How strange it seemed to Naaman, when his wife repeated to him what the little maid had said. Did he believe it? Well, it would be too much to say that he did. But a little hope arose in his heart. The nations round about Israel knew a little of the God of Israel. They had heard much of His power, and of the wonders that He had performed for His people. So we can very well understand that Naaman began to hope again. He went to the king to tell him what he had heard, who directly made preparations to send him to Samaria; he wrote a letter to the king of Samaria, and soon Naaman was on the way took with him a great amount of gold and silver and rich garments, thinking that it must cost a great deal to be healed of such a deadly disease.

He did not know that God does not sell His favors, but gives them freely in grace to whoever comes to Him. It was a long journey, and Naaman had plenty of time for meditation. He had been so often disappointed. No wonder that the thought would arise, that perhaps this journey would.be in vain.

At last, he reaches Samaria; in front of King Joram’s palace the procession stands still. The letter from the Syrian king is sent in. Because there they think they will find the worker of miracles. Such a man must be treated with extraordinary honor. And where could he be treated with more honor than in the king’s palace? But Joram was quite distracted. What can he do with the leper? He cannot cure him, and he does not dase to send him back. Benhadad will be so angry, and perhaps will declare war against him. Yes, that is just what he wants to do. And in despair he rends his garments, and cries out: “Am I God, to kill and to make alive?” Does Benhadad think that I can cure a leper?

No, Joram! You are not God, you are only a man, although you sit on a throne. But that you do not know God, the God of Israel, is your own fault. The poper little maid dressed as a slave yonder in Damascus, shames you, King Joram! You in Samaria, do you not know, that there is a prophet of the Lord in Samaria? She in Damascus knows it very well!

(To be continued.)

ML-01/04/1920

Nursed on the Lap of the Godly.

IT is a beautiful picture, to see the love of the father and mother expressed upon the children, and that from their infancy, but still better it is to see, along with that love, the tare to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Great too is the responsibility of such children, as a preacher once put it, “To have been nursed upon the lap of the godly, to have been rocked in the cradle and hushed to sleep with a lullaby in which the name of Jesus comes as a sweet refrain—this involves a great responsibility. No one can go to hell over a mother’s tears without accumulated vengeance. No son can rebel against a father’s affectionate and tearful admonitions, without perishing many times more frightfully than if he had never been thus privileged.

“Dost thou remember, young man, how thy mother put her arms around thy neck, and wooed thee to turn to Christ?

“Do you remember that little Bible given you when you first went to school, and the verse inscribed as a motto?”

Yes, dear reader, there are many in the condition the preacher described, and have grown up to manhood and womanhood and have hardened their hearts against the early teachings of their parents, and have gone on without the fear of God. May it not be your case, but may you give heed to the Word of God, meditate upon its pages, accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and walk in His ways. Peace and happiness shall be yours for time and eternity. What a contrast to the Christ rejecter.

“MY SON, HEAR THE INSTRUCTION OF THY FATHER, AND FORSAKE NOT THE LAW OF THY MOTHER.” Prov.1:8.

ML-01/04/1920

Gypsies.

WHAT a strange, wandering class of people the Gypsies are. Some think they are descendants of Ishmael, but be that so or not, they are a class who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was in such a company Savior. Some of my readers have heard, and read many times about the Lord Jesus, and still do not know Him as their Savior, and are indifferent about Him. May it not be so with you, dear reader, but may you take such a Savior as yours, right away, and join in with the Gypsy boy and say, that the little boy was found alone, in a tent dying that the hymn No. 132 in the “Messages of Love” Hymn Book was written about. He was one who not only believed on the Lord Jesus just as soon as he heard about Him, but was anxious for everybody else to hear about that

Tell it again! tell it again!

Salvation’s story repeat o’er and o’er,

Till none can say of the children of men

“Nobody ever has told me before!”

ML-01/11/1920

He Will Cleanse Him.: Part 2

(Continued from page 146.)

Fortunately Elisha hears of what is going on in the palace. He sends a message to Joram. “Let him now come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” And shortly after Naaman stands in front of Elisha’s house. Hoping and fearing! Now the moment has come. Now he will know what is in store for him. Shall he be cured? It seems almost too good to be true.

Then the door opens and Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, domes out saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean.”

Nothing more is said. For Naaman it is too little, and at the same time too much. He had thought it would be quite different. He thought that the prophet would come to him, would look at the diseased part, call on the name of his God, and go through all sorts of performances. And now he had not even seen the man of God. And no notice was taken of him.

And then such a silly remedy! Nothing but to wash in the Jordan! To wash? Why, he had washed himself hundreds of times in all sorts of healing waters. In the Jordan? Were there not rivers near Damascus with much clearer and fresher water? Well, yes; he will go and wash in the Jordan! And make a fool of himself! He is angry, terribly angry, short and threatening are his orders to turn back home! Foolish Naaman! But let us not judge him too harshly. He knew not the God of Israel. He was considering the remedy only, and not the Physician. He wanted to be cleansed but—in his own way. The more trouble it cost, the better.

And at this present time there are still such people. Alas! so many! They want to be saved, but in their own way. Not in the way that God shows us in His Word, by simply believing in the Lord Jesus, who died for us on the cross.

That is too simple a remedy, that is not enough. One must do something one’s self, in one’s own strength. But that is all wrong. Read John 3:16. There you find the way. There is no other. One look at the cross is life and salvation.

“Home” was the order Naaman gave, and pretty soon he is again outside Saria: on the way home. But fortunately, Naaman has sensible servants, and they point out to him how foolishly he was acting. They say: “If the man had told you to do something very difficult, would you not have done it? Why not try then this simple remedy?” And certainly Naaman would have tried even the impossible, and so he thought his servants were right. He listens to their wise councils and goes to the Jordan. There he undresses. Lays aside his sumptuous raiment, takes off the bandages. But the one who steps down into the waters of the Jordan, does not resemble the rich and mighty lord. It is a poor, sick and unhappy person, nothing more. The beautiful exterior has disappeared, and the miserable reality is revealed.

Thus, we must come to God, if we would be cleansed from the leprosy of sin. Just as we are: as lost sinners. It is not agreeable, but it is necessary. And when we come thus we are healed, just as Naaman.

“Wash yourself seven times,” the man of God had said, and Naaman does it. Again and again he dips himself in Jordan’s waters. And when he has done it seven times, he is cured. “His flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child.” And how beautifully fresh and healthy a little child can look! So Naaman looked when he came up out of the water. He felt quite young again. There was no trace left of his disease. God never works by halves.

Is it to be wondered at, that Naaman felt that he must go back to Elisha? In galloping speed they return to Samaria, and soon he stands cleansed before Elisha to give utterance to his gratitude. This time he is permitted to see the man of God. His treasures are brought out, gold and silver and costly array. Naaman will give it all joyfully to Elisha. But Elisha refuses politely, but decidedly, to accept anything. Naaman has yet to learn that God does not sell His favors, but gives them in grace to whoever will, with a believing heart, take them from His hand. Naaman is beyond measure indebted to God, but not with gold or other treasures can he prove his gratitude. God has given him life: well then, that life must from henceforth be dedicated to God.

And is Naaman prepared for that? He surely is! No more will he kneel down to Rimmon; no more offer up on Rimmon’s altar. A load of earth he takes with him, to serve Israel’s God on Israel’s ground, although in Damascus.

God gives more than we ask. Naaman came to get health for his body. He got that, but a much greater blessing he received besides. He was turned from idols to serve the only true God. And that was not only Naaman’s experience: it is ours also. Let us ask much of God and expect much of Him: we shall always receive more than we ask. But let our hearts and lives be dedicated to Him! Naaman knew very little about God. We know much more. We know that God loved us so, that He gave His Son for us that we should have eternal life. How should we not love Him then, He, who has done so much for us?

And now, one would think that many lepers would come to Elisha to be healed. Alas, not one came. They heard of the miracle. It was much talked of. But—there it remained. How sad! All could have been cured and no one came.

Is it not strange? Yes: but it is still just so. Hundreds and thousands in our days know that they are not saved. They hear every day that Jesus can and is willing to save them. But they do not come to Him—and they are lost. O, reader, if you are not saved, do not wait a moment longer, but go now to Jesus and you will find that He can cleanse you.

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

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

ML-01/11/1920

The Gold Hunter.

AT the close of a meeting I entered into conversation with a man who had been a gold miner. He told me that when he went to the Pacific coast, visions of gold gleamed in his mind; as life was before him he pursued the glittering phantom, thinking happiness and satisfaction were bound up in it.

“Well,” I said, “did it give you any lasting satisfaction?”

“No.”

“Well,” I continued, “did you ever know any one who was satisfied with riches, and to whom they gave rest of soul?”

“No; I never saw any one. Though I have found plenty of gold, I never found true happiness in it nor did I find peace. But while I say that of the gold that perishes, I thank God I have found satisfaction and joy for eternity, as well as for time, in Christ.”

“How would it be if you got all the gold the richest mines of California contain, and had not Christ as your Savior?”

“Why, sir, I’d say I was poor, most wretchedly poor. It is only since I came to Him that I have possessed true riches, as He says Himself in Revelation 3:18, ‘I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.’”

Here was the testimony of a man as a successful gold hunter in former years, and now in latter days as a Christian. Will you balance the joy of the one with that of the other?

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

Words utterly fail to describe the priceless gift of God purchased for us with the precious blood of Christ.

“For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold.... But with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

ML-01/11/1920

A Little Girl's Mistake.

A LITTLE girl living in Sweden was saying good-bye to a gentleman, who was leaving for England the next day. She presented him with two oranges, saying, “One is for yourself; the other is for the rest of the people in England.”

She was a very little girl, or else she never would have seriously thought that one orange would do for so many people.

But God’s Gospel is not like that orange. There is salvation for all, and not merely for all the people in England, but for all the people in the world: “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.)

We must not make the mistake the little English girl ma de, who had a French nurse. The nurse, who was a Christian, was praying aloud in French in the hearing of the little girl. The child cried out in astonishment, “Don’t pray in French, nursey. God is English, and won’t understand you.”

What a mistake she made! Why, the Bible was not written in English to begin with—the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek, and our English Bible, we love so well, is a translation from these languages.

Ah, the little girl needed to learn more perfectly the meaning of John 3:16.

It is printed in languages and dialects, bringing up the number to over 400.

Why is this? Because it contains a universal message; that is, a message for all—and therefore a message for you.

In the school where my little boy goes there are English, Scotch, Irish, Greek, and Chinese boys, as well as a Kurd. Well John 3:16 is for them all, as well as for the black boys living under the broiling sun of Africa, among the lions and elephants and serpents, as well as for the fur-clad lads of Greenland, who live among the seals and bears.

What a mercy it is for all! I do trust this may meet the eye of some boy or girl who desires to be saved, for God says, whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

It matters not where you live, what your name is, what the color of your skin is—salvation is for you.

A little while ago a little girl wrote me from the other side of the world, telling me her two brothers and herself had been saved through reading a book called, Wise unto Salvation.

I got the atlas out, and found they lived on a lonely coast on the north of Tasmania.

Yes, God is saving boys and girls all over the world. Has He saved you yet?

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

Wonderful words! Have you received their message yet?

ML-01/11/1920

Lost.

SOME of us have known what it is to realize that we are lost on a wild mountain. Turn which way we would, there seemed no means of deliverance.

Weary and way worn we had gone in this direction and in that, until at last, hopeless and helpless, we had given ourselves up as “Lost!” Then what joy filled the breast when the way was discovered, or we were rescued by friends.

What will it be for a soul to wake up in an eternity of woe and to discover that he is “lost Forever!” To remember every opportunity of salvation which was missed. To consider the last invitation of the gospel which was slighted. To think how Christ the Son of God was rejected as Savior, and His claims as Lord were refused. And how, now, at last, the door of blessing has been closed, and doom is fixed eternally.

O, sinner awake! You are drifting towards that “lost-forever” state. Every clock-tick, every pulse-beat urges you on. Be no longer a trifler. Flee for your life, even as your eye scans these lines. Tarry not for any. Delay not even for earth’s dearest loved ones, or for most cherished joys. Your soul is at stake.

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” Psa. 85:7, 8.

ML-01/18/1920

Nellie's Dream.

ONE stormy night, towards the end of November, a young man might have been seen walking quickly through the crowded streets of a great metropolis, heedless of the busy throng as they hurried past him. His face was pale, and wore an anxious, troubled look; and more than one turned to glance as he strode hastily along.

At length, turning down a quiet street, he paused before the door of a dimly-lighted house, and letting himself in by means of a latch-key, was soon stumbling up a narrow, almost perpendicular stair-case.

He was met by an old woman, who, taking him quietly by the arm, led him into a small and somewhat shabbily furnished sitting-room, lighted by a single candle, which stood on a table in the center of the apartment.

“How is she now?” asked the young man anxiously. “Has she been asking for me?”

The old woman shook her head, and wiped away the fast-falling tears with the corner of her rough apron.

“Ah! poor lamb,” said she. “She’ll not last long now; the doctor’s just been, and says she’s very bad—as bad as can be.”

George R—, for such was the young man’s name, turned almost impatiently aside, and throwing himself into an arm-chair by the fire, began vigorously to stir the few dying embers into a blaze, while the old woman silently and sorrowfully left the room.

He had known for some time that his sister was in a serious condition, but had shut his eyes to the fact; it worried him to see her slowly getting worse and worse, and her pale sunken face haunted him continually, in spite of his efforts to dismiss it from his mind. A feeling of remorse and shame came over him as he looked back upon the events of the past two years. How had he fulfilled the promise he had made to his dying mother, that he would be both father and brother to the little sister left in his care? His conscience smote him as he recalled the anxious little face of entreaty raised to his, as evening after evening she had implored him when his day’s work was over to remain at home, instead of joining his thoughtless companions in their various amusements; but he had put her off each time with the same words: “Another day, Nellie, another day.”

And so the weeks and months had slipped by, and little Nellie wandered wistfully about that dismal house with no other companion save the faithful old woman, who had done all in her power to supply the place of mother to the lonely little orphan.

But within the last few months George had noticed a change in his sister. She was no longer listless and sad, and the wistful expression in her blue eyes had changed to one of peace and joy he had never seen there before. Once, hastily entering the little sitting-room, he had caught her poring over the pages of an old Bible that had belonged to his mother, and seeing the rapt look of joy on her young face, had guessed vaguely that therein lay the secret of the change. He learned afterward from the old woman that Nellie had commenced to attend a Sunday school, and since first entering it had not ceased to speak of the new life of “unseen things” that was slowly unfolding itself to her wondering mind.

After this he had avoided her more than ever, somehow he could not bear to meet those gentle imploring eyes, and when once or twice she had spoken to him of the Savior she had learned to know and love, he had answered her quickly and roughly that “Such things were only for old women, and saints like herself!”

It was not to be for long. The lonely life, close confinement, and want of proper care, had told upon the naturally delicate constitution of the child, and, as the days slipped by, she grew weaker and weaker; and now all the care in the world would not save her.

She was dying.

Let us now return to the young man, as he sits brooding over the past. Presently, pushing back his chair and rising hastily, he left the room, and entered another on the same floor. A bright fire burned in the grate, lighting up the poor surroundings with its ruddy, fitful glow.

Upon a bed in the further end of the apartment, supported by pillows, was a little girl, apparently in the last stage of consumption. Her eyes lit up as her brother approached, and stretching out ‘her thin white hand, she said in a voice scarce above a whisper, “Are you angry that I sent for you George? I felt so much worse this evening, I thought I was surely going, and I could not go without one word to you.”

The young man seated himself in silence by the bedside of his dying sister, while she continued in an eager whisper, the hectic flush burning on her cheek “I think I must have fallen asleep after you left this morning; and O! it was all so strange. I felt myself being lifted higher and higher, far away up in the blue sky, till I reached a beautiful shining place. O! so bright it was that I had to shade my eyes as I went along. I heard a thousand voices saying, ‘Come in, little Nellie, there’s plenty of room for you;’ but I did not seem to heed them much, for in the far distance I saw someone beckoning to me with His hand and a voice said close beside me, ‘The Master is calling for you.’ I pressed on and on through the throng, till I came to where He stood. O George, I looked up and saw His face—the face of the blessed Lord Jesus. I can’t tell you what it was like—something I had never, never seen before! He took me by the hand and said, ‘You are welcome, little Nellie! but where is George? Did he not get my message?’ I said, ‘He has had no message, but if you will let me, I will go back and give it to him now.’ He only shook His head: ‘It is too late!’ He said. And then I heard voices everywhere saying, ‘Too late, too late!’”

The child paused to take breath, while her brother sat on in silence. His sister’s strange dream filled him with alarm; his past life rose up like a cloud before him, with its lost opportunities and broken resolutions. For the first time he realized his utterly lost condition, and need of that Savior he had rejected, and trampled underfoot.

Presently, sitting on the bedside, and bending over the dying girl, he said, “It is all true, Nellie, He has sent me message after message, but I have turned a deaf ear each time. I knew of His love, knew He was ready to receive me as His own, but would you believe it, Nellie? I did not want His love, or His pardon for my sins; I was content to go on with the old life of sin and folly, until tonight. I thank God for that dream of yours Nellie. Thank God it is not too late.”

A bright smile lit up the child’s face, she took her brother’s hand between her own, and without another word sank back upon the pillows.

Her happy spirit had fled to be forever with Him, in whose presence there is fullness of joy.

That night George R— found himself, for the first time in his life, in the presence of God. It was a solemn but a saving moment. If his sins as a mountain came before him, and made him tremble and afraid of God so did that grace of God, which bringeth salvation, come up before him and drew his heart to Himself. That night he passed from “death unto life.”

ML-01/18/1920

A Strange Inscription.

IT was not until the age of Will: forty-four that Brownlow North was converted. He was playing cards one night, when he was seized with sudden illness, which he himself believed would prove fatal. Turning to his son, he said, “I’m a dead man. Take me upstairs.” Having reached his bed, he threw himself upon it, and began to say to himself, “Now, what will my forty-four years of following the devices of my own heart profit me? In a few minutes I shall be in hell, and what good will all these things do me for which I have sold my soul?”

It was after many days of soul-anguish the light dawned upon his soul. It was in this way. He had risen from his bed, and was reading his Bible. The third chapter of the Epistle to the Romans attracted his attention. “By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” This he believed; but the scripture continued, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.”

“Striking my book with my hand,” he said when telling the story, “and springing from my chair, I cried, ‘If that scripture is true, I am a saved man! That is what I want, that is what God offers me, that is what I will have!’ God helping, me, it was what I took: ‘The righteousness of God without the law.’

IT IS MY ONLY HOPE.”

On the first page of the New Testament which he began to use on New Year’s Day, 1855 is the affecting inscription, “B. North, a man whose sins crucified the Son of God.”

Thus he learned to rest alone upon the atoning death of Christ for his salvation, and rejoiced in the righteousness of God which was now upon him as a believer.

Could you write beneath your signature,

“My sins crucified the Son of God"?

ML-01/18/1920

"May I Be Sure?"

MAY I be sure, mamma?” said Kitty, as the good news of God’s free love was read to her, and she was told there was forgiveness for her.

“Yes, dear one, you may.”

“But how, mamma?”

“Simply by believing what God has said, for God tells no lies, and breaks no promises.”

“And what has God said?”

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

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

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

ML-01/18/1920

Five Stepping Stones.

FAITHFUL Shep watches her mistress as she goes from one stepping stone to the, other, across the running stream, carrying two of her pups, while the third one is left behind to wait till the two are carried safely across. These stones are placed at a convenient distance from each other, so that they can be reached with an easy step; but if the last stone is to be reached, the first one has to be taken and then one at a time. This is true in all our lessons.

There is a verse of Scripture that gives us five stepping stones. John 5:24 is a verse which has been a blessing to thousands of souls.

Its simple statements form five stepping stones from doubt to certainty—from trouble to rest.

Are you in distress, not knowing how you stand in the sight of God?

Listen then to the words of comfort; they fall from the lips of the Lord Himself.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,”

1. “He that heareth, My word.”

Have you heard the voice of the Son of God—the Savior? In grace He speaks in the gospel message.

2. “And believeth, on Him that sent Me.”

Do you believe God the Father who sent His Son to be the Savior of the world?

3. “Hath, everlasting! What certainty is in that word Hath! It speaks of that which is possessed. Hearing and believing result in having.

4. “And shall not come into condemnation.”

For the believer the judgment is past—Christ has borne it on the cross. He is risen. The believer is accepted in Him. There is therefore Now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

5. “But is passed from death unto life.”

The wonderful translation is made already. Soon the believer will pass from earth to heaven. But now while here he has passed from death to life.

Have you passed?

“SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR.” Isa. 55:6.

ML-01/25/1920

Jack's Testimony.

A BUSY city thoroughfare, and a bolting horse coming up a cross street. It was the work of a moment, but a well-built schoolboy of sixteen lay as if lifeless on the pavement, and the horse sped on. Willing help was at hand, and a policeman, stooping over the lad, said, “I am afraid it’s all over with him.”

An ambulance was quickly brought, and as they gently raised him, he said in a low voice.

“It is all right either way; His name shall be called Jesus.”

“Surely it was the young fellow that spoke?” said the policeman, holding his head; “yet his lips did not seem to move.”

Again the low voice said slowly, “I said it is all right either way—thank you for being so kind—for my side—hurts badly—but Jesus—Jesus.”

No other sound escaped his lips till he was laid on a hospital bed. Then, when asked if he could give his name and address, he answered in a weak but glad voice, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”

“Ah, thank God, he knows that,” said a young medical student. And an old doctor said, “It would be good for some of us older ones if we knew that as well as this youngster seems to do.”

“Perfect quiet, and a special nurse; internal injuries, and a bad case,” was the doctor’s verdict.

During the night of unconsciousness, with ice bags on his head, over and over again Jack Payne murmured, “Jesus, my Lord Jesus;” “Mother,” “Mother, lay your hand on my head,” or, “Never mind, mother, His name is called Jesus, so it is all right.”

Next morning the doctors shook their heads, but a medical student said to the nurse, “I believe God will raise him up. Most cases like this toss and rave, but he lies still, whispering about Jesus, His name, and mother. He has the peace of God in his heart.”

Police enquiries or newspaper notices reached Jack’s mother, and soon a sweet-faced widow was seated beside his bed. But he did not recognize her, though her touch evidently pleased him; still more did the texts she repeated softly to him. And the nurse noticed that each one she chose had the name of Jesus in it, and he would say over again, “His name shall be called Jesus, yes, that’s it, Jesus.”

Jack Payne got better, and lives to declare the goodness of God. He and Fred U. the medical student, are fast friends, and will likely go out as missionaries to China, to tell of Him to whom God hath given, “a Name which is above every Name, that whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Jesus, wonderful Savior.

ML-01/25/1920

An Answered Prayer.

DURING the years I was at work in the slums of a large city, the following cent example of a simple, confiding faith, came to my knowledge. The story is authentic—the facts precisely as stated. A poor little child of about eleven years old, developed a terrible malady which demanded an instant operation. He was taken to the hospital, where the great surgeon who examined him had to tell the little waif that, although there was just a fighting chance for his life, he would in all probability die on the operating table.

The seats of the operating theater, rising tier above tier, were filled with students, who had come to witness the greatest surgeon of his time use the knife. The little patient was brought in, and during the performance of certain preliminaries, placed in a large chair. Looking around at the great throng of men, he said timidly to one of the assistant doctors: “Please, sir, I am a Christian, and I should be very glad if one of you gentlemen would just say a little prayer for me. You’ve told me I’m in great danger, but a little prayer to Jesus would help me ever such a lot in my trouble.”

The surgeon patted him on the head. “We’ll do our best, my little man,” he said kindly. “You must try to be brave.”

“Yes,” answered the lad, “I’ll be brave, sir. But I’d like a little prayer to ask God to help you to use the knife right, and to help me too.”

There was a profound silence. Nobody moved, so the little child knelt down and said: “Dear Jesus, will you please have mercy on me now and if I die take me to be with You in heaven? I’m only a poor, weak little boy; but please, I’d like to live. So, dear Jesus, will You please help this kind gentleman, so that he will be able to do his work right? Amen.”

Having said his prayer, the boy got on the table with a quiet, smile lighting up his face. The an aesthetic was administered; but as long as there was any consciousness the boy was heard praying.

The great surgeon stood at the head of the table, fully aware that he was about to perform an operation that would test his skill to the utmost limit, an operation that required exceptional coolness, calmness and delicacy of touch. Yet for a moment or so he was visibly agitated. The students exchanged significant glances. Never had they seen their great chief unnerved before, and the fact of his being so now augered but ill for the life of the city waif. Yet as he looked at the still moving lips of the prostrate boy a great calm stole over the doctor. He commenced to operate, and immediately realized that the child’s prayer was being answered. Coolness of head, steadiness of hand, and delicacy of touch, all came as they were needed. The boy’s life hung on a mere thread, but the surgeon did not snap it. Though quite the most critical he had ever undertaken, the operation was performed with perfect ease and complete success.

The next morning the surgeon stood in the ward by the bedside of his little patient. Taking his hand he said: “Well, Tommy, the Lord Jesus heard your prayer yesterday.”

A happy, confident smile lit up the sick boy’s face as he answered: “Yes, I knew He would.” Then his face clouded over and he said: “And you were very good to me, and I have nothing to give you, nothing at all.”

Then a happy thought came to him, and his face lit up again as he whispered: “But I can keep on praying to Jesus for you, can’t I?”

A great lump came into the doctor’s throat. “Yes, you can,” he answered huskily, “and that will be heaps better than any kind of money, for God knows I sorely need the continual prayers of a brave little soul like you.”

ML-01/25/1920

The Little Housekeeper.

RUTH was an only child. Her dear mother died when she was ten years old, and after that she lived all alone with her father in a pretty little cottage in the woods. Ruth’s father was game-keeper on an estate and of course he had often to be away from early morning till late at night, so when Ruth was not at school, she was left alone the whole day, and she often grew weary and lonesome. You do not wonder at that, as very few little girls would care to be left by themselves as she was.

But I must tell you of a visitor that Ruth had one day and what changes that visit brought about. Two young ladies were out walking in the woods, and came to Ruth as she sat at the cottage door preparing her father’s supper. They both loved the Lord Jesus, because He had saved them, and wherever they had opportunity, they spoke of His love to ethers, and sought to win them to Him. The two young ladies sat down beside Ruth, and after asking about her school and lessons, they asked her if she knew the Lord Jesus as her own Savior. Ruth blushed and hung her head. She had never been asked such a question before, and she scarcely understood what it meant.

Dear child, she had no one to tell her about Jesus since her mother died, and there were no Sunday schools or happy children’s meetings, in that part of the country.

One of the lady visitors went away, but the other stayed a long time with Ruth, reading to her from God’s Word, and speaking to her lovingly and simply of the way of life through Christ. Ruth listened very attentively, and as the story was told her of the wonderful love of Jesus, and His death upon Calvary’s cross, the tears rolled down her cheeks. Better than that, her heart was opened, and she received Jesus as her own Savior. Joy and gladness filled her heart as she knelt down by the young lady’s side, and thanked the Lord for saving her, and giving her eternal life.

When her father returned with his gun and dogs, Ruth ran to the gate to meet him, and clasping her arms around him, said, “Father, I am saved!”

He was astonished, but when Ruth told him the whole story, he quite understood her, for he had a sister far away, who sometimes wrote of the same things as Ruth spoke. Before many months, Ruth had the joy of having her father confess the Lord Jesus, and now the pretty cot-tage in the woods, of which Ruth is the happy housekeeper, rings with the sound of Jesus’ name.

Dear young reader, can you say, like Ruth,

“I am saved?”

You may know the way of salvation, but that is not enough. You may sing the wondrous story of Jesus’ love, and yet be a stranger to Him. In order to be saved, you must receive Him as your own personal and only Savior. Then, like Ruth the little housekeeper, you will be able to say.

“I am saved!”

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

ML-01/25/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

1. “Be it known therefore,” etc. Acts 28:28.

2. “And the hand of the,” etc. Acts 11:21.

3. “But none of these things,” etc. Acts 20:24.

4. “Then had the churches,” etc. Acts 9:31.

5. “Repent ye therefore and be,” etc. Acts 3:19.

6. “God that made the world,” etc. Acts 17:24.

7. “Because He hath appointed,” etc. Acts 17:31.

ML-02/01/1920

Bible Questions for February.

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1920, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in 1St Corinthians.

1. Write the verse containing the words; “Hath pleased Him.”

2. Write the verse containing the words: “Raised up the Lord.”

3. Write the verse containing the words: “Day of our Lord.”

4. Write the verse containing the words: “Remembrance of Me.”

5. Write the verse containing the words: “Giveth us the victory.”

6. Write the verse containing the words: “Wherein ye stand.”

7. Write the verse containing the words: “God hath prepared.”

ML-02/01/1920

One of Satan's Suggestions.

WE had had a most stirring gospel preached one Sunday evening, and as the people were leaving the hall, a young woman, who knew what it was to rejoice in the Lord as her salvation, noticed a girl coming down the aisle, looking, O! so miserable!

“Dear friend,” asked the Christian, “have you decided for Christ Jesus; and can you say He is your Savior?”

“No,” she replied, in a very sad tone.

“Then will you not come to the Savior tonight? Jesus is waiting to receive you, and longing to bless you. Do come now, just as you are.”

“No,” again she replied, “I will not decide tonight; perhaps some other time.”

And she passed on, with her sad face, and heavy heart, and her soul unsaved!

“SOME OTHER TIME—NOT TONIGHT.”

And the Lord Jesus heard that deliberate refusal.

Dear unsaved one, have you ever put off accepting Jesus as your Savior? If so, just think of it for a few minutes. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27:1.) “Tomorrow” is the devil’s word. “Today” is God’s.

“Tomorrow” is a day you will never see. Have you ever thought that when it comes it is again “today"? And Satan will still whisper, “O, never mind today, tomorrow will do!”

Before another twenty-four hours, the Lord may have come; for we read in Matt. 25:13, “Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour.”

Before another day dawns you may be stricken down by fever, and be unconscious of anything going on around you; and you cannot come to Jesus then. Before another day is passed your heart may have ceased to beat, and you lie dead.

Listen no more to Satan’s suggestions about tomorrow, for he will make you put off coming to Jesus, and delay salvation, until it is too late. He will tempt you on and on, till he lands you in hell, and you are lost for eternity. On the other hand is salvation, and if you trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are saved, and saved Forever. Which is it to be? Jesus or Satan, heaven or hell, saved or lost?

“To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” (Psa. 95:7, 8.)

ML-02/01/1920

The Nurse's Story.

“NURSE, I am sure the new maid is anxious about her soul.”

“Why do you think so, Mary?” asked the nurse addressed.

“I was speaking to her in the kitchen, and telling her how happy I have been since I am saved, and I told her all about my conversion, and she seemed touched. I saw the tears in her eyes, and I feel quite sure she is anxious.”

“Do you think you could get her to come up to the nursery, and have a talk with me?” said nurse.

“I will ask her, at any rate,” said Mary, and away she went down stairs to do so.

This conversation took place in the nursery of a gentleman’s house, between the upper and under-nurse, one evening after the work was over, and the children put to bed.

Nurse had been a Christian for a number of years, although only comparatively lately had she seen clearly that she possessed eternal life, and was indeed a child of God. Since this light had broken in upon her, she had been learning daily in the word of God what He had saved her from, and what He had saved her for, and her heart was full of joy and peace. God had recently converted Mary, the nursery maid, in answer to her prayers, and now both of them, in their zeal, longed for others to be won to Christ. They had tried in vain to reach the old cook’s heart; she was stubborn and self-righteous, and told them to speak no more to her on this subject or she would in-form their mistress. But a stranger-maid had lately come, and Mary could not help telling her of the Lord’s goodness in saving her soul, and this night, in the cook’s absence and while their mistress was out, the attempt was to be made to have Ellen up to the nursery for a talk.

In a little while Mary returned with Ellen, and all three sat down to their needlework while they talked.

Nurse explained the need all had as sinners of being born again, and how the Lord had dealt with her to bring her to Himself, the danger to which she was exposed while in the far country, and she told of the pardon and peace she had experienced since she came to Jesus.

At the close, Ellen burst out with the cry, “I want to be saved, but what shall I do?”

“O!” said nurse, “you have nothing to do, all is done.”

“I can’t understand you,” replied Ellen, “surely I have something to do.”

“O, no!” said nurse. “Read these words,” and she handed her a testament. Ellen read as directed John 3:16: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“You see,” said nurse, “God loved us, and gave Jesus to be our Savior. He has done the work of our salvation, and now we have only to believe, and receive life everlasting. Read this,” and she pointed to the 36th verse, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Then turning her to chapter 5:24, Ellen read again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word—”

“Now,” said nurse, “you have heard His word, go on—”

“And believeth on Him that sent Me.”

“Don’t you see?” said nurse. “It is not to do, but to believe on Him who has done all. Now read it out.”

“Hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” “I do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Ellen slowly, “and I know it is all true, that He died for us while we were yet sinners; but I can’t understand about this having eternal life.”

“O,” said nurse, with a smile, “that is the gift of God to every one who believeth. He gives it to you. Turn to 1 John 5:13, and read.”

She did so, and read; “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.”

“Now, dear,” said nurse, “do you see God sends us the Scripture to tell us we have it as a gift from Him?”

“O! my mind only gets more bewildered,” exclaimed Ellen. “I seem to see it all, but I can’t take it in. I haven’t got it surely, or I would feel it!”

The nurse’s eye fell on a ball of knit-ting worsted that lay on the table; she lifted it up, and said, “Do you see this ball of wool, with all its color and beauty, that I hold in my hand?”

“Yes,” replied the bewildered girl.

“I give it to you,” said nurse, holding it out.

Ellen put out her hand and took it. “Now,” asked nurse, “have you got it? Is it yours?”

“O, yes!” answered Ellen.

The light was breaking, and the bewildered face was getting happy and bright, as nurse continued, “God holds out as a gift eternal life. We just take it, and He says it is ours, and we believe His word, and have it.”

“O!” exclaimed Ellen, “I see it all now. Will you thank God for me?”

Together the three knelt down, and from that nursery to the throne of God there rose that night the voice of praise and thanksgiving.

ML-02/01/1920

Truth's Echo.

‘Tis said, O Echo, though I scarce receive it,

That thou canst utter truth. May I believe it?

(Echo) Believe it.

Then I, of truth disposed to be a winner,

Will ask thee this, Am I, indeed, a sinner?

(Echo) Indeed, a sinner.

But if, in works, I, strive with best endeavor,

I should not, surely, then be lost Forever?

(Echo) Lost Forever.

If my salvation thus I cannot earn,

What shall I do? Should I to Jesus turn?

(Echo) To Jesus turn.

If this be truth, ‘twere wisdom to obey it.

Is it thy voice? or do the Scriptures say it?

(Echo) The Scriptures say it.

But I have been so long my will fulfilling

Can I be sure that God to save is willing?

(Echo) God to save is willing.

But, O! my sins o’erwhelm me like a flood.

Can I from them be purged by Jesus’ blood?

(Echo) Purged by Jesus’ blood.

Then Him I trust: He saves and keeps forever.

O, wondrous grace! can it fathomed? Never!

(Echo) Be fathomed? Never!

ML-02/01/1920

A Norwegian Boy.

A BOY about 15 years of age, a Norwegian by birth, who spoke broken English, arose in a prayer meeting and said, “I have been four years at sea, my father and mother are both dead, and I have neither brother nor sister. I am small for my age, but I found out that I was not too little to go to hell, nor too big to go to heaven. If I have nothing else, I have a Savior, and that is better than father or mother, sister or brother, houses or lands. I love Him—He loves me—I stand up for Him—glad, glad I am. Shipmates and others, you all should stand up for Jesus! Why don’t you? O how can you help it?”

“GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS, AND TELL THEM HOW GREAT THINGS THE LORD HATH DONE FOR THEE.” Mark 5:19.

ML-02/01/1920

Cut off.

THEY were cut off by the incoming tide. No way of escape was open to them.

What could they do? The cliffs above them could not be climbed, the waters around them could not be passed. They were in peril indeed.

Could they be—would they be saved?

How like to their condition is the condition of many a sinner! He sees the tide of judgment rolling in. He cannot climb the precipitous cliffs of safety by his good works. What can he do? Can he be rescued? “What must I do to be saved?” may well be his agonizing cry.

Happily for the two girls, their need was seen and a boat came to their rescue.

And happily for the sinner his peril has been seen, and the way of salvation has been provided. The Lord Jesus came and suffered and died in order that He might reach and rescue us.

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

“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE.” John 3:36.

ML-02/08/1920

The Power of the Word of God.

THE entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Ps. 119:130.)

Edward M. was born March 23, 1880. He was a strong hearty-looking boy, apparently fitted to endure all the ills that ordinarily fall to the lot of children. On the 26th of January, 1889, he was taken ill with what soon proved to be scarlet fever. Before the disease was pronounced, his mother was called to assist at the death bed of a young woman, a friend of the family, whose sudden death had occurred that morning. On his mother’s return, Edward said he believed he was going where Jessie B. had gone.

On Monday morning, he asked that the family reading and prayer might be in his room. After the reading, he as usual repeated a verse of Scripture in turn with the others. This morning he repeated Rev. 20:6. Just before he was taken ill, his little brother R— who was sick with the measles, was presented with an autograph album by his aunt. Edward said, “O, mamma, I know a nice verse to write in R’s album; may I write it?” Permission granted he at once wrote, with a few mistakes in spelling, the following: “Dear R— Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Your brother,

Ed. M.

During his sickness, which followed in less than two weeks, he frequently repeated this verse. After his departure, his mother found how he had learned such a long verse. With a pencil he separated it into three parts and by learning a section each day had in three days stored these words of the Lord in his heart.

Nearly a week before he died his uncle sat with him one night till midnight. As he was going away Edward said: “Good night uncle.” His mother reminding him to thank his uncle, remarked “We must not forget to thank the Lord.” At once, he began to repeat the twenty-third Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” On coming to the last verse he raised his voice saying: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

To E. , who was sitting with him one afternoon, he related the story of the Gipsy Boy—who, on hearing of the love of Jesus in dying for us, received the good news with thanksgiving to the Lord, at the same time saying, “Nobody ever told me.” “But,” said Edward, “we can’t say that last.” Who that has good news does not like to tell it to any who will listen? And where can one find better news than these words of the Lord Jesus: “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.) Once, while watching by his bedside, his father repeated a verse of the well-known hymn:

“O patient, spotless One,

Our hearts in meekness train,

To bear Thy yoke and learn of Thee,

That we may rest obtain.”

At the same time asking him to pray that, if it was the Lord’s will, the fever might be removed. Edward began to pray, but instead of asking, as one might suppose, for his own health and comfort he prayed for each member of the family by name for a blessing on each “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Shortly after this he said: “O mamma, let me pray a little prayer and just pass away.”

“But, Edward,” said his mother, “papa and mamma want you here a while longer, if it is the Lord’s will,” to which he replied, “O, well, but I’m sure I’d be much better off.” How could a child know that which the wisest intellect can never search out?

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Surely the answer is given, “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:9, 10.)

On Sunday morning, the day before he fell asleep, he wanted to join the family in reading of the resurrection of Christ, as told in the last chapter of Matthew, but bodily weakness seemed to be a sufficient reason for his parents to refuse his request. Again and again he desired as his turn came that he might have his Bible to read as usual. His pleading looks overcame the fear of weak eyes, and his Bible given to him, he joined in the reading, and after the reading repeated for his verse: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” (1 John 2:15), a fitting exhortation from God by the mouth of a child to all who are still left in the world to be a witness for a once crucified, but now risen and glorified Christ. This was his last reading or recitation of the Word of God, for on the following evening he quietly fell asleep in Jesus without a struggle.

“Surely goodness and mercy had followed him all the days of his life, and he was now taken to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

People talk of “laying up for a rainy day” for themselves and their children. David said by the Spirit, “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver,” and again, “I love Thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold,” (Ps. 119:72, 127.) When earthly riches are stored, we know not who may use them. Thieves may break through and steal, moth and rust will corrupt them, but when the Word of God is hid in the heart who can rob one of it? What Christian parents would plead an excuse for not teaching their children the Word of God? Neither education nor talent are needed, for “the Word of God is quick and powerful;” i.e., “living and operative.” It speaks plainly to each soul, whether young or old, rich or poor, of two persons; the lost sinner, one’s self and the sinner’s Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not the reasoning of man’s intellect, but the simple faith of a child who fully believes what God has said, because it is God who says it is the victory that overcometh the world (1 John 5:4).

“Faith is not what we see or feel,

It is a simple trust,

In what the God of love has said

Of Jesus as the Just.”

The first name in the New Testament is “Jesus Christ,” (Matt. 1:1), the last in the last verse of Revelation is, “our Lord Jesus Christ,” while all through the Holy Scriptures He could say: “They testify of Me.” (John 5:39).

Reader, if called to die, would you, like Edward, be “much better off"?

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

“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). I well remember what a friend said to me years ago when talking of death.

“I am not ready to die now, but I believe that when called, the Lord will give me dying grace.” It was a little ray of comfort to me then, but only transient, for it was not a “Thus saith, the Lord.”

I did not know then that “without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22). I felt natural sorrow in reading of the sufferings and the death of the Lord Jesus, but I did not know then as I do now that He bore my sins in His own body on the tree,” so that I could not go further than simply pope that when death came all would be well. But our hopes and fears are like the ever-shifting sands, God’s Word is like the immovable rock. Man’s thoughts must perish with him, but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks the truth when He says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24). This is a word for you, if still unsaved, do not turn away, hoping for “dying grace” in the distant future, but now, this very day, accept Christ, and then if called to die before the Lord comes, you may depart in peace, knowing that you will be among the “blessed and holy” ones who have “part in the first resurrection.”

ML-02/08/1920

Gone in a Moment.

LITTLE readers are not very likely to be interested in what are called “railway accidents,” as they take place so often, and are mostly very shocking. But sometimes their very suddenness teaches a lesson. Such is the case with one of which I am about to tell you.

A young man was standing on the platform watching a train move off from the station when something pushed him off the platform down on to the rails beneath. In an instant the ponderous wheels passed over him, crushing him to death. He was just heard to exclaim, “I shall die!” and before another word could be spoken, he, who five minutes before was in health and strength, was gone into eternity—his mangled, lifeless body alone remaining to tell what had been.

What a sudden, shocking death. And the worst of it was, there was no reason to believe that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. He was gone in a moment into eternity, without so much as one cry to Jesus, or one word to show that he had ever believed in Him. Where is he now?

Ah, dear young reader, it is a solemn thing indeed to live without Christ for a single day. Does not this, does not every fatal accident tell you so? Those who live without Jesus, may be called upon to die without Him at any moment, and then, “gone in a moment,” they have no opportunity of believing in Him forever and ever!

Dear reader, either you have believed in Jesus as your own Savior, or you have not; which is it? If you have not, you are as yet unsaved. Can you be content to go on for a single day in this state? Have you not had many opportunities? If you are a reader of “Messages of Love,” you surely have. Who shall tell how long they may last?

Another year has but just begun, are you sure to see the end of it?

May the Spirit of God apply this sad story to your heart and conscience, so that you may be constrained to go at once to Jesus, whose precious blood cleanseth from all sin.

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

ML-02/08/1920

Come and Drink.

IN Eastern countries water has often to be purchased, for it is only in a few cities that a water supply is laid on to le, the houses. Thus water-carriers are needed, and in one place these with skin botties of water pass through the streets crying, “He ya, ‘atchan, tahaloo yishraboo.” “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink.” This is just such a cry as the prophet Isaiah utters in the fifty-fifth chapter of his prophecy: “Ho, EVERY ONE THIAT THIRSTETH, COME YE TO THE WATERS.”

The water-carrier sells the water he carries, and in this we find a great difference from what Isaiah cries, for he says: “AND HE THAT HATH NO MONEY; COME YE, BUY....WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE.”

But sometimes a kindly passer-by wishing to do a helpful deed will pay for all the water which the carrier has, and then it is freely given to all who come for it. Then the carrier will alter his cry, and shout out, “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink today, for nothing, for nothing!”

This is the true gospel cry. Christ has paid. Now the water of life is free.

“LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST, COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.” Rev. 22:17.

ML-02/15/1920

The Seven Little Shepherds.

ON the south of Russia, a country far away in the east, is the little Protestant colony of Karass. It was near the Caucasian mountains, a wild district where the people were very lawless, and the little children were brought up to believe that everything they could take from the settlers was theirs by right. They lived in their mountain fastnesses very secure, because they knew no one would dare to make the effort to discover their dwellings or to drive them from them. When they grew to be men they spent most of their time on horseback and were the terror of the peaceable inhabitants of the plains and valleys, carrying off cattle and horses and even men, women and children. These poor people were obliged to protect their pastures by inclosing them.

One morning seven little boys were sent to take care of the cattle, but in the eagerness of their play forgot all about their charge and allowed them to stray from the enclosure. When their sports were ended they found to their dismay that the animals had wandered a long way off, and forgetful of the danger, started in pursuit. A race over the plains discovered the truant cattle, but while driving them back they were pounced upon by a party of Caucasian horsemen and carried off to the mountains, where the poor little fellows were stripped of most of their clothing and sent half naked to feed their sheep.

Homesick, longing for the friends they might never see again, and almost starved on the coarse bread—the only food the robbers allowed them—the days passed wearily on, and at night, instead of the shelter of home and the loving greeting awaiting them, they must lie down upon the ground to sleep, with nothing above them but the cold sky. But they were not alone, for a kind heavenly Father was watching over them with tenderest pity, and knew all their sorrow and suffering.

Among the boys was one named Philip, who called the others around him and told them what he had learned from his mother, that Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd had promised to hear the cry of all His people when in distress, and requested them to kneel down and ask Him for help. So these seven little ones knelt on the green grass while Philip offered this simple prayer: “Good Shepherd, have mercy upon us; here we are as poor, lambs in the midst of, wolves; deliver us, Good Shepherd.” And each day the same petition went up from the sorrowful group.

But in the meanwhile they had resolved to attempt an escape, and daily laid by a small portion of their scanty allowance upon which to subsist while in the woods, secreting their stock under a stone; but the very day they had fixed upon for the attempt they found the shepherd dog had eaten it all up. Poor little children! they were greatly grieved, and believed that now all hope of escape was cut off, and they must serve the robbers the rest of their lives. But God heard their simple prayer and remembered His promise made so many years before: “Leave thy fatherless children; will preserve them alive,” (Jer. 49:11.) and was preparing to answer it in a way they had not thought of. He knew that if they had been allowed to carry out their wild plan of escape they would surely have perished in the woods, either torn by wild beasts or overcome by starvation and fatigue, so He allowed the dog to take their food and thus prevent them from making the attempt.

We don’t always see what is best for us at the moment, and like these little boys, think God has forgotten all about us, just the time He is doing for us the very best thing.

But to return to the home at Karass. When the news of the capture reached the settlement the poor parents were almost in despair. It was worse than use-less to follow the children, and no help or rescue seemed nigh. But a kind lady, the wife of one of the missionaries, who believed that the boys could be bought back for $1,500, undertook to raise the amount. Many offered aid—one lady, the wife of a Russian General, sending a costly pearl necklace to be sold. The whole sum was soon subscribed, and sent to the robbers the very day after the boys had been so saddened by the loss of their little store of food. They were immediately returned, and there was great joy in the little village of Karass that day.

ML-02/15/1920

George.

GEORGE was the son of a highly respectable and wealthy gentleman, and was beloved for his genial and kindly ways. On one occasion his father invited a gentleman named Mr. P., who was preaching the Gospel, to make his house his home while in the city.

The family attended the meetings, George among the others. Although outwardly respectable there were bad companions whom he occasionally associated with, who led him far astray at times. Mr. P. had heard of his conduct through a friend, although he had hidden his wild pranks from his family.

After a stirring and powerful Gospel address one evening, by which George was greatly moved, arriving at home, Mr. P, was alone with George in the parlor when the following conversation took place: George said, “Mr. P., my father does not believe just exactly as you do about some things.”

“O, and what is it your father does not agree with me about?”

“Well, he says that a sinner must repent and turn over a new leaf before he can become a Christian. You make it too easy, and tell us a person can become a Christian in a moment by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Well, George, the Bible must be our only guide in such important matters, as it is God’s Word to us. You have real the story of the prodigal in the 15th of Luke?” — “O, yes, often, at Sunday School and since.”

“When the prodigal appeared before his father in his rags, did he tell him he must clean up, get better clothes, etc., before he could receive him or allow him in the house?”

“O, no, he kissed him and put new clothes on him instead of his rags, and joyfully received him.”

“Then, George, that is an illustration how God receives sinners today. The moment they own their true condition, as the prodigal did, which is true repentance, taking sides with God against ourselves, owning what He says about us as true, He willingly, lovingly, receives them, makes them His children, and forgives all their sins. He kissed the prodigal in his rags.”

“But, Mr. P., you don’t mean to tell me that if a regular Baltimore black-leg, just confessed his sins to God, without ever turning over a new leaf and trying to be better, God would forgive him just at once?”

“Yes, George, and God knows all about you, and your sinful life. He knows all about your past life, and nova just where you are sitting, if you in your heart own to God your sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Who so loved you as to die for you and shed His precious blood to put away your sins, He will save you on the spot—just now.”

The tears had been trickling down George’s cheeks as he listened, and throwing back his head he exclaimed from an overflowing heart, “WHAT A GOD!”

His afterlife declared the reality of his having believed the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as the years go by and he learns more and more of the grace and love of God he is able more intelligently and with a greater depth of feeling to say, “What a God!”

Reader, do you know God? “This is life eternal to know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”

ML-02/15/1920

Why Daisy Loved Jesus.

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

“O, yes,” she said, “I do.”

“But why do you love Him?” I asked.

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

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

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

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

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

ML-02/15/1920

A Note of Praise.

O! how shall I the wonders tell,

Of how the notes of praise will swell,

When I shall go with Christ to dwell,

And see my Lord and Savior?

To gaze upon His wounded side,

From whence the crimson healing tide

Flowed down when He was crucified,

And won for us the glory!

O, when I join the ransom’d throng,

The praises that to Him belong

Will be this one eternal song,

That He alone is worthy.

My Savior, now Thy name is dear,

And sounds like music in mine ear,

But what when I am ever near

Thyself in yonder glory!

My Savior, do not longer stay,

But haste, that bright and cloudless day,

When Thou shalt call Thy bride away

To dwell with Thee Forever.

ML-02/15/1920

Gone! Gone!

HER little pet was gone. The cage door had been left unfastened, the window was open and the bird had flown.

Those who have suffered similar losses will understand what the child felt when she made the discovery. All had been well when she went to sleep at night, but when she awoke she learned her loss.

As I thought about it my mind turned to other things. I began to think of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His beloved people.

This blessed event may happen at any time. It will occur, we are told, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump.”

It is for

“THOSE THAT ARE CHRIST’S”

He will come. As sinners they have fled to Him for refuge from judgment and sin. They have believed on Him to the saving of their souls, and have confessed Him as their Lord and sought to live for His praise and honor. To them He says from the glory where He now is:

“SURELY I COME QUICKLY!”

And their hearts answer His blessed message with the invitation:

“EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!”

Joy indeed will be theirs when He comes. They will see Him and be like Him, and then be forever with Him. “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). But what joy will be the Lord’s when He has all His own, for whom He died, present with Himself in all the delights of His Father’s house.

But

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND?

They will awake at last from their sleep of folly and sin, and find that the Christians who have spoken with them and at whom they have laughed are gone, and gone forever. The cage has been opened and they have winged their way to heaven to enjoy its blessedness.

Loved ones and friends have departed, and they remain. The door of blessing and salvation has been closed, and closed forever against all who have slighted and rejected the Savior. They meant to be Christians one day, but it was always “Not yet” —and now—

IT IS TOO LATE.

O! what heartrending sorrow will be theirs! To think that they have missed all the golden opportunities which they had. Their last chance came to them, and they let it slip, and now, unconverted, unsaved, undone, they have only to tread their way helplessly, hopelessly on to the judgment of God.

Awake, awake, ye sleepers! The Lord is at hand. He is coming swiftly. He is coming surely. He is coming soon.

Are you ready if He should come while you read these lines?

“THEY THAT WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE: AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” Matt. 25:10.

ML-02/22/1920

Little Freddy.

FREDDY was only a little errand boy, and lived down a back street in a big smoky town. Every Saturday night his master handed him his week’s earnings, which Freddy pocketed with a glad “Thank ye, sir,” and was off like the wind, whistling the last new popular air. Arriving home he would give his aunt, for he had no mother, the greater para of his small earnings, reserving for himself a sixpence only. I want to tell you what he always kept that six pence for.

Once, after leaving work, poor Freddy’s eyes chanced to rest upon a large flaring bill posted on a wall—this was to inform the public that a certain play was being performed at the theater hard by, and to the theater he went. So fascinating did it prove to him that from that night the little boy became a regular spectator, taking his place with a host of other boys in the remotest gallery, where he helped by whistling and clapping to swell the applause of a noisy and delighted audience.

Freddy’s one idea now was to become an actor himself, and all sorts of plans and schemes began to suggest themselves to him, but you will see how good God was to this little boy.

One night on his way to the theater, he chanced to see a crowd gathered together in a side street, just off the main thoroughfare.

With a boy’s natural love of anything like a “row,” Freddy set off to inquire into the matter. However, it was no “row” at all, only a number of men and women pushing into an open door, from whence sounds of music were proceeding. It was nice music, too, and Freddy went in with the rest and sat down on one of the benches, which were being fast filled up by the stream of people who continued to pour in at the door. Soon the music ceased and there was silence, then a young man got up and spoke from a platform at the end of the hall. Freddy was so busy looking about that he didn’t pay much attention to what was being said; presently however, these words, “Where will you spend eternity?” rang through his ears. Looking up he caught the preacher’s eyes fixed upon him. Perhaps it was unintentional on the part of the young man, but the words cut home to the little boy’s heart. He scarcely heard anything more, only these words sounded again and again, “Where will you spend eternity?”

Eternity! O! what a great dreary word it seemed! He slipped out of the hall, but had scarcely got beyond the door, when he turned back and re-entered. The preaching was over, and the young minister had left the platform, and was going from bench to bench asking men and women to yield to the entreaties of God, and accept the pardon of their sins, that He was willing and ready to give. Freddy wondered if he would speak to him, and his heart beat fast and loud when a firm strong hand was laid upon his shoulder, and a voice whispered, “Do you love Jesus?” A low sob, and a sorrowful “No,” was the answer—and then for an instant came the thought of the brilliantly lighted stage, the dazzling dresses and the gay music. What of these? They would have to go; but O! that dreadful word “Eternity” silenced and put to fight all that had before seemed so enviable and so delightful. In a very few words the young man told him the sweet story of Jesus’ love, showing him how his sins had separated him from God, but that Christ had stepped in, and had borne the punishment of them, that he might go free. It was so beautifully simple to this little boy, that he joyfully and thankfully received it into his heart (O! I wish everyone would do the same, instead of questioning and doubting God’s power to save), and went out of the doors with the consciousness that he had been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Freddy is today a bright witness for Jesus, and winning others to the Master he has learned to love. Those words, “Where will you spend eternity?” God used to bring that soul to Himself.

Dear boys and girls, where will your eternity be spent? It will either be with God in everlasting joy, or with Satan in an eternity of remorse, and shame, and anguish.

God wants you, He waits for you; He shows you Jesus who bore the judgment of sin on Calvary—with you the choice rests—God is a God of love, but His. Spirit will not always strive with you. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”

ML-02/22/1920

Be Thankful.

A LADY once went up to a man at a railway station who had a beautiful dog with him; she knew that he was not spending his life for God, but wasting it on himself and in the service of the devil. She began to fondle the dog, saying, “What a beautiful dog you have here.”

“Yes,” said the man gruffly; “but take care he don’t bite you. He is not fond of strangers.”

“O, he won’t bite me. Dogs know who are fond of them; no doubt you are fond of him?”

“Yes, I am!”

“Do you feed your dog?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“House him?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Does your dog obey your word of command?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And you would be disappointed if he did not love and obey you?”

“Yes, I should.” Then looking proudly at his dog, “But Rover does love his master;” and he patted his dog’s head as it looked up trustfully into his face.

“Would you be grieved if he followed a stranger?”

“Yes,” he replied, rather impatient at so many questions.

“Ah,” said she, in a sad, reproachful tone, “what a lesson that dog teaches you! God has fed you, housed you, cared for you, loved you these many years—but you do not love or obey Him. He so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for your sins, and yet you have never loved Him in return. You follow a stranger. Satan is your chosen master. The dog knows its owner, and you do not know yours.”

Truly it may be said, “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know; My people doth not consider.” Isa. 1:3.

She looked sadly, yet kindly, at him as she spoke these words. His eyes filled with tears. He fixed them on his dog, and in a choking voice said, “Ah, Rover, Rover, you have taught your master a lesson. I have been an ungrateful sinner, but by God’s help be so no longer.” That evening he was found for the first time in the prayer meeting, crying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” and soon he was rejoicing in the knowledge of the forgiveness of his sins through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear young reader have you ever said, “Thank you” to God for all the blessings He allows you to enjoy? Are you really thankful to God for all His goodness to you? Then how will you show it? Why, of course, by doing what is pleasing to Him.

“And what is that,” you ask.

Give your heart, yourself, to the Lord Jesus. Take Him as your Lord and Master, and seek to please and obey Him in all your ways.

“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.

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us.” Eph. 5:1, 2.

ML-02/22/1920

A Little Child.

LUKE 18:15-17.

“A little child” may rest

In God, whose name is love;

Who, in His Son, His love expressed;

The sent One from above.

“A little child” may pray

To God; in Jesus’ name;

He loves to hear us “Father” say,

And own His children’s claim.

“A little child” may sing

Of Jesus’ worth and ways;

And worship to the Father bring,

With those who sing His praise.

“A little child” may learn

To do God’s holy will;

And if for this his heart doth yearn

His wish will God fulfill.

“A little child” whose heart

To Jesus has been given;

Shall rise, when all the saints depart,

And dwell with Christ in heaven.

ML-02/22/1920

The Young Watchmaker

SEE, these children are playing at keeping shop, and, very amusing they seem to find it. Mr. “Jimmy” looks very wise, peering at the watch through his spy-glass, but the big hammer lying on the table looks rather a rough instrument for mending watches.

I don’t suppose they learned any very serious lessons at their play, but were well content with the fun they got out of it; nor do we older people want children to be always serious. Old heads on young shoulders are not at all to be de-sired.

But as you are not playing, but only looking at the picture, perhaps you may learn a good lesson. Look at the notice, “Time taught while you wait,” The greatest instruction you can receive on that line is that God’s great clock of salvation points always and only to one time.

“Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. How happy when children learn this when they are quite young. I learned it when I was eleven years old, and the older I grow the more thankful I am that I learned it so young.

A friend of mine did even better than that, for he learned it when he was five, no higher than the big dining room table in his father’s house.

What I mean by learning that NOW is God’s day of salvation, is not merely learning the text in my memory, but receiving Christ as my own Savior in my heart.

So while you look at this picture, and enjoy its fun, don’t forget that NOW is the best time, and God’s time to be saved.

“IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD”

Hosea 10:12.

ML-02/29/1920

"Escape for Thy Life."

MOST of our readers know that in cold weather to keep us warm is dug out of the earth usually many feet below the surface. In digging out the coal they frequently leave large masses like pillars to support the earth above, or the miners would be all crushed to death. When a coal mine is exhausted and about to be closed, the owner, wishing to get all he can, takes away as many oi these pillars as he thinks he can do with safety to his men, and sometimes he takes away too many, and then, as you can easily imagine, the earth above sinks in, and, if the pit is very deep, anything that may be on the surface is swallowed up.

Well, not long ago a family who was living over a coal mine, noticed that their little garden was sinking! Just think what a position to be in—in danger every moment, and all day long, and all night long, of being swallowed up alive, of plunging all at once into a terrible abyss, crushed, mangled, and suffocated far, far down in a dark and horrible pit!

And yet, terrible as this fate would be, it is nothing compared with what awaits all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

“When they shall say, Peace and safety then sudden destruction shall come upon them.” The Lord will first come into the air, (1 Thess. 4) and take His people away from the earth, and soon after that, “sudden destruction” comes on those who have rejected Christ.

He may come tonight, tomorrow, at any moment, so you see, if you don’t believe in Jesus, you are just like the people who were living in that house with nothing between, them and “sudden destruction"—no refuge, no support, no safety.

And, what is most strange, these people had been warned that they were in danger, and yet, until they actually saw the garden sinking into the pit, they took no heed. Have you not been warned again and again in “Messages of Love”? Of course, you have. Will you be like these foolish people who waited till the destruction came before they believed the warning? I hope not.

You will be glad to hear that they had just time to escape. When they saw the earth sinking, they heeded the alarm, and catching up such things as were at hand, they all rushed out of doors and away from the fearful pit. They had gone only a few feet away when they saw their house turn right over and plunge roof foremost down into the abyss, followed by a mass of rocks and stones and earth, sufficient to crush it all to pieces! O, what an escape!

And, dear young reader, you have just time to escape from the fearful judgments that are coming upon this world, which will sink all who have not put their trust in Jesus into the lake of fire, from which none ever escape. The way to do so is to go at once to Jesus. You know it is written, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. Won’t you believe Him? I hope you will, for then you will be safe, perfectly safe in an everlasting salvation through the precious blood of Christ.

ML-02/29/1920

How Burrie Found the Savior

BURRIE was the daughter of a rich man in British-India, who was so civilized, that he taught his little girl to read and sent her to school.

In this way she was favored above many of her country people, and I know that she was thankful later that her father had given her a good education.

Burrie married very young, and became a widow when she was nearly forty. She had two sons. Some Indian widows lead very sorrowful lives; but Burrie lived in harmony with her sons and their wives and was also an affectionate mother. It was a great sorrow for her, when death entered her home and took away all her children in one day. Poor Burrie! was left quite alone. The friends who tried to console her, thought she would become blind from weeping, the poor woman was in such grief.

When she recovered a little, she thought that it was necessary to appease the angry gods. For this purpose she set out on a pilgrimage to all the holy places in the country, and kept this up for fifteen years.

But in spite of all this she had no peace in her soul and could not appease the gods. Worn out from wandering, she at last decided to return to her home in Calcutta.

But there a new disappointment awaited her. The neighbors thought that old Burrie was certainly dead, and they took possession of all belonging to her. She could get nothing back from them.

Quite discouraged she lay down on the road some distance outside the city, hoping to die soon. Some kind people found her there and took her to the hospital. There she remained for many weeks. One day the nurse said, when she heard her sad story, “The Christians would have treated you kindly.” Burrie had heard a good deal about Christians; she knew that they were people who could help her. At her urgent request they let her go to the missionaries’ hospital. There she heard about the Lord Jesus who had come down from heaven to save and to bless her too. O, the peace and rest after years of seeking! She confessed the Lord as her Savior before her death.

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

ML-02/29/1920

Dear Little Bobby

Robert David McLean Wood. Born August 24, 1912. Died April 15, 1919.

WHEN little Robert came into the world, we were very proud of him, as he was our first baby: and was an exceptionally bright and bonnie babe. He weighed only six pounds, but he soon became much heavier as he just seemed to sleep and grow. I never remember his being cross when an infant, but was so good, and never made strange with anyone—always had a smile.

Like most babies, he was very fond of animals, and when about fifteen months old, he began to distinguish between the animals, and used to mimic the different sounds each made. He did not talk very much before he was two years old, but after he began he seemed to say everything as plainly as a grown up person, and he had an unusually good memory.

When he was two years and four months old, he received a box of blocks with all the letters on them. I think he knew every letter before the winter was over; learning them by playing with them, and asking the names of the letters. He was very fond of being with his father, or doing any work that men did, especially being about machinery. The last two years of his life he used an ax quite cleverly, and during the last winter of his short life, he was able to cut down a number of poplar trees, around our home in the Swan River Valley. His father told him that he might cut down dead trees, but not green ones. I used to wonder how he could tell them apart. So I said to him one day: “Are you sure you are not cutting down green trees, Bobby?” He answered: “I am sure.” So I asked him how he knew the difference between the dead trees and the living? His answer was: “When you shake a green tree it wobbles, but a dead one rattles.” I told him that was something mamma never knew before.

When dear Bobbie heard stories read from the Bible, he paid great attention; and repeated what he heard in his own Words. Nearly every morning his father asked who could tell him what had been read the previous morning. And our boy was ready to tell. The first Scripture he learned was John 3:16, and he never forgot it.

While playing with his little brothers, he would stop and ask them if they loved the Lord Jesus; and if they believed in Him: And he would repeat his precious text. He would question his parents as to whether their different relatives and friends were Christians. I never remember Bobby coming late to a meal without first asking a blessing when he took his seat. We intended sending him to school towards the end of April, and he would often talk about it. One day he said, “Maybe never go to school; perhaps the Lord will come before that time.” Another time I heard him tell his brother Gordon the same thing: and it was not long after that his Savior took him to Himself.

He was just sick a week, and we did not know that he was seriously ill, until the afternoon before he died. The door told us that there was no hope. So I asked Bobbie if he was going to leave father and mother? He said, “I think so, mamma.” I asked, too, if he would be glad to go to be with Jesus. And he said, “Yes, mamma, I’ll be glad.” He suffered terribly the last six hours. The last two hours, he could not speak; but I think he knew us, for when I would repeat his name, he would turn his eyes to me. Or if his father spoke to him, he would look towards him. Just before he “passed away” his eyes lit up with a look of amazement; and then a smile came over his face. He breathed once or then was gone to be “Forever with the Lord.”

ML-02/29/1920

Jesus, Our Friend

’Tis sweet to know we have a Friend

Whose love can ne’er decay,

Whose faithfulness can know no end,

Or ever pass away.

Whose sympathy quells every fear,

Bids every sorrow cease,

Dries up each bitter flowing tear,

And fills the soul with peace.

Jesus, the true, the faithful Friend,

No change can ever know;

He loves, and loves unto the end

Who trusts His Name below.

ML-02/29/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for January

1. “Now we know that,” etc. Romans 3:19

2. “For it is written, as,” etc. Romans 14:11

3. “Wherefore as by one,” etc. Romans 5:12

4. “For the wages of sin,” etc. Romans 6:23

5. “For your obedience is,” etc. Romans 16:19

6. “For the wrath of God,” etc. Romans 1:18

7. “Likewise reckon ye,” etc. Romans 6:11

ML-03/07/1920

Bible Questions for March

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1920, to those nor getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in 2nd Corinthians

1. Write the verse containing the words: “Be of good comfort.”

2. Write the verse containing the words: “Shined in our hearts.”

3. Write the verse containing the words: “A cheerful giver.”

4. Write the verse containing the words: “To triumph in Christ.”

5. Write the verse containing the words: “Hath also sealed us.”

6. Write the verse containing the words: “My grace is sufficient.”

7. Write the verse containing the words: “He is a new creature.”

ML-03/07/1920

The Daring Robber Converted.

SOME time ago there was a forester, named Grimez who lived in a lonely place in the thick woods of the Silesian mountains in Prussia. His family consisted of his wife and his mother, and a little daughter, seven years old. His wife and mother were Christians, but he himself was not a Christian. He didn’t believe the Bible, and used to ridicule his wife for her prayers, and what he called “her foolish trust in God.”

The time to which our story refers was a dark and stormy evening in autumn. The wind whistled mournfully through the trees of the forest. The two women and the little child sat round the fire in their house. The forester had not yet come home from the neighboring town, to which he had gone in the morning.

The family were beginning to feel very anxious about him, and they had good cause to feel so. A band of robbers had been infesting that part of the forest of late, and had made it very unsafe. This forester was the officer of the King of Prussia. His duty was to take care of the forest. After long efforts he had just succeeded in capturing all this band of robbers except their leader. He was a very cunning, strong and wicked man, and he had vowed to have his revenge on the forester and his family, for breaking up his band. The women of that lonely family knew this. No wonder that they felt very anxious as they sat round the fire that stormy evening. They could think and talk of nothing else but the dangers that surrounded them, and the absent head of their family.

At last the grandmother said it was no good to go on talking so, and giving way to their fears; and that it would be much better to seek comfort from God’s Word, and ask the protection of Him, without whose will not even a sparrow can fall to the ground.

Then the wife brought out their Bible and read aloud the 71St Psalm.

These are some of the words she read, which were wonderfully appropriate to their circumstances, “In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Be Thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort; for Thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.”

When the Psalm was finished she read an evening hymn in keeping with the Psalm. After singing this, they knelt down and prayed. They told God about their fears, and asked Him to protect them, as well as their beloved husband and father. They prayed for the poor and the sick, for all evil doers, and especially for the wicked robber in their neighborhood, that the Lord would have mercy on him, and change his heart and turn him from his evil ways.

After this their fears were gone, and they felt calm and comfortable. Then they heard the well-known footsteps of him they were looking for. They were glad to see him. He too had been feeling uneasy about them, and was pleased they were all safe.

Before going to bed he loaded his fire arms and unchained his dogs, and thought they were all safe. An hour or so passed, and all is quiet in the house, when lo, there is a desperate looking man creeping from under an old wooden bench. It is the robber they were so much afraid of. He had managed to steal in and hide, and had heard all that had been said. He had come to have his revenge by murdering the whole family. He went quietly to the table and laid down a sharp knife. The moon was shining through an opening in the window shutter, and he saw the Bible open still at the 71St Psalm. The words of that Psalm and the prayer had a wonderful effect on him, and he tried to read in the moonlight. He unfastens a shutter, took the Bible and left his knife, and cautiously got out of the window without waking the dogs.

When the forester and his family came down the next morning they saw the sharp knife on the table, the window open, and missed the Bible. The Christian wife and mother thanked God for His protection, and even the unbelieving husband could not help seeing that neither his guns nor his dogs had saved them from a cruel death. Nothing more was ever seen or heard of the robber in that neighborhood.

Sometime after there was a war and the French and Prussians were fighting against each other. Grimez, the forester was a captain in the Prussian army. There was a severe battle, and the Prussians gained the victory.

Among those who fell, on that day was the brave captain the forester.

His men thought he was killed, and left him on the field for dead, but he was only badly wounded. After his friends were gone he lay groaning in pain among the dead. A fisherman was coming cautiously up in his boat to see if his little but had been destroyed, when he heard the groans of the wounded man. He went and saw him lying in his blood. He called his companions and they carried him to their boat, rowed about two miles to the opposite shore, where there were several cottages. He was carried into one, his wounds dressed and nursed with tender care. The fisherman sent for his wife and daughter who came to nurse him, and gave them the use of his cottage and stayed with a neighbor till he got well.

As the wounded man lay upon his bed he thought of God’s goodness, how He had kept them from being killed on that memorable night, and saved him when left for dead on the battle field. He saw God’s hand in it all, was led to see and confess his sins and trust in the Savior.

When well enough to go home, he wished to pay the fisherman for all his kindness, but to their surprise he would take nothing. He said he had a great treasure of theirs which he had once taken away, and now wished to restore. He then got a Bible which the captain’s wife recognized as her long lost Bible.

The fisherman then told them he was the robber, and how the reading of the lst Psalm had saved their lives, and after taking the Book and reading it, he was saved and his wife, adding, we are living very happily here, have all we want for this world, and a sure and certain hope for the next.

“Life is found alone in Jesus,

Only there ’tis offered thee,

Without price and without money,

’Tis the gift of God sent free.”

ML-03/07/1920

Spanish Peasants

ON a hot summer’s day a family of Spanish Peasants could have been seen crossing the hills with their donkeys laden with grain, and the women bundled up with shawls as if it were cold, and when they got to the first stopping place they all got off their donkeys to get a rest, but they did not seem to think of taking the loads off the donkeys so that they might rest. God would have us mindful of our animals which He has given to us to be our burden bearers, and thus not overtax them. The one who fears God thinks of these things and remembers he has to say to God even about how he treats the dumb beasts.

The Lord Jesus was the perfect man in every respect. He was dependent upon God as His Father, and meekness and gentleness marked Him in all His ways. Such should be the character of all those who believe in Him. He was gentle, not only to people, but we may be sure He was so to all of the brute beasts as well. The Scriptures tell us. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Prov. 12:10.

What a mercy it is even for this life, to know the Lord as our Savior. It calms us down, and if we go on in company with Him, it makes us gentle and kind in all our ways.

“THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE.” Gal. 5:22, 23

This is a long verse this week but let each one learn as much of it as he can.

ML-03/07/1920

"I Beheld the Lamb of God"

A DEAR little girl in the Sunday School was converted only a few months ago, just while one of the teachers was giving a five minutes’ address at the close of the lesson, from the precious text, “Behold the Lamb of God.” I saw Nellie’s face beamed with a new joy, and asked,

“Are you saved, Nellie?”

“Yes,” she said, “six weeks ago.” “How was that?” I asked.

“I beheld the Lamb of God, dying for me upon the Cross. I believed He took my sins away by His death, and I have been peaceful and happy ever since.” So little Nellie might be. So will you if you “Behold the Lamb.”

ML-03/07/1920

The Song of a Happy Christian.

We are happy, happy Christians;

Thus we sing our daily song,

For our Savior died to save us,

That to Him we might belong.

He’s our Savior—He’s our Savior,

Shedding for us His life’s blood;

From our sins He now has cleansed us,

And has made us fit for God.

We will praise Him, we will praise Him,

For His wondrous, matchless grace,

Coming down from highest glory,

Came and took the sinner’s place.

We are hastening on to glory,

Where our Savior’s gone before;

Soon we’ll see Him—hear His welcome

To that bright and happy shore.

We are happy—we are happy—

For our Savior we shall see;

We’ll be like Him—we’ll be like Him.

Throughout all eternity!

O, the glory—! O, the glory!

That awaits His people there!

Soon we’ll hear His trumpet sounding,

Then we’ll meet Him in the air.

ML-03/07/1920

Watching

IT may be for papa or mama that the dear children are at the window, watching. Their happy faces tell how glad they will be to see their loved one come.

I wonder if each of my little readers have a loved one they are watching for? I can tell you, there is One who loves

you, and He is waiting for the time when He can come to take those who have put their trust in Him, to be with Himself. Can you tell me who that is? I think I hear someone say, It is the Lord Jesus. Yes, He is the One who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.”

Some did not want the little children to be brought to the Lord Jesus, but He let them know that He loved them, and He took them up in His arms and blessed them.

But now, another question, Do you love Him? I am sure some of my readers do, and such can be watching for the Lord to come. He has said to such, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” Matt. 25:13. We cannot say just when the Lord will come, but He has given us another word. He has said, “Behold I come quickly” (Rev. 22:7.)

O, dear reader, are you ready to go when the Lord comes, or will you be one of those who will be left behind? The only way to be ready is to accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and then you will be one of His, and when He comes He will take you. If you are His, are you watching for Him to come?

"WHAT I SAY UNTO YOU, I SAY UNTO ALL, WATCH” Mark 13:37

ML-03/14/1920

Little Wong's Victory

AS you surely know, China is not a Christian country.

But very few of the millions of inhabitants know the true God. They worship idols and are full of fear and superstition. Such is the condition of the country in which little Wong was born.

There are missionaries in that great country who bring there the Gospel message and tell of the love of Jesus. As little Wong had gone to a school that was managed by these missionaries, he learned to believe in Jesus and to love Him. He learned well at school, and his little heart was drawn more and more to the Savior, Who loves the little yellow children, just as well as the white ones. At school he learned to sing songs about salvation, and thenceforth one could hear him singing wherever he went, of God and His love.

On a certain day Wong and another converted boy walked along the street singing with all their hearts. Their song attracted the attention of an old cobbler, who came out of his workshop and stood at the door listening.

When another time they were passing, he called the boys in and requested them to sing for him; and slowly he began to believe in the truth, which was the theme of their songs. The result of the change in the old cobbler was, that he longed for others to know about the Lord Jesus and His salvation.

With this intention he invited one evening some of his neighbors to come to his house to hear the boys sing. Many accepted and the interest aroused was so great, that they came again and again for the same purpose. After some time someone was sent to that part of the city to tell the people more of the Savior and His salvation; and from the efforts of the two little boys, resulted in this way a glorious work of salvation.

Some time later little Wong was in a small boat at a dangerous spot in a swiftly flowing river. Not far from this place there was a stone idol. Four men who were in the same boat, began speaking of the help that this idol was to people in shipwrecks.

“Yes,” said one of them to little Wong; “if anyone is in danger on the river, he has only to look at the image and he will not be drowned.”

Wong knew very well, that if he contradicted the men, they would be very angry; but he could not let the opportunity pass for witnessing to the truth in which he himself believed. For this reason he said bravely: “That stone image can’t help anyone. Only the Lord can save people.”

This speech roused up a real storm of bitterness amongst the men. They all began to contradict him loudly, trying to convince him that they were right and he was wrong.

But of course that was in vain. At last they were so angry, that they decided to force Wong to kneel down before the image.

Wong declared that he could not do it, because his Bible taught him that one should worship God alone.

Then they seized him by his long braid of hair, and knocked his head against the sides of the boat until the blood burst forth from different wounds. But he did not yield.

“You can torture me, and tie up my body;” said he; “but in my soul I will be all right and unbound.”

Was that not a good and brave speech from this Chinese boy?

Then those wicked men cried out; “If you don’t worship our God, we’ll drown you.”

“I will not worship him,” said Wong. “Every time that you call on the name of your god, I will call on the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Then they let him fall in the water; he sank while they rowed to land and left him to drown, but a few of his friends had seen the occurrence from a distance. They watched for the moment of his rising to the surface and succeeding in seizing him, they drew him to dry ground. The unconscious boy was laid on the shore, and his friends did all in their power to restore him. At last he opened his eyes, but he did not know where he was, or who was beside him. He thought that he was still in the power of the bad men, and whispered softly “You say, idol; but I say, Lord Jesus.”

How glad he was, when he began to understand that he was with friends, who also knew the Savior and loved Him.

This is all that we know of Wong. He did not die, but recovered, and remained faithful to his Savior.

The future still lies before him; who knows but he may have a large share in bringing the gospel to his countrymen! May the Lord bless the brave, little Wong!

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

ML-03/14/1920

Danger

LITTLE Lillie was not four years old, and did not know the danger she was in.

Roaming by the side of a pit she saw some wild flowers growing on the edge. While gathering them she fell over. The door was fetched, and found poor little Lillie unconscious, but still grasping the flowers in her tiny hand. The doctor took her in his carriage to the hospital, where, I am sorry to say, she died the next day.

We would have liked to warn this little girl if we had seen her in such danger. With this true incident, let me warn you, dear little reader, of a still greater danger you are in. The Bible tells us that we have ah gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, just like sheep. Now sheep need a shepherd, for they are in danger of wandering, and being lost. And you need a Savior to save you, as well as a shepherd to guide you. How blessed to know that Jesus says, “I am the good Shepherd,” and that He came to save that which was lost. He said also, “I am the way.” Without Jesus you are in the greatest danger for your soul. Be warned in time, ask Jesus to lead you in the way everlasting, and He will do so.

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

ML-03/14/1920

A Parable

MY DEAR, I am so tired of Sunday,” said little Willie, a playful hoy of ten years old, who was longing for Monday to come, that he might play with his toys.

“Who wants to hear a story?” said his uncle James, who was sitting by reading, “I do,” said Willie, and so said his brother and sisters, and they all gathered round their uncle.

He said, “Our Savior, when He was on earth, used parables, and so now I want to tell you a parable. It is about a kind man and his apple tree.

The apples were hanging on this tree quite ripe and looking very beautiful. A poor man, as he was passing along the road, stopped to look at this tree, and to admire the beautiful apples that hung on it. He counted the ripe golden pippins and found there were just seven of them. While he was looking at them, the owner came out. He was a kindhearted man, and loved to make people happy. ‘My friend,’ he said, ‘I’ll give you some of these apples.’

“Thank you, sir,” said the poor man. Six of the apples were put in his hands. The owner only left one for himself.

“Now don’t you think that poor man ought to have been very grateful for the kindness shown to him? Certainly he should. But he was not. He wanted to have the seven apples all to himself. And at last he made up his mind that he would go back and steal the other apple.”

“And did he do that?” asked Willie, indignantly. “The mean fellow! he ought to have been ashamed of himself. I hope he got well punished for stealing that apple.”

“How many days are there in the week, Willie?” asked his uncle.

“Seven,” said Willie, blushing deeply; for now; he began to see the meaning of the parable and it made him feel very uncomfortable. And well he might feel so, as also some of our readers. For when God has given us six days out of the seven in each week for our own purposes, and only keeps one for Himself, isn’t it mean and wicked in the highest degree for us to rob Him of that one day?

ML-03/14/1920

I Want to Be a Sinner

HELMA, age 4, had just returned from Sunday school when she amazed her aunt by asking:

“Auntie, am I a sinner?” “Why, no,” said auntie. “I guess—I hope not!”

“Well, I want to be a sinner,” persisted Thelma, soberly.

“O, no you don’t,” protested auntie.

“Yes, I do,” insisted the little miss, determinedly. “Cause the preacher said, Jesus died to save sinners, an’ I doesn’t want to be lost!”

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

ML-03/14/1920

Why Jesus Came.

He left the throne above.

That throne of holy light,

And came in perfect love

Down to this scene of night;

He veiled His glory, hid His fame,

In perfect, lowly grace He came.

He came, the Father’s Son,

To do the Father’s will;

The holy spotless One,

God’s counsels to fulfill;

In perfect, lowly grace He came,

Revealer of the Father’s name.

He came, God’s only Son,

His glory to retrieve;

He came to bear the sins

Of all who should believe;

Obedient unto death, He came,

God’s love and mercy to proclaim.

He came to save the lost,

To break the captive’s chain,

His precious blood the cost

Of our eternal gain,

That we might share His blessed place

As sons before the Father’s face.

He came to lift the curse

From the creation wide;

He came in matchless grace

To win His heavenly bride;

To carry out redemption’s plan

That God might dwell indeed with man.

ML-03/14/1920

Feeding Time.

HOW readily the chickens come to get their food. They know the one who feeds them, and the moment they see her coming, they all run to her. We do not wonder at that; indeed, if they did not, we would have good reason to think they were sick, or afraid of the one who was bringing their food.

God, He has made us, and all things, has given us food to eat, and we know we could not make the food ourselves; we are therefore dependent upon Him for all things, but I wonder if we, each one, are thankful to Him, and receive all as coming from His hand? How many there are who sit down to their meals, and never even think of giving God thanks.

They act like the brute beasts who know not God. The Word of God says, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD” Matt. 4:4

God therefore has given us His Word as food for our souls, and I ask you, dear reader, Do you delight to read the Word of God? Have you taken it with thanksgiving, or do you run away from it? The state of the soul is soon manifested when that test is brought. If one is going on with God, he will desire more and more to be over God’s Word, but if not, there will be little or no desire for it, and he will sooner or later, do something that will bring dishonor on the Lord’s name.

May you seek to say with the Psalmist, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Ps. 119:11.

ML-03/21/1920

May and Fanny

NO one in this world can be good until Jesus makes them so. Sometimes we hear parents, teachers and ministers, when talking to children, tell them, “Jesus won’t love them unless they are good; that Jesus only loves good children.”

This is all wrong. It is not what the Bible teaches us. We read in the Bible that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” not good people. Jesus said Himself, while He was on earth, “I came not to call the righteous,” that is those who thought they were good, “but sinners to repentance.”

He said again, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” He didn’t say, I won’t cast him out if he is good—but I won’t cast him out how-ever bad he may be; though his sins be as scarlet, and though they be red as crimson, I won’t cast him out. Paul said that he was the “chief of sinners,” and yet as soon as he came to Jesus he was pardoned, and saved. Paul did not try to make himself good and then come to Jesus, but he came to Jesus while he was the “chief of sinners,” that He might make him good. We cannot make ourselves good. No one else can make us good. Jesus alone can do this for us.

He blesses men and women and children, whose hearts are full of sin, by taking away their sins, and enabling them to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in their lives,—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and thus shine for Him, and be such a blessing to others.

A little girl, whose name was May Davis came bounding into her father’s library one day. She put her arms round his neck and said, “My dear papa, I am so glad that I am your little girl. For today I walked home with Fanny Vale, to see her little kitten; and Mr. Vale was so cross to Fanny, he scolded her for being so late, when indeed she couldn’t help it, and said it was a shame for a girl ten years old to play with a cat. I know I’m often very naughty papa, but I would be ten times worse if Mr. Vale were my father. O I’m so glad that I am your little girl.”

“How did Fanny behave,” asked Mr. Davis, as he kissed his little daughter. “Did she answer back?”

“No indeed,” said May. “Fanny behaved beautifully, a thousand times better than I should have done. She told her father she was very sorry to be so late, and then putting down the pretty little kitten, she asked if there was anything she could do for him. I don’t see how she could be so good, do you papa?” “Yes, my dear,” said Mr. Davis, “for I know whose little girl Fanny is, and I only wish my little girl was a child of the same Father.”

“Indeed I wouldn’t like to have her father for mine,” said May, “and I don’t see why you should wish such a thing either.”

“About a year ago, Fanny trusted in Jesus, and now she is God’s little girl; and that is what I mean,” said Mr. Davis.

“God’s little girl?” said May thoughtfully; “and does He keep her from being naughty, and is that why she is always so happy?”

“Yes, darling; that is it,” said Mr. Davis.

“Then papa,” whispered May, leaning her head on his shoulder, “I wish—I wish that I was God’s little girl, too.”

“He would love to have you for His child,” replied her father.

“But I don’t know how,” said May, looking up sadly, “and besides I am not half good enough to be God’s little girl.”

“Jesus says, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me,’” said her father; “He does not say suffer good little children, but all children, no matter how naughty, if you only trust Him He will enable my little daughter to love Him.”

“But is Fanny really God’s little girl?” asked May. “Why, she loves to laugh and play just like other children, and always seems so merry.

Now I thought that when little girls became so very religious, they always looked grave, and didn’t care to play as I do. I knew they would be happier when they came to die, but I never thought they would be happier now.”

“My dear May, do you remember the time last summer when you were lost in the woods?” asked her father.

“Yes, indeed,” said the child, “I never can forget that day, nor how I cried till you found me.”

“Well, my dear, did you enjoy the beautiful flowers, and the birds that sang so sweetly in the trees, better when you were lost, and wandering all alone, or when I had found you, and we were walking home together hand in hand?”

“O, after you found me, to be sure,” said May, “for then I felt so safe and happy that the flowers and birds seemed a thousand times more beautiful than ever before.”

“And just so it is with Fanny,” said Mr. Davis, “once she was lost and wandering far away from the path which leads to heaven; but now she has an Almighty Father, who is keeping her from harm, and guiding her home to heaven. Would you expect such a little girl to be always grave and sad?”

“No, indeed, I should expect her to be just like Fanny—very happy. And, papa, I mean to ask God, before I go to sleep, if He won’t make me His little girl, for Jesus, sake. It will make me so happy to know that I belong to Him.”

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:26.

ML-03/21/1920

True Riches

“RICH? yes, I’d like to be rich,” answered Claude to his friend’s question, “as rich as Vanderbilt who died worth ever so many millions, and who must have been the happiest man out, I think.”

Not so fast, Claude, thought I, as I listened to the boy. Riches, after all, do not make people happy, unless the blessing of the Lord takes all the sting of sorrow out of them.

I daresay among other millionaires’ names you know that of Mr. Astor, of New York. He was at one time considered the richest man in the country, worth many millions of dollars.

One day a friend in conversation alluded to his great wealth, and said to him, “Does it make you happy?”

“Happy? Ah, no,” said Mr. Astor, while a melancholy expression passed over his face, “I must leave my money behind me when I die—It won’t take away trouble—it won’t buy off sickness—it won’t buy off death. No, no, my money does not make me happy.” And it did not save him from being drowned, going down in the Titanic, with $2,000 they found in his pocket when his body was found.

A startling answer to a plain question, was it not? So thought Mr. Astor’s friend.

Three months after this, the same gentleman called to see a poor old woman.. She was lame, and she lived in one small room, up several stairs, earning her ling by knitting socks, comforters, and mittens. The gentleman put the same question to her that he had asked Astor.

“Margaret, are you happy?”

“Yes, very,” she answered, and the sudden brightening of her face made her words sound doubly true, “I am just as full of happiness as I can be—I don’t believe I could hold another drop.”

“But how can that be?” said the gentleman. “You are not very strong, sometimes sick, and earn very little— surely it would make you happier to be rich.”

“No, no,” she said, “you forget the sweet promises in God’s blessed Book have the blessing of the Lord and it maketh rich. I have Christ, and Christ is God’s—all things are mine.”

Praise the Lord for such a testimony.

Ah, yes, Margaret had learned life’s best and grandest secret. Riches, honor, glory, power, without Jesus cannot satisfy the hungry human soul, but anything with Jesus is everything.

ML-03/21/1920

"I Do Not Love God"

We young men were riding together, both fair, blue-eyed and strong, but how different the expression on — each face—one peaceful and calm; the other restless and reckless. They had been talking about books, and, as they were about to separate, John said to his cousin, “Frank, do you ever read your Bible?”

“Sometimes, but not often; I get no benefit from it because, to tell the truth, I feel I do not love God.”

John replied, “Neither did I, but I found out that God loved me.”

Slowly and thoughtfully Frank rode home, carrying a little slip of paper on which a reference is written, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In his own room he read it, and the entrance of that Word gave light, and rest, and joy, and peace.

This same blessed Gospel message comes to you today. Will you not let its living streams flow into your soul till, like a well-tuned harp, every chord in your being will vibrate with praise to the great Savior for so great a salvation?

ML-03/21/1920

Christ Loved Poor Sinners, and He Loves Them Still

What power constraining could have moved His breast,

What other thought than this His heart possessed,

To come from glory, here to do God’s will—

He loved poor sinners, and he loves them still.

He could from earth have passed into the sky;

Not for Himself ‘twas needful He should die;

But for ourselves He bled on Calvary’s hill—

He loved poor sinners, and He loves them still.

The grave could not detain Him—He arose!

And vanquished death and all the sinner’s foes,

Delighting thus heaven’s councils to fulfill—

He loved poor sinners, and He loves them still.

He sits in glory, for His work is done;

For sinners, He eternal life has won;

O let the tidings every bosom thrill—

Christ loved poor sinners, and He loves them still!

ML-03/21/1920

Little Cecil, and His Bible

A LITTLE boy with golden-curls, and earnest gray eyes, lay full length on the floor, one arm over a favorite dog, the other resting on a large book opened before him, and which he was intently reading.

Now and again a little sigh escaped his lips, but beyond that, nothing broke the stillness that reigned over everything.

Presently he closed the book, he laid it beside him on the floor, and remained lost in thought.

The door opened softly, and a tall fine-looking young man entered the room. Catching sight of the little figure curled up on the floor, he advanced towards the child.

“Cecil,” he said, “I can’t have you hiding yourself away like this, I have been searching for you everywhere. What! more fairy tales!” he continued, glancing carelessly at the volume on the floor. “So much reading is not good for you, my boy.”

The child arose, and ran into the arms extended to him; but the look of wistful sadness still lingered on his small white face.

“Father,” he said, putting his arms round the young man’s neck, and resting his golden head against the broad shoulder, “Are they fairy tales, or true stories, in that big book?”

“What is the book, my boy?” asked the father, stooping down and taking up the heavy volume. “Why, Cecil,” he continued, turning over the pages, while a dark frown crossed his handsome face, “It is a it is a Bible. What are you doing with this book? There is nothing in it to interest a little boy like you.” And without another word, he arose and put it back upon the shelf, from whence it had been taken.

But Cecil was not to be silenced. “It is about a Man,” he continued, “who was beaten and spit upon, and thorns put on His head, and hanged on a cross!”

“Well, Cecil, what of that?” replied the father, not knowing exactly what answer to make, and turning his eyes uneasily away from the earnest pleading ones of his little son.

“Well, I want to know if it is true, and why they hanged Him on the cross? Was He a very wicked man?”

For a moment the father did not reply, a feeling of restlessness stole over him at these strange questions. It was a subject he had never allowed his mind to dwell upon, and one which filled him with hard, rebellious thoughts.

Well he knew the story of a Savior’s love; well he knew that Christ had suffered for a guilty world, for often had his gentle wife (whom God had taken to Himself) spoken of the Savior, who was all in all to her.

Alas! like many others, Cecil’s father had never found out that, he was a sinner before God. He was moral, respectable, upright in all his ways towards men, but he was sadly ignorant of God. He never thought that He was holy, righteous, and taking account of man as a sinner. If he thought of God at all, it was to judge Him as a hard master. A heavy, crushing blow had fallen upon him, in the early death of his beloved, almost idolized, wife; and, without definitely knowing why, he attributed his lifelong calamity to, at least, a want of love on the part of God. He saw nothing beyond his own selfish sorrow.

No, to his ignorant, rebellious heart, God was not a God of love; but one who had robbed him of all that he held dearest in the world leaving nothing in its place but darkness, upon which the light would never more shine. With a dark frown upon his brow, he put the boy down.

“No! it is not true, Cecil,” he said slowly. “Now run away and play, and don’t ask any more foolish questions.”

This was easily, thoughtlessly, said. In spite of apparent calmness, it left a sting in a conscience that was all at rest. But little did that father think what a second bitter sorrow lay in his path. A few weeks more and that sorrow burst upon him like a terrible thunderstorm on a summer’s day. The blinds were down, and the curtains were drawn to keep out the faintest ray of light that might stray in. A silence as of death reigned in the room only broken now and again by the sound of restless, troubled moans. Upon a little bed, with burning cheeks and un-naturally brilliant eyes, lay little Cecil.

“O! the drops of blood! I see them on His forehead! O! father, father, why did they kill Him?” sighed the little sufferer.

“A story he was reading just before he was taken sick,” explained his father, who was standing beside the bed, in answer to the doctor’s questioning look.

“Well! well! keep him quiet,” said the grave, matter-of-fact doctor, taking up his hat to leave the room, “I shall call in again this afternoon.”

As soon as the door had closed behind the physician, the young man seated himself by his little boy and watched the varying expressions on the small, sad face, until the burning eyes closed, and a deep heavy sleep fell on the, boy.

Who can know the thoughts that came crowding into the father’s mind, as he sat there. With overwhelming shame he recalled the lie he had told his little son. But this was only the starting point—one of those apparently little things God graciously uses in bringing poor lost souls to know their real condition before Him. For the first time in his life, he was conscious of the guilt of a positive sin against God. It grew deeper and darker.

But did that sin stand alone?

While that child lay there, as he thought on the brink of eternity as never before, his whole life passed before him; and now God seemed to have a connection with every thought, word, and action of that life. But it was a condemning connection. He became clearly, painfully conscious that he had left God out of every one of those thoughts, words, and actions. He found himself in a place of light where he had never been before, and he was alarmed to find that all in his life, which before he had thought so well of, now looked so different. A crushing sense of having lived for his own pleasure, and of having completely not only forgotten God, but in his heart despised Him, overwhelmed his soul. He knew now, and for the first time, that he was a sinner before God. He was learning that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. But that light condemned him, and he was willing to be condemned. Still, ignorant of the kindness of God, he regarded, and accepted this present trial, as a punishment from God, for his sin and folly.

“O God I have sinned against Thee,” he murmured, in an agony of remorse and repentance. “And wilt Thou take this one as Thou didst the other?”

But no; God’s ways are not as man’s ways! In an hour’s time little Cecil awoke. The fever had left his cheeks, and his eyes once more assumed their natural look. With a heart filled with thankfulness, his father bent over him, and placed the little head on his shoulder. The reality of his repentance became manifest at once. He could not delay an instant to undeceive the boy.

“Cecil,” he said very gently, “I think that story you were reading in the library, has been troubling you all these weeks. It was no fairy tale, my dear boy!”

The child looked up eagerly. O! strange that the sweet, old, old story of the cross, with its depths of infinite love and compassion, should have so laid hold of this lonely little boy, shut up in the gloomy old mansion, far away among the mountains!

“Who was it, father?” he asked.

“It was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Cecil,” answered the anxious, brokenhearted father.

What a world of meaning he had never seen before, now shone in those words, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God!” If He is the Son of God, then He must be the gift of God, and if the gift of God to a ruined, guilty world, then there must be mercy with God, pity, and love to the poor sinner. Was Christ the expression of that love? The whole story of the cross, the Just suffering for the unjust; Christ, the Lamb of God, the sinner’s substitute, bearing the judgment of God; these and a thousand wonderful thoughts came like a flood of blessing through the father’s soul. His heart believed, and his mouth had confessed; salvation was his.

“Jesus Christ!” echoed the hoy dreamily, while his thoughts wandered back through the dim vista of the past. How familiar that name sounded to him. How often it had sounded in his baby ears, murmured by the lips of the one who was now in the presence of her Lord she loved so well.

“Why did they kill Him? he asked.

“O Cecil!” replied his father, clasping the boy in his arms and burying his face in the golden curls, “He died for you and me, and for all, that we might be saved, that we might live with Him.” And there in that darkened room, into which the grim presence of death had so nearly entered, the father told his boy the old sweet story of Jesus and His love, the telling of which brought light and joy into his own heart, that had been growing harder and harder each day. O how precious that moth-eaten volume, that had lain so long unused, became to both father and son.

Each day they learned to know more and more of the great love of Him who left the Father’s home to tread this weary world, and who died, that we who believe in His precious blood might live.

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

ML-03/28/1920

The Sailor Boy

A SAILOR boy, whose captain was a terrible swearer, was shocked at his blasphemy and defiance of God. One day he walked up to the captain, and courteously touching his cap remarked, “Captain, God is the answerer of prayer. If He answers yon prayer of yours, where will we all be?”

The captain said the words fastened upon his conscience with irresistible power and made him tremble before God. He was deeply convicted of sin, and was soon after converted to God. This was James Haldane.

Through his instrumentality, his brother Robert, who was at that time an infidel, was brought to Jesus, and the two brothers, James and Robert, became two of God’s most honored servants of their time, and were used in winning many souls for Christ.

The Highland sailor boy who had learned at his mother’s knee the story of a Savior’s love, and whose young heart had been early won for Him, was not afraid, amid that scoffing crew of godless sailors, to own Jesus as his Lord, and to speak the faithful word to his ungodly captain, that God was pleased to use to his awakening.

Reader, if you know the Lord yourself: if you are converted to God, do you bear a true and fearless witness for His name, or do you stand and hear that name blasphemed, and His truth dishonored, without saying a single word?

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” Exo. 20:7.

ML-03/28/1920

Whosoever Will!

Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye,

To the living waters free,

Come, drink, for God Himself invites you;

“Whosoever will,” saith He.

With tender love and wondrous mercy,

In the world He’s calling, Come,

Through Christ He’ll welcome you so gladly

To His grace, His heart, His home.

“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

“JESUS STOOD AND CRIED, SAYING, IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME: AND DRINK” John 7:37

ML-03/28/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for February

1. “But now hath God,” etc. l Cor. 12:18

2. “And God hath both,” etc. l Cor. 6:14.

3. “Who shall also,” etc. l Cor. 1:8.

4. “And when He had,” etc. l Cor. 11:24,

5. “But thanks be to,” etc. l Cor. 15:57.

6. “Moreover, brethren,” etc. l Cor. 15:1.

7. “But as it is written,” etc. l Cor. 2:9.

ML-04/04/1920

Bible Questions for April

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1920, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plain written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40, Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in Gal., Eph., Phil. And Col.

Write the verse containing the words: “Christ” “Our life”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Christ liveth in me”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Everything by prayer”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Living thanks always”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Let us not be weary”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Ye might walk worthy”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Taking the shield of faith”.

ML-04/04/1920

The Three Boy Kings of Judah

THREE of the kings of Judah were crowned when they were boys. I want to tell you a little about each one of them.

Joash was the first of these boy-kings. He was the youngest son of the wicked King Ahaziah. And I am very sorry to say that the grandmother of Joash was even more-wicked than his father Ahaziah. Her name was Athaliah; she was the daughter of the wicked Jezebel; and she is called in the Word of God, “Athaliah, that wicked woman.” (2 Chron. 24:7.) And so bent upon wickedness was Athaliah, that even after her husband, King Jehoram, died, she led her son, King Ahaziah, into sin until he died. Still she went on from bad to worse. When her son died, she made up her mind to reign herself; and, for this purpose she cruelly murdered all she could find of the “seed royal of the house of Judah.” that is, all who would claim any title to the crown.

Poor little Joash! He was scarcely twelve months old yet his own grandmother would have killed him young as he was, if it had not been for the faithfulness and kindness of his aunt Jehosheba. This brave and good woman dared to hide little Joash and his nurse in a bedchamber. And thus, by the grace of God, the life of the little boy was preserved, whose right it then was to be the king over Judah. Now Jehosheba was the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest, and little Joash was with them hid in the house of the Lord six years.

All this while the wicked Athaliah reigned as queen over Judah. But when Joash was seven years old, the good and vise Jehoiada told some of the great men of Judah, whom he could trust, that little Joash was still alive. Then these men went about in Judah and gathered the people together. And when the people were assembled, Jehoiada told them about Joash, and they all agreed to crown little Joash as their king. Great and brave men stood in the temple, all around the little boy, with their weapons in their hands, ready to defend him if the wicked Athaliah came and tried to kill him. Then, when they were all ready Jehoiada brought forth the crown and put it on the head of Joash and anointed him in the presence of all the people. The people were so glad that they clapped their hands, and shouted, “God save the king.”

Athaliah heard the shouting, and she came to see what it meant; and when she saw her little grandson, standing in the temple where the kings were accustomed to stand, and that he had the crown upon his head, she cried, “Treason, Treason!” But the people were tired of having her as their queen; they would not let her kill Joash, but she was killed instead.

Then Joash reigned in peace over Judah. As long as Jehoiada lived, King Joash “did that which was right in the of the Lord?” and Toash was very zealous to have the house of the Lord repaired.

But there is one thing, dear young reader, that Joash did not do. He did not seek the Lord with all his heart. After Jehoiada died, a time of temptation came. Wicked men enticed Joash, and he gave heed to them, and they led him into sin. So that the good boy-king Joash, became the wicked man-king Joash.

Well does the Word of God say, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Had Joash in his youth, “sought the Lord,” the Lord would have established him, and kept him from evil.

“The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.” 2 Thess. 3:3.

The Lord sent prophets to Joash, and to his people, but they would not listen. Then, last of all, the cousin of Joash, Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, spoke to Joash, and to all the people, by the Word of the Lord; and he told them, that as they had forsaken the Lord, He also had forsaken them. But Joash would not listen, and he set the people on to stone his own cousin to death, in the court of the house of the Lord. King Joash came to a bad end.

Dear reader, if you seek the Lord, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off Forever. O, do not forsake Him as Joash did!

(To be Continued.)

ML-04/04/1920

A Serious Question

SOMETHING seems to have happened which troubles the boy who sits in the doorway, so that he seems sober, thoughtful, and perhaps a little cast down. The other two boys show in their faces a kindly interest and sympathy with him. For the time, their work is suspended, while all their thoughts are engaged with the question under consideration.

Even boys usually so full of life and fun—sometimes have their troubles, and become serious and thoughtful. This is well, for we are in a world full of evil and trouble. Sin has entered into the world, and has ruined the whole human race. Through sin all are lost and utterly ruined; and this raises a far more serious and important question than that which occupies these boys. It is a question, too, which is raised in the Word of God. You will find it in Acts 16:30. It was asked by a man who suddenly realized that he was lost, and knew not what to do. The question was this: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Have you ever asked this question? You have perhaps stopped to consider a great many little questions which have come up in your life, like the boys in our picture. But there is a question of infinitely greater importance than all other questions put, together. Have you ever taken time to think of it even for an hour?

As you have lain down in your bed at night, you have perhaps thought df the sins you have committed through the day, —how you got angry with your little brother or sister, or playmate, or perhaps with your own dear mother, and perhaps you did other bad things which God hates and must punish. As you have thought of these things, have you ever seriously, soberly, and in the light of eternity, asked. “What must I do to be saved?” O if you have not, stop now, I beseech you, and think of it.

Would you like to know the answer to this question? You will find it in the next verse. It is this: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” O! how simple. Why should you, then, remain unsaved for a single hour? Come with all your sins and guilt to Jesus. Believe on Him now, and be saved.

“GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.” John 3:17.

ML-04/04/1920

"Those Who Enter There, Must Have Clean Feet"

SOME time ago I read about a little girl of twelve years of age, who was very ill. The doctor had given up all hope, and she, although so young, felt that her end was near. On a certain day she asked her father to read a little for her out of the Bible. On his asking her what he should read, she answered: “Read me the chapter about the new Jerusalem.”

The father read the well-known part of Revelation 21, although he thought that his little daughter would not understand it. She listened quietly, and when he read the last verse where it says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything which defileth,” she said, “O father! What clean feet they must have, who enter there.”

If she had, or had received, clean feet, I do not know, but what a solemn truth is contained in these words. Nothing unclean can enter there, but is cast into the lake of fire.

Happy they, who are washed in the blood of Christ. His blood cleanses from all sin. Some years ago a certain professor L....of Geneva died. You all know the city of that name on the beautiful Lake of Geneva. The great reformer Calvin worked, and also died there.

This professor was taken down with a serious sickness, that in a few days made him as weak as a little child. His mind however remained clear. Again and again they heard him say: “The blood cleanses, the precious blood of Christ covers everything, everything!”

Children, do you know if you have been cleansed by that blood? You know the hymn,

“There is a stream of precious blood

Which flowed from Jesus’ veins;

And sinners washed in that blest flood

Lose all their guilty stains.”

ML-04/04/1920

Three Steps

I READ of a poor boy who was rather looked down upon for his simplicity. His friends did not know that he possessed true wisdom. One day a friend wished to find out if he had any idea of the way to be saved, so he said to the boy: “It is hard work to get to heaven, is it not?”

“No, it is easy,” the poor boy replied, “there are only three steps: the first, out of self; the second, into Christ; the third, into heaven!”

ML-04/04/1920

Christ Is Coming

Christ is coming, O be ready;

Let not slumber dull your eyes;

Do not say, “My Lord delayeth;”

He is coming, O be wise!

Some with empty lamps will hasten,

Seeking oil for them to buy;

But alas! they’ll never enter;

Vain for them has been the cry.

Such, with hearts of anguish burning,

When they find the door is shut,

Will, in terror, cry, “Lord open;”

He will say, “I know you not.”

Then be ready, O be ready;

Heed the cry while yet you may;

With lamps trimmed and burning brightly,

Wait that coming, blessed day.

ML-04/04/1920

Peace

HOW peaceful is the scene before us, with the cattle standing quietly, knee-deep in the river, lashing the flies away with their long tails, and cropping the ends of the over-hanging boughs. The sheep lie in the shadow of the elm trees and the shepherd boy seems to have covered up his face with his hat, perhaps to keep the flies off while he may try to sleep. However peaceful all around may seem, it is possible that the boy may not have much peace in his heart. If he thinks about his sins and having to meet God, it might fill him with fear, but if he only knows that he can have all his sins put away through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, he may have peace in his heart. Do you have peace in your heart? Can you say you have peace with God? All that is asked of us in order to have this peace, is to have faith in Christ. Do you ask, What is faith? Faith is believing what God has said without seeing or feeling. The Scripture says, “THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Rom. 6:1.

ML-04/11/1920

The Three Boy-Kings of Judah

(Continued From Page 197.)

Manasseh, the second boy-king, was twelve years old when he began to reign. He was the son of the good king Hezekiah. But little Manasseh grew up to be so wicked a man, that he did worse than the heathen.

He built altars for Baal, etc.—he profaned the temple of the Lord by setting up a graven image in it—he made his son to pass through the fire—he used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit—and he shed very much innocent blood. O! those were awful days! too dreadful to dwell upon, and to think that he was a son of the godly Hezekiah, and grew up to be such a monster of wickedness. Perhaps little Manasseh often sat upon his father’s knee, while his father told him, about the works of the Lord. No doubt, Psa. 44:1 was true of him.

“We have heard with our ears, O God our fathers have told us, what works Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.”

Could Hezekiah then have foreseen how wicked his beloved son would grow up, would it not have brought down Hezekiah’s gray hairs with sorrow to the grave?

Perhaps little Manasseh in those days did what many boys and girls are now doing. I do hope that not one of my readers are among the number of those who make up their minds to seek the Lord someday: but they do not seek Him now.

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

Well, the Lord became very angry with Manasseh, and the Assyrians came up, and they carried Manasseh away, a captive in chains, to Babylon. Then, when Manasseh was afflicted, he repented.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:7.

Manasseh forsook his wicked way; he did indeed “return unto the Lord;” and the Lord had mercy upon him. Then did Manasseh serve the Lord; but alas, he could not undo all the evil he had done. (2 Kings 24:3, 4.)

How sorry he must have been as he thought of his past life! Dear young reader, I beseech you, take warning. Had Manasseh sought the Lord when he was a boy, how much good he might have done before he became a man. We never can make up for lost time.

(To be Continued.)

ML-04/11/1920

Charlie's Ward

THREE little girls went out to spend their Saturday holiday together in the country.

Tripping along the road busily engaged conversing about their dolls, their games and their school, they did not observe a bull coming along towards them, tossing his head up with two, great horns, as if he meant mischief. Suddenly the three girls were startled by a loud roar, and looking in the direction from which it came, they saw the infuriated animal rushing towards them. A loud cry arose, then the three frightened children were seen running along toward the town, with the bull in full chase behind them. Very soon he would have overtaken them, and what the consequences might have been, is terrible to think. A farmer’s boy working in an adjoining field, had his attention attracted by the loud scream from the road, and seeing the mad animal rushing along, he was sure someone was in danger. So throwing his hoe down on the field, he ran toward the road, and just reached it in time to get between the bull and the three children. For a moment he hesitated, then seizing a stick which he found on the road, he raised it above his head, and for a moment the mad animal was arrested, but putting his head down, he made a rush at Charlie, the farm-boy, crushing him against the wall, and piercing one of his legs with his sharp horns. Poor Charlie lay there for over an hour, his leg bleeding and his arm sorely bruised, unable to rise. When the three girls reached home, they told what had happened, and the father of one having heard the story, set off along the road to see if the boy had been injured. He found Charlie as described, and without delay had him conveyed to the farm, where his wounds were attended to. But the doctor said it would be necessary to go to the hospital, as the wounds would take long to heal, and Charlie, who was an orphan, had no one to attend to him. So he was driven there in a cab, and next day the three little girls were allowed into the ward, to see the lad who had delivered them from the wild bull at such a cost to himself. For many weeks Charlie lay there, and was visited twice a week by at least one of the little girls, for whom he had suffered. One afternoon, Nellie, the youngest of the three, was accompanied by her father to Charlie’s ward. She was a sweet little singer, and in her simplicity, thinking Charlie would like to hear a hymn, she struck up—“Jesus loves me.”

Charlie listened with great interest, and several of the patients in the ward sat up to catch the words of the little singer. Anything of that kind was so unusual, that before Nellie had finished the hymn, most of the nurses had crept into the ward, and stood listening. When Nellie’s hymn was ended, she was astonished to find so many listeners. All were delighted and asked her to come again, so for many weeks Nellie and her two companions visited Charlie’s ward, and sang to him and the other patients, the “old, old story,” and Nellie’s father read the Word and spoke of Jesus who is Mighty to save.

There were some there who had possibly never heard the Gospel in its simplicity before; at any rate they had not believed it, but God used the little singers as His messengers to carry the wonderful words of life to weary hearts there. Before Charlie left the ward, he had trusted Jesus and known His saving power, and three or four in Charlie’s ward were made happy in the knowledge of salvation.

For many weeks and months that hospital ward was the scene of God’s saving power, patients, nurses, and visitors all being converted there. Nellie, now a tall young woman, delights to pay her weekly visit to “Charlie’s ward,” as they still call it, although Charlie is no longer a sufferer there, but a herald of salvation.

ML-04/11/1920

Faith

AN English missionary was in Central Africa, preaching the Gospel to the black, people there. He found it very hard to make them understand the meaning of faith. He said to them, “Listen now to what I am going to tell you.” Pointing to some water, he said: “You see that water?”

“Yes,” they answered,

“Well, you never saw that get hard, did you?”

“O! no,” they answered, looking at him with astonishment at such a thought, for in Central Africa the water never freezes.

“Now,” he said, “if you believe me, in the country I come from the water sometimes gets so hard that I can stand on the top of it.”

Upon hearing this, one whispered to another, “Massa’s telling lies.” The missionary overheard this, and he remembered it.

After a time he returned to England, and one of those who listened to him went with him. When they reached England, the winter came, and one clear, frosty morning the missionary took Sambo out for a walk. The ponds and rivers were completely frozen over, and boys were standing on the ice. Then the missionary took the opportunity of making good the words he had spoken when in Africa.

Turning to Sambo, he said, “Take my hand, and let us go on the hard water and try it.”

Sambo did not like to go, but the missionary took his hand and led him on; and then jumping hard upon the ice, said, “Now, do you believe what I said in Africa about the ice?”

So Sambo gave in.

Being made to believe because he saw, was not faith on Sambo’s part—it was sight. It would have been faith if he had believed the missionary when he was in Central Africa, where the water never freezes. Faith would have accepted as true what the missionary said, although it seemed impossible.

So reader, God has spoken. Do you believe His word? He has told you of your utterly-lost and ruined condition through sin, and of your inability to do anything to merit His favor, or to save yourself. But, thank God, He has told you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He declares that then you shall be saved. Will you trust your feelings, thoughts, hopes, or what some people may say? or, will you believe God just because He says it? This is faith.

“Faith is not what we see or feel;

It is a simple trust

In what the God of love has said

Of Jesus as the Just.”

ML-04/11/1920

A Poor Widow

A POOR but Christian widow, supported herself and her family by selling groceries and other articles. She was at one time much distressed for a sum of money to pay an account. The day and hour arrived when the claim would be made which she was unable to meet. She told her Heavenly Father all about it, and just then she heard footsteps in her little store. She expected to meet the one to whom she owed the money, but to her great surprise several sailors made their appearance, who purchased articles to the amount she re-quired, and thus converted her prayer to praise, encouraging her more than ever to exercise confidence in Him who has said, “Let thy widows trust in Me.” Jer. 49:11.

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20.

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

ML-04/11/1920

As a Little Child

Matth. 18:1-5.

Hear! the blest Redeemer mild,

Speaking to His chosen band,

When their hearts by pride beguiled,

Questioned which should greatest stand.

To their midst a child He led,

Placed him next His gentle breast,

“Till you’re as this child,” He said,

“Ne’er for you the kingdom’s rest.”

“Not until your hearts be meek,

Humbled by converting grace,

Can ye gain the hope ye seek,

And attain the highest place.

“Whosoever shall receive

One such child for love of Me,

And like it in faith believe,

His the kingdom’s peace shall be.”

O! how sweet the Savior’s voice

Thus to little weak ones kind;

Children, let your hearts rejoice,

Such a loving Friend to find.

Though He has gone up on high

To His Father’s mansions bright,

Still He watches ever nigh,

Children’s prayers are His delight.

ML-04/11/1920

The Shepherd

THE shepherd and his flock have been down to the river and he has led his flock across. As our Lord says of a good shepherd, he goes before, and the sheep follow. Not all in the same manner, however—some enter boldly, and come straight across. These are the loved ones of the flock, who keep near by the footsteps of the shepherd, whether sauntering through the green meadows by the still waters, feeding upon the mountains, or resting at noon beneath the shadow of a great rock. And now others enter, but in doubt and alarm. By staying far from their guide they miss the ford, and are carried down the stream, some more, some less; and yet, one by one, they all struggle and make good their landing. Some refuse to enter, and must be driven into the stream by the shepherd’s dog.

Poor things! how they leap, and plunge, and bleat in terror! That weak one will be swept quite away, and perish in the sea. But, no, the shepherd himself, leaps into the stream, lifts it into his bosom, and bears it trembling to the shore. Now all are safely over how happy they appear! The lambs frisk and gambol about in high spirits, while the older ones gather round their faithful guide, in subdued but expressive thankfulness.

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

With their eyes fixed upon Him they scarcely see the stream, or feel its cold and threatening waves. The great majority, however, “linger, shivering on the brink, and fear to launch away.” They lag behind, and, like Peter, on stormy Gennesareth when faith failed, they begin to sink. Then they cry for help, and not in vain. The Good Shepherd hastens to the rescue, and none of His sheep can ever perish even the weakest lambkins are carried safely over.

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

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

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

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” John 10:11

ML-04/18/1920

The Three Boy-Kings of Judah

(Continued From Page 200.)

Josiah was the third, and the best boy-king. Although Josiah was the son of the wicked king A mon, and began to reign when he was but eight years old, we read something very nice of Josiah’s youthful clays. We read, “While he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David, his father,” etc. It is a good character indeed that the Word of God gives Josiah. (see 2 Chron. 34:1-3.) And I here request my readers to turn to 2 Chron. 34 and 35, and there to read how much good this boy grew up to do, during his lifetime.

In his youth he sought the Lord; and the good boy-king, became the good man-king; for his heart was right in the sight of the Lord. And the people of Judah loved their good king very much; so that when after a prosperous reign of thirty-one years, he died, their grief was very great: “And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” And for many, many years afterward, the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations.

May every youthful reader learn a lesson, and follow Josiah’s good example, and seek the Lord in their youth. The Lord says to each one. “Seek ye My face;” and if you from the heart answer, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek,” He will be found of you. You shall know that all your sins are forgiven you for Christ’s sake, and you will be able to rejoice in God your Savior.

“If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off Forever.” 1 Chron. 28:9.

ML-04/18/1920

Bread for Nothing.

A FRIEND of mine, saw one day a large crowd of men and women, boys and girls—some tall, some short, some clean, and some dirty—gathered in front of a large public building, upon the steps of which a man was standing, and giving a loaf of bread to each person who stepped forward to receive the gift.

A sum of money had been given by a gentleman to be spent in purchasing bread to be given to the people of the town, and it mattered not who came—whether little or big, young or old—every one might get a loaf of bread for nothing. There was enough for all.

You may be quite sure that very, very many took advantage of this kind provision, and eagerly pressed forward to obtain the welcome food.

We can imagine how glad the poor, hungry boys and girls, and men and women were.

When my friend told me of this. I could but think of the wonderful provision which God has made for poor, hungry, perishing sinners. He has provided salvation for all who come. There is nothing to pay and nothing to do, but simply to take a full and free salvation— “without money and without price.”

To purchase the food for the people, money had been given by the gentleman, as I have told you—for of course, the loaves had to be paid for by someone.

To purchase salvation for sinners, the Lord Jesus, who was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich; and the blessed God in His great love did not spare the very best gift—the most costly and precious One, even His own Son, whom He loved so much.

He it is who was delivered to death. His precious blood was shed. But now He is risen again, and all the price having been paid, God is giving that wondrous gift, eternal life, to all who come.

There were many people in that crowd who did not obtain a loaf. They were rich and well-to-do, and did not need the free gift. Not so those in the great crowd of “sinners.” God says, “have sinned" —none are rich enough to buy the salvation they need. Indeed, God will not sell. He is rich, and gives.

Many do not think they need this free gift, and they neglect this great salvation —frittering away the last hours of this day of God’s grace—careless and thoughtless about their precious souls, until at last, dying in their sins, they are cast into hell, never, never more to hear of God’s wonderful gift.

Have you received His gift yet, my little reader?

Coming is believing. Jesus says, “He that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.”

Are you hungering and thirsting? If so, come now, and what a dear girl once wrote to me you will find true: “There was never yet a poor sinner turned away empty.”

“To give us assurance, Christ rose from the dead;

Redemption is finished, the price has been paid;

All the work has been done—all who trust in the Son

Are saved thro’ the blood of the Crucified One.”

ML-04/18/1920

Jesus Dying on the Tree

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means eternal life for thee,

Means that grace o’er sin hath sway,

Means that love hath had its way.

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means Jehovah’s just decree,

Words of Him who cannot lie,

“Whoso sinneth—he shall die.”

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means, this sentence past on me

Has descended on His head,

And that He has died instead.

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means that mercy now is free,

Free to bless since He has died

And God’s throne is satisfied.

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means—and O! how sweet to see!

That my sins are all forgiven,

And that I’m made fit for heaven.

Jesus dying on the tree,

Means that I e’er long shall be,

Through His precious blood alone,

Soon in glory, safe at home!

ML-04/18/1920

"O! What Shall I Do?"

IT was a clear, bright, frosty morning in the middle of winter. The frost made the sparkling snow crisp under the feet of many who were wending their way to the chapels and churches, for it was Sunday morning.

For some weeks I had been in the habit of visiting a little girl about thirteen years old, whose name was Kate. Kate was very sick, and the doctor told her she would surely die. For this reason her friends were the more anxious that she should come to Jesus, and trust Him as her Savior. But, alas! when they spoke to her of the blessed Son of God coming down from heaven to this world because He loved little children, she would only turn away her head, and look out of the window; and though she was always ready and willing to talk about her toys and books, or the weather, or about the horses and dogs that passed along the street, yet the moment the loving Savior’s name was mentioned, and she was told of His kindness to her in allowing Himself to be scourged, and spit upon, and crowned with thorns for her sake, she did not then care to listen any longer. No; she seemed quite indifferent to the story of Christ being nailed to the cruel cross, and suffering there for her sins. No, not a single tear did she shed, and not a single “thanks” escaped Kate’s lips to Jesus, the Friend, and Shepherd, and Savior of all those who trust in Him.

At last came the frosty Sunday morning of which I spoke, and I went as usual to ask how little Kate was that cold day. I pushed open the gate, which the snow had almost blocked up, and then I knocked at the door; the kind old nurse who was taking care of her came down herself to open the door for me. I asked her, “How is— ? She knew, before I finished my sentence or spoke her name, who it was I was inquiring for; and shaking her head as the tears ran down her cheeks, she said,

“O, sir, she’s gone.”

“What!” I said, “do you mean Kate is dead?”

“Yes, sir; she died this morning between two and three hours ago.”

“Well” I inquired, “what did she say at the last? Was her heart melted by the Savior’s love?”

“No, no, indeed; there was nothing happy in her death; it was an awful scene; her last words were, as she startled in bed and threw up her wasted hands, ‘O, what shall I do? what shall I do?’”

Such were the dying words of little Kate, and yet how often she had been told,

“Nothing either great or small,

Nothing, sinner, no;

Jesus did it, did it all,

Long, long ago!”

ML-04/18/1920

The Lord Is Looking Down on Me

God will not leave me all alone,

He never will forsake His own;

Though not another friend I see,

The Lord is looking down on me.

Awake, asleep, by night or day,

When at my lessons or my play,

Although His face I cannot see,

The Lord is looking down on me.

Then let me try to please Him still,

And know, and love, and do His will,

Then will my joy and gladness be,

The Lord is looking down on me.

ML-04/18/1920

Alice and Her Kittens.

THIS picture makes me think of a story I once read about a little girl named Alice, and her kittens. They were very pretty kitties, like the ones in our picture, and were great pets. Alice watched them every day getting bigger and bigger, and it seemed as though she loved them more and more.

All the time she had to herself was spent in playing with her pets, and each morning and evening she shared her milk with them.

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

About a month later, a baby brother was born into Alice’s home, and this drew her thoughts away from her kitties; she became so fond of baby that she was quite happy once more. Her little heart had again an object that occupied it. Sometimes she was allowed to hold the dear wee one in her arms, and this was a great pleasure to her.

But this is a sad world, and when baby was only six weeks old, it took ill and died, too. Poor Alice’s heart seemed fairly broken now. The day that baby was buried, she threw herself into her mother’s arms, and in a fit of weeping, cried out, “O, mamma! mamma! the kind farmer gave me my kittens, and I loved them so, and they died; then God gave us a baby, and I loved it more than my kittens, and now it is dead; can’t you give me something to love that will never die?”

Her mamma pressed the little girl to her own sorrow-stricken breast, and said, “Yes, darling, I can tell you of One who will never die.”

Alice listened eagerly while her mother told her of Jesus, and how by His death, He had put away the sins of those who trust Him, and that if she would give her heart to Him, He would give her peace and joy, as well as tell her that all her sins were put away by His death. Then she would know Him who said, “I AM HE THAT LIVETH AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER MORE.” Rev. 1:18.

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

Think of all this carefully dear children; will you not follow Alice’s example, and believe on Him, who died on the cross for you? Give your heart to the “One who will never die.”

ML-04/25/1920

Won By Love

THE new “sister” had not worked very long in the district, but it was soon well known that she was what they called “pious.”

It often happened that Sister Elsie, when she had helped her patients and tidied up the room, took out her little Bible, and read a little aloud for them. How often by their bedsides did she kneel down and pray for them. The most of the people in that neighborhood did not like that “pious stuff,” as they called it, and so it came about that although the district-nurse had many friends, she had still more enemies.

Particularly from the half-grown boys she had much trouble. If on her way she came across a troop of them, she was sure to hear a nickname, some slighting remark or mocking.

But Sister Elsie was not timid and went on with her work just as joyously as if she only met with love. For she worked not for herself but for the Lord, and her greatest joy was to speak of the Savior, who came on earth to save sinners.

On a certain day she was going to a patient. Just as she turned the corner of a street she came across a lot of boys that were noisily amusing themselves.

“Hello, there comes the ‘pious’ sister! Say, boys, let us have some fun with her!” cried out one of them.

In a moment Sister Elsie was surrounded by yelling boys, but without taking any notice of anything they said, she tried to continue on her way.

“Come boys, let me pass,” said she calmly, “I must help Mrs. Derksen for a while.”

“O yes, let her pass, she must go,” sneered the boys. “Has she her little Bible with her?”

In the meantime Sister Elsie managed to get through and walked on hurriedly. All at once a stone whizzed past her ears, then another, but the third one reached its goal.

The stone struck her on the back of the head and so violently that she fell down. Some passers-by lifted her up quickly and brought her in an unconscious condition to the hospital. Instead of helping patients, she herself must now be nursed.

It was many days before Sister Elsie was so far restored as to work again. They gave her some light tasks to do in the hospital until she could take up her district again.

Some weeks passed by in this manner, when one afternoon a boy was brought in, that looked in a bad condition. He had climbed on to a large freight wagon, but not being able to keep his balance, he fell heavily on the road. As he was seriously injured they took him to the nearest hospital and as it happened, right into the ward where Elsie worked, who at once recognized him as one of the boys who had spoken so rudely to her. After the doctor had bound his wounds and given directions for his treatment, Sister Elsie took up her task. She nursed him faithfully and affectionately, just as if she had not recognized him.

But one day, when she came to his bedside, he lay with his back turned to her. No matter how she tried to get him to speak, or even to look at her, nothing helped. At last she thought it wiser to let him alone. She had had difficult patients before this and by kind treatment they came round, but one like this she had never met. He would not speak to her one word, and even when she brought him his meals he would cast his eyes down so as not to look at her.

Sister Elsie made it a matter of prayer. Who knows, thought she, but perhaps this fall, and the illness resulting from it, may be the means of bringing the boy to serious thought, and to the Lord.

The following week she had “night duty.” Something that Sister Elsie particularly liked. At night when all was still in the house, one could calmly think and it did not happen often—but now and again one could have a heart to heart talk with a patient.

Then on a quiet night that happened, for which Sister Elsie had so long hoped and prayed.

The boy turned suddenly with an effort. It must have hurt him, as moving was difficult for him.

“Say, sister, why are you always so good to me? You know very well, who I am?”

“Who you are, and what your name is, I don’t know. But I know you by sight, as I have often seen you in my district. But tell me now, why won’t you look at me? Have I done you any harm? Do tell me.” And with her soft, friendly eyes she looked at the boy.

“Do you know why I won’t look at you sister? Every time you help me, I see that ugly mark on your head and....and ... ”

Then all at once the big boy burst in tears: “I threw that stone,” he said, “I did that, and that is the reason I don’t want to look at you.”

“O, John!” said Sister Elsie, and there were tears in her kind eyes too, “don’t look at that mark any longer. That wound is healed. But do you know where you must look now? You must look at the Lord Jesus, who loves you so dearly. He has also been wounded and we helped to do that, John, you and I.”

With wide opened eyes the boy looked at Sister Elsie. How was it possible for her to speak to him so kindly! And Sister Elsie went on telling John how the Lord had been sneered at, mocked, beaten, wounded, and finally brought to the death of the cross, and that even in His dying hour He had prayed for His enemies.

John listened, not only that night, but also the many times afterward when the sister spoke to him of the Savior’s love and slowly he learned to understand that the Lord had gone through all this for himself too, and wished to make him happy for time and for eternity.

Now he sang with all his heart:

“Jesus, the One who left the throne

To save a ruined race,

Thy love and lowliness still shine

Upon that glorious face.”

Sister Elsie still often hears in her district many rude and unkind remarks. They often tease and ridicule her. But in spite of all that she has deep joy in her heart. Laugh on, she thinks, one of you is won for the Lord, and some more will surely follow.

“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.

ML-04/25/1920

A Very Wise King.

OF all the many kings that have lived in the past, there was one that outshone all the others for his great wisdom in the way in which he governed his people. This was not because he was clever, or studied so much in order to be wise, but from a very different reason. God asked him what he would like to have as a gift, and he, after considering the matter, did not ask for great age, or for riches, but he wished to have wisdom to rule his people well. God was so pleased with the king’s choice that He not only gave him wisdom, but riches and a long life as well. This king’s name was Solomon, and it was soon discovered how wise he was in all matters that related to his kingdom, and his fame spread abroad so much that people came from all parts to hear the wisdom of king, Solomon.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5.

ML-04/25/1920

Trust in Him.

Remember thy Creator now,

Yes, in thy youthful days,

O trust the blessed Savior’s blood,

And walk in His blest ways.

Therefore the heart is hardened

With sins and worldly care,

My little reader trust in Christ,

You will find safety there.

The Savior’s paths are pleasantness,

And all His ways are peace,

O, trust the Savior’s precious blood,

And you’ll find rest and ease.

The Savior died for sinners,

O, God’s word do not doubt,

The Savior says who come to Him

He will not cast them out.

When He was Man of sorrows

Upon this earth of woe,

He used to bless dear children,

For He did have them so;

He took them in His arms,

Would them His blessing give,

I say again, O trust Him now,

Believe in Christ and live.

No doubt some readers older

And grown up unto youth,

Forget now all about the Lord

And His blest word of truth.

You know you are a sinner

Unfit to dwell with God,

O, trust the Savior for your all,

And tread the heavenly road.

And still by chance there may be one

Who’s yet in manhood’s bloom,

Careless about his precious soul,

Mixed up with earthly gloom.

The Savior’s invitation is,

O, come to Me and rest,

O trust the Savior’s precious blood,

And he Forever blest.

ML-04/25/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for March

1. “Finally, brethren, etc. 2 Cor. 13:11.

2. “For God who,” etc. 2 Cor. 4:6.

3. “Every man according,” etc. 2 Cor. 9:7.

4. “Now thanks be unto,” etc. 2 Cor. 2:14.

5. “Who hath also sealed,” etc. 2 Cor. 1:22.

6. “And He said unto me,” etc. 2 Cor. 12:9.

7. “Therefore if any man,” etc. 2 Cor. 5:17.

ML-05/02/1920

Bible Questions for May

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address. E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in 1St and 2nd Thess., 1St and 2nd Tim., Titus and Philemon,

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “One Mediator.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Spirit and soul and body.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Toward all saints.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “His Son from heaven.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “That blessed hope.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “From a child.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Patient waiting.”

ML-05/02/1920

Lizzie Lee

LIZZIE Lee was brought under deep conviction of sin by the sudden death of a companion. She was in great distress about her soul, and knew not where or how to find peace. Her Bible-class teacher noticed that something was troubling Lizzie, and invited her to come to her house one evening. She opened up her mind, and told her trouble, and her teacher who is a Christian and a true lover of the Lord, took her Bible and from Isaiah 53, showed to the awakened girl how Jesus suffered for sinners, such as she, in order that they might be saved. That beautiful verse, which has been God’s message to so many sin-burdened hearts, “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,” was the word that showed Lizzie how she might be saved. She read it and put in “my” for “our,” and claimed it as her own. This is faith. It simply takes and appropriates to itself, makes a personal possession of what has been procured for sinners. In Galatians 2:20 it says, “Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Lizzie told the next day, in the laundry where she worked, what the Lord had done for her, how He had forgiven and saved her, and there was a great commotion among the girls. Some said it would only last a few weeks, others declared it was “the height of presumption” for anyone to say he was saved, but a few listened to Lizzie’s testimony. There are always some weary hearts and thirsty souls to whom the gospel is good news, and so it was in that laundry. Lizzie sang as she walked to her work,

“What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

What can make me without stain?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

As she had opportunity, she told her companions the way of life and peace. One after another became concerned and Lizzie’s teacher had the joy of leading several to the Savior. Then a week night meeting was begun, and the gospel was preached to quite a number who gathered there; the result was that many were saved.

Are you saved, dear young reader? Do you know the Lord? Have you accepted Him as the One who was wounded for you, was bruised for your iniquities? If not, do take Him now as your blessed Savior.

ML-05/02/1920

Extract of a Letter From China.

IF the children in our home Sunday-schools knew how greatly their old tickets would be valued by these little, barefooted, bareheaded, children, I am sure they would save them, and send them on.

It would be hard for those in America to picture to themselves the beaming faces with which tracts are received, or the joy and eagerness of the children, and also of the women, and even of the men, when a picture card is produced. Walking over the hills a few days ago, we had the pleasure of distributing some of the colored text cards to several children, How gladly they were received, as were the tracts by their elders. I remember one tall, intelligent looking man, leading a very small cow, who continued reading his tract as long as he was in sight.

Descending to the road which would lead us home, we were attracted by shouts from the hilltop, and saw a number of ragged urchins hastening after us. If it had been in the homeland, one might have thought they were calling “Stop, sir; stop,” but I am more inclined to think, being in China, it was, “Kung chai, kung chai!” (“A picture card, a picture card!”)

It was a great disappointment to the laddies, and also to ourselves, to find that the cards had come to an end; and very evident, tears appeared in the eyes of the last comer, a small boy of perhaps eight years, who came panting up some distance behind the older ones.”

Should any of our dear young readers desire to send their old Sunday-school tickets and reward cards to the poor little children in China, if you will mail them to “Bible Truth Depot, 1112 N. Taylor Ave., St, Louis, Mo.” they will at once be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Willis in China, and they will gladly give them out to the little boys and girls who have very little to brighten their lives, and have little opportunity to hear of the Lord Jesus, and His wondrous love. Let us think more of others, and what good we can do them. Think also how much the Lord has done for us, and the privileges He has bestowed upon us, in making known to us that our sins are put away by His precious blood, and that He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.

“God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7

ML-05/02/1920

Happy Childhood.

Happy, happy childhood,

Happy, happy days,

How I love the children

And their merry ways;

How I love to watch them

Free from every care,

Thinking all that happens

Trifles light as air.

Eyes undimmed with sorrow,

Brows all smooth and clear,

Lips just made for laughing,

Dimples everywhere.

Young days should be cloudless,

Childhood, one sweet song,

Little ones as happy

As the days are long.

Yes—and teach the children

Of the love of One,

Who alone can shield them

Till their race be run.

Tell how fully Jesus

Meets our every need,

And you’ll place before them

Happiness indeed.

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.”

“SING UNTO THE LORD, BLESS HIS NAME; SHOW FORTH HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY.” Psa. 96:1, 2.

ML-05/02/1920

Children Who Saw Jesus.

IF all the good men who ever walked this earth, the Lord Jesus is the “Chiefest among ten thousand,” and the “altogether lovely” One.

Many during their lifetime did “virtuously,” but the Lord Jesus, during His life on earth, excelled them all, and as in all other things, so also as the lover of little children, He has the pre-eminence. It was when He was here on earth that the Lord Jesus displayed before all men, how great was His love for children. He never was too busy, or too tired, to “gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” In order to show you His matchless love for “the lambs,” I will tell you a little about the children who saw Jesus on earth.

In three of the gospels, we read of a little boy who not only saw Jesus, but, as Mark tells us, the Lord Jesus actually took the little fellow up in His arms. (Mark 9:36-37.)

The disciples had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest, and in order to teach them, humility, the Lord called this “little child unto Him.” Now we are not told whether the little boy was at play or what he was doing at the time when Jesus called him; but this we do know, that when Jesus called him, he came to Him.

O! that every boy and girl would come at once to Jesus.

Then Jesus sat this little boy in the midst of His disciples, and there the little fellow stayed, while Jesus taught His disciples humility. If the child did not understand all that He said to them, it was very nice to be so near Jesus. Jesus took the little boy up in His arms, and said to them, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me.” (Mark 9:37.)

These last words show what tender regard the Lord has for His “lambs”. To do them a kindness is to do that which pleases Jesus.

A poor, little cripple child that believes on Him, has perhaps to lie still indoors, while other boys and girls can run about and play. Any little act of kindness, done to such a one for Jesus’ sake, it pleases the Lord just as much as if it was done to Himself; it may be only to carry the poor cripple child a bunch of flowers. But on the other hand, if anyone is unkind to a little boy or girl who believes on Jesus, the Lord will remember that unkind action, just as much as if it had been done to Himself. (Mark 9:42.)

It appears from Mark 9:42, that this little boy already believed on Jesus. The Lord is as pleased to own the faith of a little child, as He is to own the faith of a grown-up person. The “little ones” that believe on Jesus on earth, shall Forever praise Him in heaven, and it is our blessed privilege to praise Him all the time we are down here. May we be able to say, with the Psalmist, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psa. 34:1.

ML-05/02/1920

Christ Is Merciful and Mild

Christ is merciful and mild;

He was once a little child;

He whom heavenly hosts adore

Lived on earth among the poor.

Thus He laid His glory by,

When for us He stooped to die:

How I wonder when I see

His unbounded love to me!

He the sick to health restored,

To the poor He preached the Word;

Even children had a share

Of His love and tender care.

Every bird can build its nest,

Foxes have their place of rest;

He by whom the world was made

Had not where to lay His head.

He who is the Lord most high

Then was poorer far than I,

That I might hereafter be

Rich to all eternity.

ML-05/02/1920

The Refreshing Water.

WHEREVER we may look, we can see the provision that God has made for His creatures, and our picture today reminds us of it. The shady, cool retreat for the cocas, and the running stream for their refreshment, speak to us of God’s tender and wise care.

Have you thought, dear reader, how tenderly and graciously God cares for you, and supplies your needs—giving you food and clothing, health and strength, yes, all you have? But, perhaps, some who read these lines may say, “I do not have health and strength; I do not have all I need.”

If God has withheld these things from you, have you thought why He has done so? Perhaps you have not been thankful in the past for all His mercies, or it may be, He wants you to think more of eternal things.

There is one thing we may be sure of, and that is, He has some lesson to teach you, and if you quietly submit, He will you in time what He has for you.

It may be, you have not yet confessed the Lord Jesus as your Savior. If that is the case, whether you have many blessings of this life, or are deprived of them, I beg of you, do accept of God’s greatest expression of His love in giving His Son to die for you, so that you may have eternal life through Him.

O! dear reader, believe in Him now, if you have not done so in the past, and then you shall know the preciousness of that verse, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things,” Rom. 8:32.

He will give us all things according to His love and wisdom, but not according to the desires of our natural hearts.

“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE: BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” John 3:36.

ML-05/09/1920

The Tamed Tongue.

“EVERY kind of beasts, and of birds....is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind, but the tongue can no man tame.” James 3:7, 8. These words came into the mind of an invalid, as she lay watching her little tame canary, for indeed it was tame. It would come on to the table beside her, and take things from her hand; or light on her bed. It would hop about on the floor, and fly up on her lap to show her what it had in its mouth. As she watched it she thought, “What is it that has made my little bird more tame than others?”

It must be love. It knows that I love it, and therefore it has no fear of me. Then she thought, “Yes, I can tame my bird, but the tongue can no man tame.”

Only love, the love of God, can “tame” the tongue. How often as Christians have we to humble ourselves before our Lord, because we have said what our hearts have afterward told us, has been grieving to Him! Again and again have we failed with the tongue, when the life, perhaps, with this exception, may appear blameless.

Love to our Lord alone can tame our tongues, dear young believers. Nothing else will do it. It is true, indeed, that no man can tame it. Shall we not then, for His glory seek to use even this “unruly member” more for Him alone, who has so loved us as to give Himself for us?

May we more frequently, in dependence upon Himself use the prayer of the Psalmist, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psa. 111:3.

ML-05/09/1920

Children Who Saw Jesus.

THERE was a little girl who saw Jesus when she was about twelve years old.

Just before this she had been taken very, very ill, so ill that she was dying. What was her father to do? Who could save his little daughter from death? Jesus only. So he went to Jesus, and entreated Him to come and heal his dying child.

“And Jesus went with him;” but before they reached the house, the child died. It may be before she died, she had asked for her father, and had been told that he was gone to ask Jesus to come. How her fond mother must have longed to see Jesus coming, and how she must have wept to see her daughter die.

There came in minstrels, who wept and screamed aloud, but the child did not hear them, for she was dead.

There was a loud tramping of many feet in the street, and a noise of the mingling of many voices, for a great multitude came with Jesus; but the little girl heard nothing of all this, for she was dead.

When Jesus came into the house, He did not let anyone go in, except “Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.” Luke 8:51.

Having put the minstrels out, He “took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.”

She had not heard the minstrels, she had not heard the multitude, but she heard the voice of Jesus; and at the sound of His loving voice, “her spirit came again:” and she arose, and walked, for He had made her strong and well.

How her heart must have beat with joy, when she opened her eyes and saw Jesus, there in the very room. She had died before Jesus came, and it was a time of sorrow; but she awoke when Jesus called, and it was a time of great joy and gladness.

So it will be at the resurrection of the just. Many little boys and girls have wept much, when one whom they loved fell asleep in Jesus; and when they saw the body laid in the silent grave. This is to all of us a time of sorrow, but when Jesus comes again from heaven, He will speak, and

The dead in Christ will hear

Their Savior’s loving voice;

Will rise to meet Him in the air,

And will each one rejoice.

There were many children who saw Jesus during the days of His ministry. There were thousands of men, women, and children assembled at one time, to listen to Jesus as He fed the souls of all who had “ears to hear,” with the Word of Life, for Jesus often spoke so simply, that even children were able to understand all that He said. And having fed the hungry souls, (see Matth. 5:6,) He thought with compassion of the hungry bodies.

The prophet had also said of Jesus “He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11.

Who has not heard of Jesus blessing little children? He that has blessed us, will surely bless our, dear little ones, so the mothers appear to have thought who “brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them and pray.”

Why it was we do not know, but we are told that “the disciples rebuked those that brought them.” The fond parents might have turned back, sadly disappointed, but “Jesus saw it,” and “He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13, 16.

ML-05/09/1920

Love and Serve One Another.

WOULD any four children be happier than these we have before us! They have been gathering wild roses by the roadside, and big sister has to carry the bouquet, for it is all that the little folks can do to hold on to the donkey.

What a humble creature this donkey is, serving all the children! He seems willing to go wherever the little girl wishes to guide him, and to carry his load of tiny tots, too.

I wonder if you are as ready to serve others as this patient animal is? Most boys and girls want their own way, and are often very naughty about giving up their way, so as to please their playmates, or their parents.

It is displeasing to the Lord to have His children think only about themselves, and to be unwilling to serve others. Our natural hearts are very independent and proud, but if we love Jesus, we must seek to yield our wills to Him He would have us love and serve others.

He will give us all things according to His love and wisdom, but not according to the desires of our natural hearts.

“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE: BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” John 3:36.

ML-05/16/1920

The Tamed Tongue.

“EVERY kind of beasts, and of birds....is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind, but the tongue can no man tame.” James 3:7, 8.

These words came into the mind of an invalid, as she lay watching her little tame canary, for indeed it was tame. It would come on to the table beside her, and take things from her hand; or light on her head. It would hop about on the floor, and fly up on her lap to show her what it had in its mouth. As she watched it she thought, “What is it that has made my little bird more tame than others?”

It must be love. It knows that I love it, and therefore it has no fear of me. Then she thought, “Yes, I can tame my bird, but the tongue can no man tame.”

Love to our Lord alone can tame our tongues, dear young believers, nothing else will do it. It is true, indeed, that no man can tame it. Shall we not then, for His glory seek to use even this “unruly member” more for Him alone, who has so loved us as to give Himself for us?

May we more frequently, in dependence upon Himself use the prayer of the Psalmist, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psa. 111:3.

ML-05/16/1920

Children Who Saw Jesus.

THERE was a little girl who saw Jesus when she was about twelve years old. Just before this she had been taken very, very ill, so ill that she was dying. What was her father to do? Who could save his little daughter from death? Jesus only. So he went to Jesus, and entreated Him to come and heal his dying child.

There came in minstrels, who wept and screamed aloud, but the child did not hear them, for she was dead.

When Jesus came into the house, He did not let anyone go in, except “Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.” Luke 8:51.

Having put the minstrels out, He “took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.”

The dead in Christ will hear

Their Savior’s loving voice;

Will rise to meet Him in the air,

And will each one rejoice.

There were many children who saw Jesus during the days of His ministry.

There were thousands of men, women, and children assembled at one time, to listen to Jesus as He fed the souls of all who had “ears to hear,” with the Word of Life, for Jesus often spoke so simply, that even children were able to understand all that He said. And having fed the hungry souls, (see Matth. 5:6,) He thought with compassion of the hungry bodies.

The prophet had also said of Jesus “He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11.

ML-05/16/1920

Names of Those Answering Bible Questions for Term Ending May 1920

To our many friends:

One more year has passed away and it is a great pleasure to us to be able to say that the number of those who have been sending in answers to the Bible Questions has surpassed that of any previous year, and thus we feel that an increasing interest has been taken in these Bible Questions, and we trust much blessing has been brought to many through the reading and writing of the blessed Word of God.

If we are left here for another year we shall be glad to have all our young friends continue to send in their answers, and to encourage others to do the same. The number of those who have sent in their answers for the past term is 1537, and we shall be glad if many more will do so for this term. Our desire is to have as many as we can to search the precious Word of God, and this is so important, especially for the young, and more so now than ever, for we are living in days when the Word of God is neglected, and in many instances denied. Read it carefully and prayerfully, and you will be sure to find that God will reward you for it.

It is necessary to remind you to be sure and write the answers out in full, with your name, age and address plainly written.

If at any time you would like any help on the Scriptures, we shall be glad to have you write when sending in your answers, and will do what we can in this wav for you.

We may not be here through another term, for the coming of the Lord is very near, and we may hear that shout in the air at any moment. Our prayer is that all our young friends will be among that happy number who are to meet in The Father’s House to spend eternity with the One who died for us and rose again.

ML-05/16/1920

A Place of Shelter

W HAT a quiet, pretty scene we have before us. These little folks seem to be enjoying their play at the seaside. They have found a sheltered place, away from the waves which continually break on the shore beyond the rocks. Then look at the water, how beautiful it is. The children can wade in and gather the pretty shells, and sail their little boats. See, how shallow the water is! Surely it is an ideal place for little folks like these.

My dear children, have you found a place of shelter from the storm that is coming upon this world—the judgment of God— “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’? 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

If you have not, I beg of you to flee at once to the only place of shelter—to the Lord Jesus, who is saying, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

“A Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isa. 32:2.

“BLESSED IS THAT MAN THAT MAKETH THE LORD HIS TRUST.” Psa. 40:4.

ML-05/23/1920

What the Daisies Taught Me

I LOOKED out one morning from my window, and the lawn was covered with happy, quiet looking daisies, which lifted up their faces to the heavens, as if to catch the first beams of the rising sun. They looked very pure and white and innocent, and I could not help noticing how they were all looking up, as if intent on one object. I did not see a single drooping flower among them. They might not be all the same height, or the same size, but they all looked the same way. When I stepped out upon the lawn, and came closer to the daisies, so as to be able to look down upon them, I saw how beautifully round and perfect each flower was, how evenly the petals were arranged.

O, how pretty these little daisies were! My eyes did not grow tired of gazing upon them, and I began to think how pleasant it must be to God, who made these beautiful, white daisies, to look down upon the work of His hands; but with how much greater joy it must be to Him to look down upon those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and have been washed in His own precious blood; and to see those who are looking upwards to Him and loving His smile more than aught else.

Those who love the Lord Jesus are perfect through the comeliness which He has put upon them. What joy, then, it must be to God to see His children steadily looking up to Him, without a cloud between, and all because they “are accepted in the Beloved.” They are perfect in Christ, and it is because God is well pleased with what His Son did on the cross, that those who believe on Him can bask in the sunshine of God’s favor.

Ah! and these daisies, as I said, were constantly looking one way, as if expecting something, like the Thessalonians, whom the apostle Paul tells us about in the New Testament. They were always waiting for God’s Son from heaven. As soon as they were converted, they began to expect the Lord; and the daisies, as soon as they spring up from the ground, begin to look up into the sky. The Thessalonians were occupied with one object, and that was Christ. They believed that the same Jesus who had died for them, and made them “whiter than snow,” was coming quickly to take them to the Father’s house. They knew they were accepted in Christ, and their hearts rejoiced in the hope of being with Him Forever.

O! are you, my dear young reader, looking up like the daisies, watching for the Lord Jesus to descend from heaven with a shout? Are you ready to meet Him in the air? If He should come this moment, would you be ashamed to meet His all-searching eye? Have you anything left to do before He comes? Would you be glad to see Him? God delights to see little children looking up, and waiting for His dear Son. O! if you know what it is to have your sins forgiven, if you know anything of that love which was stronger than death, I think it must be a bright outlook for you to be expecting the Lord Jesus from heaven.

What happiness to be with Him, praising Him through all eternity for what He has done for you! Don’t you long to join in the new song, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood,” and to cast yourself at His feet, lost in admiration at His beauty?

But I must tell you something more about the daisies. The next morning when I looked out upon the lawn, the daisies were all gone. The grass looked fresh and green, and the sun shone brightly as ever, but the little daisies were gone! Someone had been there early in the morning, and taken them all away.

And so, the Lord Jesus will come someday, and take all His waiting children home. Ah! I think I hear you say, “I should not like to be left behind. I should not like to wake up some morning, and find all the Christians gone to glory.”

Well, the Lord Jesus says to you, “I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early, shall find Me.” If you do not yet know Jesus as your Savior, if you cannot yet look forward with joy to seeing Him, and being like Him, O, accept now His free salvation. Take God at His word, and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” If you want to be made white and pure, like the daisies, your sins must be washed away by the blood of Christ. Then you shall be “whiter than snow,” for “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

There is no time to lose, for the Lord Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly.”

He may come while you are reading this, and if you are not ready to meet Him, the door will be shut against you, and you will go away into everlasting punishment, prepared for the devil and his angels. Don’t forget the last words, the Lord Jesus sent to you, “Surely I come quickly,” and do not rest till you can say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

“The Savior, Jesus, is gone to prepare

Such a beautiful home in the sky,

And He says He will come

And lead to that home

Every sinner that’s born from on high.”

ML-05/23/1920

The Excursion Party

THE steamer landed at the pier of B. on a lovely summer morning, and a party of young people left the steamer and proceeded along the pebbly beach to enjoy themselves for the day, amidst the hills and valleys of A.

“Remember, the boat will return and leave at five-fifty prompt, boys,” said the captain, as he pointed them the way to reach the places of interest and beauty.

“All right, sir, we’ll be there,” they replied with a cheer.

They were entranced by the beauty of the scenery, and the party went much further than they had expected, and to their great surprise, they found on pulling out their watches that the time upon which they had fixed to begin the return journey had been exceeded by half-an-hour.

“O, it’s all right,” said one, “the clocks here are always late. We’ll be there, you’ll see, a good while before the boat comes.”

“And the boat will be behind time,” said another, “she was half an hour late the last day I sailed with her.”

The probabilities of the boat being late, and of the clocks being slow, had the effect of quieting the fears of the party; so after a very enjoyable walk they arrived at the pier, but alas, just half-an-hour too late; the boat had sailed at “five-fifty prompt,” as the captain said, and they were left behind. The clocks were right and the steamer sailed on the minute given.

As they walked along the shore, the shades of night falling upon them, one said to another, “It will be some time before I trust to the clocks of A. being slow, and the steamer being late again, I tell you. I’ll go according to the ‘Time Table’ after this. It’s just like this for eternity, Jim, with many. They neglect to go by God’s ‘Time Table’ which says, ‘Now is the day of salvation,’ and prop themselves up by the vain hope that God’s clock will go slow, and that the day of vengeance will come late. I tell you I see as I never saw before, the importance of going exactly by the Book,” said one of the boys.

“The lesson will not be lost, if we use it aright,” said another.

The young tourist was right. “Time and tide wait for no man.” God’s time for salvation is now, and the now is quickly passing away.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:9, 10.

“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

ML-05/23/1920

"All I Have Left"

A LITTLE boy found joy and peace in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then sought to win others for his Savior.

His father forbade him ever to enter the mission school where he had heard the simple gospel which had given him rest and gladness. He knew that he, as a child, ought to be obedient to his father, and said to him, “Father, I will obey.”

The boy kept his word; but it was observed that every morning and evening he went away, and stayed for some time alone.

His father, followed him on one occasion, and found him under a clump of trees, reading his much-loved Bible.

Rushing forward, the father said, “Why, this is as bad as going to the school. Give me that book.”

“Father,” he replied, bursting into tears, “it’s all I have left.”

The parent’s heart was touched by the earnestness of his child, and he wept with him, and gave him permission to return to the school, and to read his Bible without fear.

Is the Word of God precious to you, dear young reader? Have you found it a joy to your heart, and food to your soul?

To the Psalmist it was better than thousands of gold and silver, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. To the little boy, it was all he had—his all—when he was no longer allowed to hear the gospel preached.

What is the Word of God to you, my dear reader?

“Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.” Psa. 119:2.

ML-05/23/1920

He Is Coming

He is coming—who is coming?

Is it one whom I shall fear?

No! the blessed, kind Lord Jesus,

He who suffered for me here;

He is coming!

In the clouds He will appear.

O, how happy! Those who love Him

Al! His beauty then shall see;

And the glorious sight will make them

Bright and beautiful as He.

In a moment

Like their Savior they shall be.

He will take them up to heaven

From this world and sin apart,

There His Father will receive them

To His home and to His heart;

In His glory,

Never more from Him to part.

Happy children who are waiting,

For that bright and joyful day!

Knowing Jesus as their Savior,

They can watch for Him and say,

“Come, Lord Jesus!

Take Thy little ones away.”

ML-05/23/1920

Waiting and Watching

THIS little boy seems to be waiting for someone. Perhaps for his dear papa to come home, and there he sits on the window sill, looking as far off as he can see, so that he might catch the first sight of the one he is waiting for. We may be sure he loves that one, or he would not sit so patiently and watch.

Let me ask you, dear reader, Are you waiting and watching for anyone?

There is One who loves you very much, more indeed than anyone else, and He has told us that He is coming soon to take all His loved ones to be forever with Himself.

Do you know who that is? I know many of you can answer, that it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there is no one who loves as He does, and He wants our love, and wants us to be waiting and watching for Him to come for us. Are you doing so? Just according to our love to Him, will we be watching for Him.

What a blessed moment it will be, for those who love the Lord Jesus, when He comes, for they will see Him who loved them so much as to die for them on Calvary’s cross. The Scripture says, “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” 1 John 4:19.

Does that great love of His so fill your heart that you love Him so much, that you watch, while you wait for Him to come? May we all think much of His love to us, and that will draw out our love to Him, and then, not knowing what moment He will come, we will do what He has told us, and that is, “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” Matth. 25:13.

ML-05/30/1920

Wonderfully Spared.

CALMLY and quietly the evening had set in, not a cloud was to be seen, and all nature breathed rest and peace.

Rest and peace dwelt also in the small house, built on a hill on the slope of the Kloet, a volcanic mountain in India, where Mr. W. lived with his wife and four children. The youngest was not yet two years old, and the oldest a girl nearly nine.

The children had early learned to bend their knees before the Father who is in heaven, and every evening the family was gathered around the Word of God, and the father remembered them all in prayer.

So it was on the evening of the 19th of May 1919; the family were assembled together and the father had read about Noah; how God had destroyed the world by the deluge, but had preserved Noah and his family in the ark. He pointed out to the children how that the Lord Jesus is also an Ark for all those who put their trust in Him, and how He saves His own from the coming judgment. In fervent prayer, he commended himself and his family to the care of the Almighty during the coming night; after which they all retired to rest.

Suddenly....what was that? In terror father and mother woke up. A heavy shock had caused the house to vibrate and rock. A noise like mighty thunder was heard.

The three oldest children, sleeping in the next room, were also awakened and came crying into their parents’ bedroom, asking tremblingly what the matter was.

Anxiously they all listened... Between the peals of thunder they could plainly hear a dull noise like distant thunder, coming nearer and nearer. The mother pressed the youngest child in her arms, as if to protect it from the threatening danger.

The father opened the window to see what was happening, but started back in terror. In the pale moonlight he saw a black object descending the mountain with incredible speed. An object many yards in height, and of endless length. Hurriedly they all got into the large bedstead.

Only a few seconds later the black object struck with a tremendous blow against the walls of the house. With a crackling noise the door gave way and a flood of mud poured into the house.

From the plantation, a little distance off, came cries of distress and; anguish. They heard the crackling of the bamboo-houses, and it was not long before the outside wall of their house gave way with a loud report pulling down with it a part of the roof. All their faces showed excessive fear, and in despair the parents looked around. What must they do? Flee? Where? Suddenly the oldest girl asked: “Father, have you not yourself taught us that the Lord Jesus is our refuge in time of need, a strong and high tower when danger threatens; did you not tell us yesterday evening that the Lord Jesus will be an Ark for those who trust in Him, when God’s judgments are in the world? Why don’t you pray then?”

Confused the father hung his head, then knelt down beside his wife, the children following his example. Earnestly and fervently sounded their prayer in the midst of the storm and the screams of fear round about them. But it seemed as if their prayer would not be heard a second wave of the flood of mud knocked down the wall of the children’s room.

The father redoubled his prayers. The mother wrung her hands; in another moment she will see her children that she had raised with all the loving care of a mother’s heart, destroyed in that flood, which nothing can resist.

The oldest girl prays and insists on her little brother doing likewise. Fervently and earnestly arose the faithful lisping of childhood. A third wave is the only answer to all their sighs and prayers. It made the house tremble and shake, and knocked down the wall between the children’s room and that of the parents.

The anxiety of death is to be seen on each countenance, but not the anxiety of those who have no hope.

Full of confidence the father, resigns himself and his family to the will of the Lord and says: “Father, if Thou wilt, Thou canst help us and save us from this death, but not as I will but as Thou wilt. In Thy hands we commit our spirits. May Thy name be glorified, by our living, or by our dying.”

He embraced for the last time his wife and children. The mother was also re-signed to the will of God; she took leave of her husband and children, and taking the youngest in her arms so that if possible to protect it with her own body, from harm, she quietly waited for death.

With a dull thud the large linen-closet was thrown down and dragged along by the boiling stream. It bounced against the bed as if it would tear it away with it.

A second closet from the children’s room was thrown against the first. With strength and a roar like a thunderstorm the glowing stream of mud bent around this obstacle in front of the bed as if threatening all with death and destruction.

In the afternoon of the day following this fearful night, a sergeant and some soldiers were busy clearing up the havoc that had been wrought. They came to the spot where Mr. W’s. house had once stood. Coming quite near, the rough men stood as if rooted to the spot and reverently bared their heads. And who could have beheld this spectacle with an unmoved heart?

Of the whole house nothing remained but two pieces of wall, leaning against each other, and pressed quite into the corner a bedstead stood and in front of it like a breakwater, against which the mud was heaped up, two closets. In the bedstead the family W. knelt, thanking God from the bottom of their hearts for His wonderful preservation of their lives.

Yes, God had worked a miracle! Where hundreds of people perished, houses, bridges, trees, everything swept away and destroyed, God found a way of preserving those who trusted in Him. He had listened to their prayer, and also to those of the children, and He had answered their request.

Yes, dear readers, God answers prayer, also the prayers of children. Think always of that; for with our God, nothing is too great and nothing is too small, and it is His great desire that children too should trust Him in everything.

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

ML-05/30/1920

Little Donald's Faith

ONE lovely summer day, little Donald and his wee sister Annie were sent down the lane and across the fields, to pay their aunt a visit. The little pair trotted off very merrily, Donald being only seven years old, proud to have the care of Annie, two years younger.

A pleasant time the bairns had at auntie’s house, so that, as the evening came on, she could hardly get them to start for home. At length they set off, but, in spite of the many injunctions from aunty to go straight back, before mother should begin to fret about them, the children loitered, playing on the road, finding many a temptation to do so in the flowering hedge.

Thus, happy and thoughtless, they did not notice that it was getting late and growing dark, so in the fast deepening shadows, they saw in the lane before them a big horse browsing. Now the horse was, probably, both tired and hungry, and had no thought beyond getting its hard-earned supper, before it took rest; but to the children it seemed an awful and terrible obstacle, right across their homeward path. Donald’s eyes opened wide with terror, as wee Annie clung tremblingly to him.

“O Donald, whatever can we do?” she sobbed.

“I know what we must do, Annie,” answered Donald, after a moment’s hesitation; “we must pray about it.”

And before she could reply, he had knelt down on the road, just where they were, and, with bowed head and closed eyes, was praying earnestly “O God, make the horse go on, for Jesus sake. Amen.”

Little Annie had never seen anyone take a trouble straight to God, and she stood with clasped hands and eager, bright eyes, watching what would happen. To her disappointment nothing happened beyond that the horse stopped eating and stood perfectly still. She shrank back with renewed terror, as Donald quietly took her hand, saying, “Come, Annie, come on.”

“O, but Donald, the horse isn’t gone,” she said.

“No,” he answered cheerily, “it isn’t gone, but we have told God about it, and I expect He means to take us past safely, while it stands still.”

And so it was; the horse never stirred, while the two little children went by, in God’s tender keeping.

Thus Annie learned her first lesson in the school of faith. Have you learned yours? Do you know what it is to take trouble, fear or care to God, and to leave it with Him, believing that He has heard, and will answer in His blessed way?

Perhaps, as with little Donald, He may not see best to remove the trial, but He will most surely, in answer to your prayer, help you to pass through it with His peace keeping your heart, He himself leading you on safely so that you fear not.

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

ML-05/30/1920

God Counts

BROTHER and sister were playing in the dining room, when their mother placed a plate of cakes on the table and went out.

“How nice they look!” said the boy, reaching to take one.

His sister drew back his hand, saying that it was against their mother’s wishes. “She did not count them,” said he. “But perhaps God did,” answered the sister.

So he withdrew from the temptation, and sitting down, seemed to be thinking.

“You are right,” he replied, looking at her with a cheerful, yet serious air. “God does count, for the Bible says, The very hairs of our head are all numbered.”

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. 1:7.

ML-05/30/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for April

1. “When Christ, who is our,” etc. Col. 3:4.

2. “I am crucified with,” etc. Gal. 2:20.

3. “Be careful for nothing,” etc. Phil. 4: 6.

4. Giving thanks always,” etc. Eph. 5:20.

5. “And let us not be weary,” etc. Gal. 6: 9.

6. “That ye might walk,” etc. Col. 1:10.

7. “Above all, taking the,” etc. Eph. 6:16.

ML-06/06/1920

Bible Questions for June

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in Hebrews, James. 1St and 2nd Peter, 1St, 2nd. And 3rd John and Jude.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “He is guilty.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Faithful and just.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Offered Himself.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Receive him not.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Suffering the vengeance.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Eternal glory.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Holy men.”

ML-06/06/1920

Jesus Himself!

“Jesus Christ Himself” Eph. 2:20.

Do you know a sweeter word than that? I don’t think I do.

It seems to bring us right up to Him, quite close.

When the two disciples took that sorrowful walk to Emmaus, Jesus Himself drew near, and there was no more sadness, but hearts burning within them, (Luke 24) and the very mention of it warms our hearts as we read. Then that same evening, when they were telling the disciples about it, Jesus Himself stood in the midst and said, “Peace be unto you.”

It seems as if surely any heart must be touched, when we read again and again, “Christ also hath loved us, and given Himself for us.” (Eph. 5:2.)

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people.” (Titus 2:14.)

“Who gave Himself for our sins,” (Gal. 1:4.) and closer and more wonderful still, “gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20.) Surely He meant us to be touched and softened, and won by such words.

Then we read that because we are flesh and blood, He Himself likewise took part of the same. (Heb. 2:14.)

“Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses,” (Matt. 8:17,) ought to comfort the sick ones.

He Himself suffered being tempted, so that He might help us when we are tempted. (Heb. 2:18.)

There are many other places that I might tell you of, but I would rather you would try and find the rest for yourself.

Jesus HIMSELF! He Himself loves you; He Himself wants your love. It is all real and true; He Himself watches you as you read these words, and waits for your answer of love. Will you not give yourself to Him now and Forever?

He is coming again; and when He comes it will be Jesus Himself that you will see.

“Whom I shall see for myself, and not another.” (Job 19:27.)

No, not another, not a stranger, but “This same Jesus,” “Jesus Himself.” Then we shall know all the sweetness and the glory of the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ!

He Himself, and not another,

He who loves us to the end,

King and Savior, Christ and Lord,

Gracious Master, glorious Friend.

He Himself, whose name and story

Make our hearts within us glow,

He is coming in His glory!

Come, Lord Jesus, even so!

“Surely I come quickly.”

Amen.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20.

ML-06/06/1920

That's Jesus, Mamma!

“MAY Lottie go to Sunday school? I would gladly call for her and see her home every Lord’s day, if you do not object.” And the speaker, Miss B., looked into the fair young face of Lottie’s mamma with a gleam of mingled love and entreaty that told very plainly what a real sorrow a refusal would be. Knowing and loving Christ, she had found it very happy work for Him to gather a class of little girls round her week by week, and tell them in simple words

“The old, old story,

Of Jesus and His love.”

“Lottie is so young, only four years old last month, too young to understand, I should think,” was the not very encouraging answer.

“Not too young to understand, for the Holy Spirit can teach even a very little child, that the Lord Jesus loves and died to save even a little one like her,” was Miss B.’s answer.

So Lottie’s mamma yielded, only saying, “Well, I know I can trust her with you, so if you do not mind the trouble, I shall be quite happy in letting her go.”

Lottie Elmer was an only child—the light and joy of her parents’ hearts and home. Brightly colored picture books, beautiful toys, a canary in a gilded cage, all told of their love and care for their darling Lottie; but they were themselves strangers to the Lord Jesus, so they could not lead her to Him—the Friend of sinners, the Savior of little children.

Miss B. did not forget the promise to call for Lottie, and the Sunday following the conversation at the beginning of my story, the little girl became a Sunday school scholar. Her school-time was very short—only four Sunday afternoons. She learned one text, only one— “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:20.) But why did Lottie go so short a time?

I can almost hear some of my little readers asking, Did she not like going or did she get tired so soon?

You have not guessed the right reason, so I will tell you. Before the fifth Sunday came Lottie was very, very ill. Her mamma sent for the doctor, but he looked grave and shook his head, almost as soon as he saw the little sufferer.

Lottie’s was a very short illness—only three days and nights—during which the kind doctor came and went, while her papa and mamma watched the precious little one they were so soon to lose; anxious, sad days for them, not for Lottie, for though sometimes in great pain, every now and then she would smile into the dear faces bending over her, and whisper, “The Son of man (that’s Jesus, mamma, the Lord Jesus, you know) came to seek and to save that which was lost;’ that’s me, your little Lottie. Jesus does love me.”

And so speaking, in lisping words, of the Savior who had loved and given Himself for her, darling Lottie fell asleep.

Another tiny grave where loving hands still plant spring flowers; the spirit of another little one safe and happy in the presence of Him who said when on earth, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.)

ML-06/06/1920

Lost and Found.

Lost, God’s creatures were through sin,

Good and fair He’d made them,

Satan schemed their souls to win,

Basely, then betrayed them;

God still loved and sent His Son,

Jesus Christ, the Holy One.

Down He came in lowly grave,

All God’s love He told them,

In eternal love’s embrace

Yearning to enfold them;

Thus the Savior’s gracious ways

Won their hearts in olden days.

Little children Jesus took

In His arms, and blessed them,

Chiding those who would rebuke,

As He thus caressed them;

“Suffer them to come to Me,

And forbid them not,” said He.

Then His precious life He gave,

Bore the judgment for them,

Shed His blood their souls to save,

As in death He saw them;

Meeting every sinner’s need,

“Son of God” He is indeed.

Jesus rose from death’s domain,

There no power could hold Him;

Yes! He lives on high again,

Where His saints behold Him

Honored now, with glory crowned,

Given a name o’er all renowned.

Jesus’ love is still the same,

Winning, precious, tender;

Naught but good surrounds the Name

Of the world’s Befriender.

He the love of God has shown,

God as “Father,” too, made known.

Now His Spirit He has given,

All this love to teach them,

Causing all the joys of heaven

By His power to reach them;

Satisfied, they now can raise

Songs of gladness to His praise.

ML-06/06/1920

Cherries Are Ripe

HOW many beautiful and luscious fruits God has given us to eat and enjoy! He is constantly giving us blessings in abundance through His love and mercy to us, and let us not forget to thank Him for them all.

The little girl thinks the beautiful cherries would look pretty for earrings, though God has not given them to us to adorn ourselves, but to be used for food.

Dear children, count up each day all the blessings which you receive from God—food, light, air, clothing, comforts in your home, kind parents and friends, and may you say, as David did, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Psa. 103:2.

While we thank Him for all the gifts which He gives us every day, let us not forget to thank Him from the depths of our hearts for His greater gift, His best gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, the One He gave to die, for us that we might be saved and live with Him Forever.

O, dear children, have you received from God this wondrous gift? Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior? If not, take Him now while He is offered to you, for soon God will offer Him as a Savior no longer. He will soon be the Judge whom God has appointed to judge the world in righteousness. Then no mercy will be shown to those who have rejected Him.

“GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Rom. 5:8

ML-06/06/1920

A Child's Trust.

“Blest Savior! ever at my side,

How loving Thou must be!

From Thy bright home in heaven to watch

A little child like me.

Thy beautiful and shining face

I see not, though Thou’rt near;

Nor can I Thy soft gentle voice

In earthly accents hear.

Yet all I need Thou knowest it,

And givest good to me;

And when I sleep Thou sleepest not,

But watchest tenderly.”

ML-06/06/1920

Taken at His Word

AN Athenian who was once traveling in Judea, said to a Jewish boy, “Here, my boy, is some money; bring us some figs and grapes.” The boy went and purchased the fruit; and returning, gave half of it to the stranger, and kept the other half for himself, greatly to the surprise of the Athenian.

“Is it usual in this country,” said he, “for a messenger to keep half of what he fetches?”

“No sir,” answered the boy; “but always say what we mean, and do as we are told.”

“But,” rejoined the stranger, “I did not tell you to keep half of the fruit.”

“O! what else could you mean, sir?” replied the boy. “You said, ‘Bring us some figs and grapes;’ so of course you meant us both. Does not the word ‘us’ include the hearer as well as the speaker?”

This boy may have been quite right to take the man at his word, but it is evident the stranger did not mean what he said.

We can always be sure when God speaks, He means what He says, and it is for us to take Him at His word. He says, “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 first thing I should like to draw attention to is the word “now.” The Lord wants no time wasted. He does not want us to put off till another time, as another time, or opportunity, may never come, so He wants us to attend to what He has to say right now.

The next thing is, “Let us reason together.” Just think of this, God is asking us to reason along with Him. Are you willing to take Him at His word, like the Jewish boy did the Athenian? He took the word us to mean both of them, so it is here, God wants us to join in with Him on a wonderful subject—of how sins as scarlet can be removed, leaving the stained place as white as snow. How can this be done? God, it is, who alone is able to tell us such a thing. We cannot give an idea that would be suitable to God, so we must listen to what He has to say. He tells us, “IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL.” Lev. 17:11

That word atonement may be a big word for some of you, but it simply means, to cover, so it is blood that can remove the stain of sin, or cover it all up. Another scripture says, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His (God’s) Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Are you willing to put yourself among the us in that verse? If so, you can join in that song, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood....to Him be glory and dominion Forever and ever.” Rev. 1:5, 6.

ML-06/13/1920

He That Heareth, and Believeth, "Hath"

I SHOULD like to tell you how God brought me to Himself. From a little child I was taught to say my prayers morning and evening, but I knew nothing of Jesus, the Savior of sinners. At times I longed to be good, and, like many others, thought I could make myself fit for heaven. God saw it was best to send me a great trial, in taking away by death a dear brother, who was the idol of my heart. My desire after goodness then became greater, but still the Lord Jesus was a stranger to my soul.

About a year after this I took a situation, some distance away from my old home. All were strangers to me, but God had led me into a Christian family. I soon saw they were different from what I was, and I began to long to be a Christian, and day after day I prayed to God to make me feel better, and to make me good. I was not then thinking of Christ, the Savior. Self-improvement was my thought. O, how I missed the road!

One night, when sitting up rather late, I took up a little book, which had been given to me some years before, and began to read until I came to these words: “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.

O, how plain all seemed to me! I just saw that I had nothing to do: Jesus had done it all. He had paid my debt upon the cross, and, believing on Him, I was saved.

It is now over six years since God gave me peace through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. Every day proves that He is “the same yesterday, to-day and forever.” A peace now that no one can take from me—a blessed assurance that I belong to Christ—belongs to me. Jesus is mine, and I am His.

Now, dear young friend, if you have not yet begun to trust the Lord Jesus, will you not begin now? He is waiting to receive you; He will send none away that come to Him. Come, then, now, just as you are, and, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isa. 1:18.

ML-06/13/1920

"Happy Days"

ONE Sunday I was addressing a Sunday school on the important theme of unity, and the last opportunity for each one, which is fast drawing nigh. What made us all think more seriously that afternoon was a solemn occurrence which had taken place in the district only a few days before, two young women had drowned themselves, and entered into the everlasting future unprepared to meet God.

On reaching the friend’s house with whom I was staying, I asked his little girl if she was resting her soul on Jesus, and if she would, there and then, trust Him with her soul? She burst into tears, and continued to weep for a long time, so I did not press her for an answer.

When I was visiting the same town a short time afterward, I was glad to find the little girl resting on Christ, and I learned, too, that she was growing in grace. The following are her own words: “While sitting in the class, one Sunday afternoon, I first realized that Jesus had died for me. But I could not summon up courage to say anything about it to any one until a month afterward, when you were here, and asked me whether I could really say that Jesus had died to save me, and whether I could trust Him. Then for the first time I was able to confess Christ; and now I know I am one of God’s children, and that Christ has borne my sins, and roved them as far as the east is from the west. He loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

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

ML-06/13/1920

Little Mary's Faith

“MAMMA,” said little Mary one day as she came in from Sunday-school, “my teacher says that if we ask God for anything we need, He will give it to us. Is this really true, Mamma?” and the child looked up wonderingly into her mother’s face.

Little Mary’s mother was a poor widow. She possessed few indeed of this world’s goods, but that did not make her less peaceful and contented, because she knew there was a treasure laid up for her in heaven.

“Quite true, Mary,” replied her mother, “the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples, ‘All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ But, remember, Mary it is only true believing faith that God will reward.”

“Well then,” said Mary quickly, “tonight when I say my prayer, I will ask God that we may find a loaf of bread in our cupboard in the morning, and I will run down early,” she added lightly, “and see if it is there.”

The widow made no reply. She looked sorrowfully at her little girl, and offered up a silent prayer that God would teach her, in His own way, how real a thing faith us, and give her, too, that faith which alone can save her, and make her happy.

The day wore away, and evening found little Mary at the accustomed hour, kneeling beside her bed, offering up her usual prayer. She did not forget the special request—this was added; then she slipped into bed, and was soon fast asleep.

The dawn was just breaking in the far-off east, and a star or two were still shining brightly when Mary awoke. Her first thought was about the loaf.

“It is morning now,” she said to herself, “I will go and see if it is there.” She slid quickly from her bed, crossed the room noiselessly lest she should wake her mother, crept down stairs, and glided over the kitchen to the cupboard, the door of which she threw open and peeped in.

Only a faint ray of light shone in through the small window, but there was sufficient to show Mary that what she sought for was not there.

“There now, just what I expected!” exclaimed the child, with a shade of triumph in the tone, as she turned away and hastily regained her bed.

She would gladly have run at once and told her mother, but the hour was too early, and she would not disturb her, so she lay quiet for a time listening for her mother to awake.

An hour or so after she awoke. In an instant Mary was at her side.

“Mamma, mamma!” she exclaimed earnestly, “it is just what I expected, I have been down to the cupboard, and the loaf I prayed for is not there.”

The mother looked for a moment into the face of her child—a look full of sadness—then with marked emphasis, she said, “Just what you expected, do you say, Mary? Then God has given you what you expected—NOTHING!”

There was no need to say more. Quick as lightning she saw her mother’s meaning, and like a knife it cut her to the quick. She felt how very, very unbelieving she had been, and, burying her head in her mother’s lap, she wept bitterly.

Mary never forgot this lesson. Many a time afterward, when she was tempted to doubt, her mother’s words, “It is only true believing faith that God will reward,” came to her remembrance; and she would thank God for the lesson which He Himself had surely taught her.

May each one of our young readers learn a lesson, too, from the story of little Mary’s lack of faith—and not to trust their own deceitful hearts, but look to the Lord Jesus to give them, first of all, the faith that can save them; then entire faith in Him who alone can satisfy and meet their every need.

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3.

ML-06/13/1920

Come to Me

Jesus calls to little children,

And His words are words of love;

“Come to Me, receive My blessing,

Come to Me, and live above.”

“But,” you say, “He lives in heaven,

How can I approach Him there?”

Listen, then to what He utters,

Thus His gracious words declare:

“Though in glory I am seated,

E’en the softest word I hear;

And the voice of little children

Soundeth sweetly in My ear.

“For My love to ruined sinners

To this wretched world I came;

Here I died to make atonement,

Justice now no more can claim.

“Sinners now in Me believing

Everlasting life receive;

Come, in faith, to Me for pardon—

I have died that thou may’st live.”

ML-06/13/1920

The Shetland Pony.

NEARLY every child is fond of the beautiful little Shetland pony, and when they are able to get one they are delighted.

I once read of two children whose father had bought them one of these ponies, and they took the best of care of it, and it was a real pet for them, but the father lost his money and had to do away with every luxury, so the little pony had to go too. You can understand what a disappointment that was to the two children.

What a lesson we may get from this as we consider it is just a sample of all in this life. We get something that pleases us well, but very soon we get a big disappointment, and our pleasures and joys are brought to an end. We can say according to Scripture, “All is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Eccles. 1:14. There is nothing here that can give us lasting joy, for it will soon pass away.

Where then shall we turn to find lasting joy? There was One here on earth that God could look down upon and say, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” If God was satisfied with Him, we may be sure, if we have God’s thoughts, He will be sufficient for us also.

In order to be in this condition we need first to have the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and after that we can learn and appreciate the many wonderful things that are given to us about Him in the Word of God. Then our hearts are attached to Him and we can say we are never disappointed in Him.

Dear child, seek to know Him as your Savior, if you have not done so, and then go on to learn more and more of Him, and you will be able to say in the language of Scripture, “He is altogether lovely.”

He was the gentle, lowly and meek One. When any did Him a wrong, He just left it to God to justify Him. When they smote Him, He did not smite back; when any charged Him wrongfully, He did not reply. Yes, dear child, there was never another like Him. To be occupied with Him is to find constant satisfaction and peace in our hearts.

“TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS.” Matth. 11:29.

ML-06/20/1920

The Slave

THE scene of our story lies in Africa, the dark land of slavery, ignorance, and cruelty. A broad deep river flows down towards the clear blue sea.

Along by the side of the river there came a large wagon drawn by a long team of oxen. The wagon stopped close to the river, and a young Englishman left it and came down towards the water. He is going to wash in the cool water of the river, for it is hot work traveling in Africa.

At this moment wild yells and shouts are heard from the woods on the other side of the river. Out of the woods dashed a poor, black slave, and down through the high tangled rushes he tears his way towards the river. Into the river he dashed and swam for his life, without a thought of the terrible crocodile which may be very near. A band of fierce, cruel, black warriors rushed out of the woods, led by a tall, terrible looking chief.

As the poor slave tired out and quite out of breath—reached the bank near the young white man, his cruel enemies threw themselves into the river on the other side. A shower of darts fell around the wretched slave, one of which struck him and was buried deep in his leg. He falls—but with one bound the brave Englishman was by his side. Calmly he stands and waits while the cruel hunters swim the river, and dash up the bank towards him.

What has the poor slave done that he is so hunted? Nothing! but the chief’s little son has died, and he accuses this slave of having bewitched him, and so caused him to die. Terrible was the chief’s cruel rage. But the slave is as innocent as the father himself, and it is to escape a dreadful, and cruel death he flies before the fierce warriors.

And now the savage chief stands face to face with the white man, who has often traded with him. Never before has he seen him in such a terrible rage, but he is not afraid of the chief, but only wants to save the poor slave.

Long the white man pleads with the angry chief, and the chief respects him much for his honest, truthful dealings, as well as for the sake of his being an Englishman. In the wagon is all the young trader’s fortune—all he has collected in Africa to carry home to England. He offers it all to the chief for the poor wounded slave, that he may save his life. A great and loving heart has the white-man, but no, his heart sinks as the fierce savage chief refuses it all. He will have nothing but blood—the poor wretch shall die.

The chief waved his hand, and instantly another dart was aimed at the poor slave—but another receives it. The white man stepped between, and the white man’s blood flows instead of the black man’s.

In great alarm, the chief saw what he had done, for he feared the power of England, and was terribly frightened at having hurt an Englishman.

Very gladly he listened as the white man asked for the life of the poor slave in exchange for the blood the black chief had shed.

Yes, the loving, generous white man has bought the slave with blood; and the chief, glad to escape so easily, again swam the river with his black followers and disappeared into the woods, and the white man was left with his ransomed slave.

Now the darts must be drawn and the wounds bound up, then the white man with the black man by his side, continues his journey in the wagon, and the driver walked by the side of the oxen. Soon they reached a mission station where they rested for the night and remained till their wounds were healed.

O how grateful the poor negro was to his kind Savior. He well understood that his life had been saved by the blood of the loving white man. The white man told him that he was free—free as the air. What did the ransomed slave thing of this? He would only be free to serve his Savior; free to be the faithful slave of the one whose blood was shed to save, who offered all to ransom him—this is the only freedom he will have.

Now, little friends, for another story, not now about African deserts and African slaves.

I, too, was once a slave, born a slave, and a dear Friend saved me from my cruel enemies. He died to save me; died a terrible death, far worse than you can imagine. O, what love to die for me!

The loving Englishman shed his blood, received the dart for the black slave, but my Savior went into death to free me.

“Ah,” you say, “I know who you mean. It was the Lord Jesus who died for you.”

I wonder if you can say, “He died to save me, too. I was a slave, too, and He loved me, and died to set me free”?

Yes, He died to set us free, free from the power of the cruel Satan; and free, too, from sin. Are we as grateful to our loving Savior as the poor black man was to the white man? Can we say, like the poor black man, “Yes, free to be the faithful slave of the One who shed His precious blood to save me.”

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

“When we were yet without strength; in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6.

ML-06/20/1920

"Look Where You Are Going."

A MAN was taking a walk along the cliffs, and reading a paper as he went along.

He was some yards from the edge of the cliffs. Above him the warm sun shone brightly, the soft turf was under his feet, and, with his head bent over his paper he walked along with his mind taken up with what he was reading.

Presently he happened to look up from his paper, and with a start stopped abruptly and just in time, for only a foot or two before, him was the edge of the cliff. He thought he had been walking parallel to the edge, but in reality he had been moving gradually and unknowingly nearer and nearer to it. He was in danger all the time, but did not know it. A few steps more, and he might have been dashed to pieces over the cliff.

Many of the boys and girls who read this paper are in danger, and do not know it. They are in danger of losing not their bodies, but their souls. Their sins are still unforgiven. They do not know and love the Lord Jesus as their own Savior, although, maybe, they are constantly hearing about Him. They feel happy and contented enough. Their play, their work, their books, their friends—all these take up their thoughts and they care little or nothing about where they are going.

You say, “Why didn’t that man look where he was going?” but I ask, Why don’t YOU look where YOU are going? We cannot trifle with God and eternity, and then expect it to be all right with us at the end. The instant that man looked where he was going and saw his danger, he stopped, and got away from the edge of the cliff. He got to know his danger in time.

While your sins are not forgiven you are on the road to everlasting ruin. Believe God, now that you are condemned, this moment, for one sin is enough to make us guilty and worthy of punishment, and so you will know your danger, and then turn to the Lord Jesus and take Him as your Savior. Remember, while still unsaved, you are in danger all the time; but after reading this, you cannot say you do not know it.

ML-06/20/1920

"Nothing but the Blood"

“WASHING away past things? Nothing but the blood, sir —nothing but the blood!” “When did you learn that?”

“Only last Sunday evening, but I’m too full to speak of it tonight, sir.”

Such was the short conversation that took place between a Christian and a railway employee.

Has the love of God filled your heart with joy unspeakable? Such joy as this the world cannot give; it is found in Christ alone. He said to His disciples: “These things have I spoken unto you, that your joy might be full.” John 15:11.

“Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Heb. 9:22.

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

“Nothing but the precious blood

Can give lasting peace with God,

For the heart so dark, so stained with sin

and guilt;

There is nothing can atone

But the blood of Christ alone,

Blood which Christ in love for guilty

sinners spilt.

Trusting in that precious blood

There is perfect peace with God;

Saved for glory, wondrous story,

Saved through Jesus’ precious blood.”

ML-06/20/1920

A Little Girl's Favorite Text.

A GENTLEMAN once met a little girl, and asked her if she loved the Bible.

“Yes, sir, I love the Bible,” she said.

She was then asked if there was one portion of it, or one passage, that she loved better than the rest.

She said, she loved it all; but if she was permitted to love one portion more than the rest, it was, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” On this she rested.

Ah, that is a beautiful text, for the one who comes may be old or young, rich or poor, ignorant or learned, well-behaved or very bad—if he comes to Jesus, He will in nowise cast out. O do come to Him, dear children!

ML-06/20/1920

A Little Polish Nobleman.

IN the year 1739 the celebrated Polish dwarf, Count Borowlaski, was born.

When he was fully grown he measured less than three feet. He was not like most of dwarfs who have large heads and small bodies, but was well-proportioned and consequently many people like to see such, as they are quite a curiosity. He loved to travel, and Ireland was one of the places he visited.

A story is told about the Irish giant, O’Brien, who stood eight feet seven inches in his socks, as having been invited to appear before a number of gentlemen at a dinner, and having met this Polish dwarf, he persuaded him to be taken in his pocket to this dinner. When he appeared at the dinner, all the gentlemen were seated, and what did O’Brien do but take the Count out of his pocket and place him on the table. You may imagine the surprise and amusement it gave to those onlookers. They wanted to be entertained, and they certainly were, with these two extremes in size. No doubt O’Brien was proud because he was so tall, and Count Borowlaski was too, because he was an object of admiration, but we can say in the light of Scripture, how foolish all that is. The Scripture says, “THE LORD SEETH NOT AS MAN SEETH; FOR MAN LOOKETH ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART” 1 Sam. 16:7.

Many may have a very fine appearance and dress well, so they will be admired by others, and yet in their hearts they may not have the fear of the Lord before them, and so do not have Christ as their Savior, and are on the broad road that leadeth to destruction. What profit would it be to have a fine appearance before our fellow men, and to hear finally from the Lord, “Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity?” Dear reader, may you not be concerned about what people think of you, or how they may admire you, but do not rest until you can say, I am saved, for I have Christ as my Savior.

ML-06/27/1920

Ada and Isabelle.

ADA and Isabelle, when little girls, were what are called, “bosom friends” —when one was to be seen, the other was never far off, and, what was more remarkable, they never had the least little quarrel; and yet, for all that, neither of them loved the Savior—they lived their little lives without Him. But God in love was watching over these two children, and was about to reveal His Son to them before the evil days come.

It happened in this way. A Sunday-school teacher, having failed to persuade them to attend school in which he taught, thought that probably he might succeed in getting them to come to his Bible class, and that thus two souls might be won for the Lord. They both came, and seemed very much interested, and soon became quite attached to their teacher, who always managed to bring in a little word for those who had not yet come to Christ.

One evening as he walked home with some of his scholars, he asked them, by the way, some questions concerning their souls’ salvation.

Turning to Isabelle, he said, “Can you say that you are now on the narrow path?”

“O yes, indeed I can,” was the prompt reply.

“Is it because you are a good girl?” asked he, wishing to make sure that she was not resting on any false hope.

“O, no,” she replied, almost crying at the thought. “If you only knew how miserable I have been because of my sins!”

“Then you have found out that you are a sinner?”

“Yes,” the child answered.

“Tell me how it came about.”

“Well,” said Isabelle, “for a whole week I had been so unhappy, and I kept saying to myself, ‘I wish I could say I am saved, but I was so afraid I would be telling a lie; and then, while you were speaking to us, the Lord seemed to say to me, Isabelle, you are wishing for something which I am offering you, and all you have to do is to simply take it.’ At once I saw it clearly, and I did take Jesus as my Savior, and many thanks to Him! I am so happy now!”

So teacher and scholar rejoiced together.

But my young readers will wonder what became of our other little friend Ada. Well, I must tell you how this good news affected her. The same evening that Isabelle had spoken to her teacher, he was pouring out his heart in thankfulness to the Lord, who had seen fit to use him to turn a soul to Him, and at the same time his little scholar was in her room with a troubled heart. She was thinking of her dear friend, Ada, who had not yet trusted the Savior. In the midst of her sorrowful thoughts, a quiet voice seemed to say, “Pray for her; prayer will be answered; it was answered for you.”

Was there ever a real prayer left un-answered yet? Before Isabelle rose from her knees, Ada was tossing restlessly on her bed. Thoughts had come into her mind which had never been there before. Her friend, thought she, was heavenward-bound, but where was she bound? The little girl wished the morning would come, so that she might run and tell Isabelle that she wanted to go with her to God’s beautiful home. Her thoughts ran on, till at last she fell asleep and dreamed that Isabelle had gone to heaven, and that she herself was left outside the gate!

Ada took the earliest opportunity to find her friend. Isabelle saw her coming, and ran quickly to meet her, and asked whether anything was wrong, and what it was that had brought her out so early.

“I cannot bear the thought of your going to heaven without me, Isabelle,” said Ada.

“So you are willing to come, too, darling Ada?”

“Yes, but how can I come?”

Then Isabelle pointed her friend to the Lord Jesus, who alone can save. After a while the light from above dawned upon her soul. She accepted Him as her Savior, and then both little friends were, heavenward-bound. How happy they both were, and they talked often together about the One who had saved them.

“When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,

That your dear Savior may be their Savior, too;

O! pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,

And prayer will be answered; ’twas answered for you.”

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

ML-06/27/1920

How a Boy Bought a Bible.

JOHN Davies was but thirteen years of age when he purchased a Bible for himself with his own money.

Of course in our day many children younger than he have procured Bibles for their own use; but in his day, years ago, Bibles were much more scarce than they are now. Thus as will be seen, it needed considerable self-denial on the part of John Davies if he would obtain the desired volume.

He was the son of a poor widow.

One bitterly cold night he arrived at the book store at ten o’clock, and finding that the store was closed, he went to the house and knocked. The little circle within the house had gathered for their reading of the Scriptures and prayer, and he was at first unanswered.

But he continued knocking, and his perseverance was at length rewarded.

Opening the door the servant asked what he wanted.

He replied, “A Bible.”

“If you come in the morning,” said the store keeper, who had drawn near, “you can have one.”

“I cannot, sir, as I work two miles from Newton, and don’t return home until late at night.”

“Come in then, and you shall have one.”

In answer to further questions he told the bookseller that he heard that Bibles could be got very cheap at that store, and therefore had saved money in order to get one for himself.

Receiving the book he went off with his purchase, well satisfied.

The next morning his widowed mother came to the bookstore with the Bible in her hand. At first he feared that the money with which it had been bought had been got in some wrong way, but his doubts were soon dismissed.

“Did my little boy buy this Bible here last night?”

“He did, and told me that he saved the money for that purpose.”

“And how do you think he saved it?” “I cannot say.”

“Well, I will tell you. Having to leave home very early every morning, I cut him two large pieces of black bread, (for I cannot get anything better,) one for his breakfast and the other for his dinner; his supper he had when he came home at night; and with this I gave him a halfpenny each day to buy some milk, and told him to divide it into two equal parts, to drink with his slices of bread.” The mother paused, for her feelings almost overcame her, but with an effort she proceeded, “The little boy ate the black bread, and drank water in order to save money to buy this Bible.”

Such is the story. What do you think of it, my reader! Have you such a love for God’s Word?

In this day many are turning from truth unto fables.

May God give you to value the Scriptures, to hide them in your heart, to think over them, to feed upon them, and to esteem them more than thousands of gold and silver.

ML-06/27/1920

Jesus Is Coming.

MANY boys and girls think that there is plenty of time to be saved. They are young and want to enjoy life, and when they are grown up they think there will be many opportunities of trusting Christ.

There are two reasons against this idea. First, boys and girls sometimes die, and never live to be grown up. Second, the Lord Jesus is coming quickly, and He may come today. When He comes all the Christians will go—men and women, boys and girls—and then the door of salvation will be closed, and the unbelieving shut out.

The Bible plainly tells us about this great event. The Lord Jesus will descend into the air with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. All the dead Christians will arise out of their graves, and the living Christians will be changed and given bodies of glory, and all caught up joyfully to meet their Lord and Savior in the air. You can read about this in 1 Thessalonians 4, and about the door being shut in Matthew 25.

Are you ready for this event? Happy and joyful for the Christian boy or girl; sad beyond anything for those who are unbelieving. I remember when a lad I would sometimes awake in the middle of the night. All was so dark and quiet and the fear would steal into my heart that the Lord had come, taken my parents and all the Christians to heaven, and that I was left behind for judgment. Thank God, this had its effect upon me, and made me willing to trust the Lord Jesus as my Savior, and thus be ready. Are you ready?

ML-06/27/1920

He Died for Me.

I muse upon the cross of Christ,

The Savior crucified;

And love repeats in whispers low,

“’Twas in my place He died.”

Unworthy of such mighty love,

I have no other plea,

But when His justice marked my guilt,

I cried, “He died for me.”

He took my place, my soul is free;

The price has all been paid:

On Him that day upon the tree

My many sins were laid.

ML-06/27/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for May

1. “For there is one,” etc. 1 Tim. 2: 5.

2. “And the very God of,” etc. 1 Thess. 5:23.

3. “Hearing of thy love,” etc. Philemon 5.

4. “And to wait for His,” etc. 1 Thess: 1:10.

5. “Looking for that blessed,” etc. Titus 2:13.

6. “And that from a child,” etc. 2 Tim. 3:15.

7. “And the Lord direct,” etc. 2 Thess. 3:5.

ML-07/04/1920

Bible Questions for July

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers Are to Be Found in Revelation.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Hold Fast.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Testifieth.” “I come quickly.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The great winepress.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Every eye.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The inhabiters of the earth.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The great day.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “No more death.”

ML-07/04/1920

A Child's Dream.

THE following incident occurred to a young girl. She had given herself to the Lord Jesus, and she knew He loved her, because she believed He had said, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matth. 9:13.

She felt she was a very great sinner, but she wanted some proof that He loved her individual self, and had accepted the poor, cold love of her heart, which was the best she had to offer Him. She wanted to feel certain that she was safe, and sure of spending eternity with the Lord Jesus, so one evening when she was deeply exercised about it, she prayed earnestly to her Father in heaven, that she might have some texts brought vividly to her mind during the night, as a proof that she was accepted in Christ, and of her future in eternity.

If she had only known, and rested on the unerring Word of God, which says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the goad pleasure of His will, 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.) she would have had rest and peace in believing.

She slept and awoke; no verse had been brought before her, but the night was not half gone, so she composed herself to sleep again, feeling sure it would come. She slept, and on awaking again, she found herself repeating, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isa. 41:10.

Then followed, “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” Prov. 3:24.

What need to add more? Was it not enough to brighten her faith? For this reason it is written, that it may help and encourage others to place their whole trust and confidence in the Word and Wisdom of our loving Father and God, for truly His ways are wonderful.

We ought to believe God. His word is surely sufficient. But the Lord is very pitiful. See how tenderly He dealt with Gideon in Judges 6:36-40.

ML-07/04/1920

"Deliver My Soul, O Lord, From Lying Lips."

Psa. 120:2.

SHALL never forget an untruth I once told, although, it happened when I was a very little girl. My younger sister had a penny, with which she wished to buy a fig, but being too sick to go to the store herself, she asked me to go. Accordingly I went.

As I returned with the fig nicely folded up in a small piece of paper, suddenly the thought occurred to me that I should like to take a peep at the fig. So I very carefully opened the paper, when the fig looked so very tempting, I thought I could not help tasting it at one end. I had scarcely tasted it before I wanted it all; and without much more thought I ate up the whole fig! Then when it was all gone, I had nothing to do but to think. I began to feel very uncomfortable. I stood disgraced before myself. I thought of running somewhere, I did not exactly know where, but to get away from everyone. It was not long before I reached home; I went as quickly as I could.

I told my sister that I had lost the penny. I remember she cried sadly. But I went right out into the garden, and tried to think of something else, but in vain. My own guilt stared me steadily in the face, and I was wretched. Although it was only a few minutes to the dinner-hour, yet it seemed very long to me. I was anxious some event might intervene between me and the lie I had told. I wandered about with a very heavy spirit. I thought I would give worlds if it had not happened.

When the dinner-hour came, I was seated in my high chair at my father’s side, when my sister made her appearance, crying, and looking very much grieved. My father immediately asked what was the matter. Then my mother stated the story, the conclusion of which was, that I had “lost the penny”.

I can never forget the look of kind, perfectly unsuspecting confidante with which my father turned on me, and with his large blue eyes full in my face, said, “Where did you lose the penny? Perhaps we can find it again.”

Not for a single instant could I brave that tone and look, but bursting into tears, I screamed out, “O, I did not lose the penny—I ate up the fig.”

A silence, as of the grave, ensued. No one spoke. In an instant I seemed to be separated at an immense distance from all the rest of the family. A great gulf yawned between us. A sense of loneliness and desolation came over me, the impression of which will go with me Forever. I left the table, and all that afternoon, the next day, and during the week, my feelings were melancholy in the extreme. But as time wore away, and my father and mother, brothers and sisters, received me back to their love and favor, my spirits recovered their usual tone. The whole event left an indelible impression on my mind and heart. It convinced me that “the way of transgressors is hard.”

Dear young reader, whatever it costs you, be truthful. It will cost you more to be untruthful. Through fear, children are sometimes driven to tell a lie. Whatever you do, be truthful. May this be your motto all through your life.

“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.” Prov. 12:22.

How solemn are these words of Scripture, “All liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Rev. 21:8.

To be truthful is not enough; salvation through the finished work of Christ is needed, if we are to be truly happy for time and eternity. No one can escape the lake of fire and get to heaven but by the Lord Jesus Christ, and His work on the cross.

Accept Him now as your own Savior, dear children, and He will keep you from evil, if you go to Him for strength day by day, and are in dependence on Him.

ML-07/04/1920

I Am Going to Him.

I VISITED a dear little girl, who was at the point of death, and was passing through great suffering.

After speaking to her gently for a few moments, I asked her if she loved Jesus. She faintly smiled, and said, “Yes, I love Jesus, and I am going to Him.”

Though her body was racked with pain, she could just utter these few words; it gave me great joy to know that the dear child was simply trusting Jesus, and would soon be with Him.

Dear young readers, remember that this life is uncertain, and that many die early. Trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ now, before sickness comes upon you, and then you will be able to say with this little girl, should you be called to die, “Yes, I love Jesus, and I am going to Him.”

We may not be called away by death, but we know the Lord Jesus is coming very soon to call away all His own to meet Him in the air, and go with Him to His Father’s house, and live with Him Forever. We do not know how soon He may come, but we know He is certainly coming, and He said, “Surely I come quickly.”

If you do not want to be left behind when He comes, you must accept Him as your Savior, right now; there is no time to lose.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; be-hold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML-07/04/1920

The Highland Keeper's Daughter.

WAY in the beautiful highlands of Scotland, such a scene as we have in our picture this week, can often be witnessed. The women there do a great deal of work outside of the house—work that is often too hard for them. God has made the woman the weaker vessel, and to be a keeper of the house, so the dear mother can take care of her children and have the meals ready for the husband when the hour comes, and also to look after their clothes and their comforts in every way. How wonderful are all God’s ways, for such is His ordering, but we find how distorted and out of place everything is in this world.

How is it that disorder has come in God’s creation? The answer is, Sin has come in through Satan, and consequently God’s wonderful creation is spoiled, and there is sickness and sorrow and hard toil. God told man, on account of his sin, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. 3:19.

There is another thing, God has come with a great blessing for man, not by patching up the ruined condition, but by bringing in a new creation through the Lord Jesus Christ, so on the cross He bore the full penalty for sin, and all who will put their trust in Him—believe in Him as their Savior—are delivered from the eternal results of sin, and when the Lord comes He will deliver from all the suffering and disorder that has come in through sin.

Are you trusting that Savior? Are you resting on Him as the One who bore the awful penalty of being shut out of God’s presence for your sins? If you are, you can rejoice in that scripture “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.” Rom. 8:1.

God looks at such in Christ, the One who has been fully under the results of sin, and is now risen triumphant over all the effects of sin. If you do not believe in Jesus, God’s Word says, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36.

ML-07/04/1920

Happy Children.

NOT a care nor thought of danger as the dear little children have lots of fun playing in the hay. Their time is spent, not in making clothes, or in preparing food, or keeping house, but just playing, and yet they get clothes and food and have a home to live in. How is that?

God cares for them. He has provided a father and mother for them, and gives the father the ability to earn the living, and the mother to take care of it for them at home, so while the dear children have not the ability to provide for themselves. God takes care of them in that way.

There is something God wants them to do, and that is to obey their parents; so while they are not able to do these other things that God has given their parents to do, they must remember that God wants them to obey, that is, to do what they are told, for the Scriptures say, “CHILDREN OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN ALL THINGS; FOR THIS IS WELL PLEASING UNTO THE LORD.” Col. 3:20.

A disobedient child gets himself in trouble, for while he is disobeying it might seem very pleasant to him but afterward comes the punishment and then he is not happy, for he is reaping the result of disobedience. It is so all through life, for there is never a time that we should please ourselves, and if we, do, God will let us reap a bad result.

Those who disobey God’s Word, and will not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall suffer the awful results Forever, and that will be banishment from God’s presence. Those who obey that Word shall be saved from that awful result, and instead, have eternity with the Lord Jesus their Savior. Then for time be blessed, if they walk in His ways and obey His Word.

ML-07/11/1920

The King in the Balance

THE king’s great feast was spread, and his thousand guests were arriving, taking their places in the long banqueting hall; but, just when the heart of each one is lifted up within as the wine flows freely, suddenly the flushed cheek of the king is seen to grow pale; his thoughts trouble him, and the joints of his knees are loosed, and smite one against another.

What is the meaning of his strange actions? Has grim death, with his icy grip, laid his hand upon him? Is he seized with some disease or a fit?

Every eye is turned for a solution of the problem. Hark! he cries aloud; his countenance is changed; his gaze is fixed. There, opposite the king’s candlestick, in the blaze of the light, appears a man’s hand in all its mystery, yet clearness. It writes upon the plaster of the wall certain wondrous words. This could be no work of the astrologers or soothsayers of Babylon—no magician’s cunning or magic craft. It was plain, above board, and distinct.

One of those five words that hand wrote upon the palace wall, was, “Tekel,” which Daniel interprets to mean, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

Who had dated to put Belshazzar in the scales? What lord had fixed the weights? or whose fingers had carefully adjusted, and whose hand had held, those balances? His nobles declared him monarch of the world. All envied this great man of the earth, and princes fell before him. Who, then, judged Bel-shazzar?

The One whom he least regarded. He had lived in forgetfulness of Him, even the King of kings.

He had placed the king of Babylon in the scales, and the Lord of lords had fixed the weights. The judgment was given, “Thou art found wanting—thou art not up to weight—thou hast come short.”

How different are the thoughts of God from the thoughts of man. The wisdom of the wise men would have judged very differently from the wisdom of God. But a higher court than that of Babylon, and a Supreme Judge had passed His verdict: “Thou art found wanting.”

But now, dear young friends, what about yourselves? You are neither kings nor queens, nor even men or women; some of you are very young, but have these balances anything to do with you? Yes, indeed, they have. God knows all about you; you cannot get away from Him.

What the Lord God did with the great Belshazzar two or three thousand years ago, He has done with you. He has weighed you. He has poised you in His hand, and found that you do not come up to weight. With you in one side of the balance, and His first commandment in the counter scale, up you go as a light weight, for He has not seen your whole soul set upon Himself alone. Weight after weight is thrown in, till all the ten have only proved surely the same solemn truth, that you are only to be cast out as wholly unprofitable. If you had stood at the bar of your companions, their judgment of you would have been widely at variance.

It may be you are beloved, both in the family and the social circle, but an unseen eye has scrutinized you through and through, you have utterly and continually come short; so that with absolutely nothing to bring to God, you are cast, as a helplessly lost one, upon the mercy of God. But with God there is mercy. He has made a great provision for you. God weighed Christ as a man, and there was nothing found wanting in Him. He went much beyond that; He greatly glorified God in His whole life, and then He, the only spotless One, gave Himself a ransom for sinners, and now God declares that all who believe in Him are complete in, Him, and even accepted in that perfect, risen Christ.

“There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23.

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

ML-07/11/1920

Saved From Death.

A LITTLE girl was one day playing in a pretty garden, picking the fruit and flowers, and merrily enjoying the moments as they flew. All at once she ran away from her companions, and, hurrying along, was soon in a position of great danger. The garden was at the top of a cliff, at whose foot the deep sea lay, and in one part of the garden there was neither wall, hedge, nor railing at the side that was nearest to the cliff. The child ran on, not knowing what was before her, and reaching the edge of the terrible spot, would have been dashed over on the rocks below, and killed, had not one of her friends pursued her and grasped her firmly with one hand. By the mercy of God her life was thus saved, but the scene was never forgotten.

Dear young reader, every week, every day is gliding rapidly away. Time is flying, and every hour you are growing older. You are going on, on, on; let me ask you where? Are you rushing on, without seeking to know where your steps may lead you? Let me tell you that you are going either to heaven or to hell. Your sinful thoughts and words are more in number than the stars in the sky; and unless you have already come to Jesus, and received the pardon of your sins, you are in awful danger.

“But, if it be so, how can I get rid of sin?” you may ask; “for I have heard that God will never admit sinners into heaven.” Sin can be got rid of only through Jesus. God, full of tender love and pity for lost, perishing souls, sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross. Listen now to His words, “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;” and now every one who believes in Him is saved. This is a simple, but a most blessed truth.

ML-07/11/1920

Little Nellie.

I KNOW how much little ones love to hear about other children, so I am going to tell you about a dear little girl whose governess I was some years ago.

Nellie, like many other little girls and boys I have known, had the habit of taking off her gloves when out of doors. She had often been told not to do so, lest she should lose them. Well, one day while riding with her papa, mamma, and myself, she forgot what I had so often told her, and took them off. They were a nice pair of new gloves.

In a few minutes she found she had lost one. Her papa, who was very angry with her repeated disobedience, desired her to get out of the carriage and go and look for it, saying he should drive on, and she might either wait for our return, or go home again. We were about a mile from the house, and it was a lovely bright day early in June. I felt very sorry for the dear little thing, knowing she was naturally very timid, and would feel terrified by being left alone, so I asked to be allowed to help her to look; but her papa, wishing to punish her, would not allow me, so I could only ask the Lord to be with her.

I can see her sorrowful little face now, as we drove off, and left her by the roadside.

We were gone nearly two hours, and you can fancy how often my heart was with Nellie in that time, as I wondered whether she had found her glove, whether she was still waiting for us to return, or had gone home; and very glad I was when we started homewards. As we neared the spot where we had left her, I anxiously looked out for her little figure, and about a quarter of a mile nearer the house than we had left her we saw her standing by the roadside, awaiting us. She looked up very happily, showing us the glove, but the red swollen eyes told their own tale.

Her papa asked her where she had found it; she told him a man gave it to her who had found it, in the road, and nothing more was said.

On reaching home Nellie went to the nursery, and I did not see her again until after dinner.

I had gone to my room to get ready to go to a small Bible reading I had for some old women in the village near, and Nellie came to ask if she might go with me. As I knew their mamma never objected to any of them going who wished, I told her, “Yes,” and she ran off to get dressed. I felt there was something peculiar in the child’s manner, as she put her little hand in mine; and we were scarcely out of sight of the house before she said, “O, I am so happy, I know Jesus now.”

“How is that, Nellie?” I asked; “tell me about it.”

She then gave me the following account, which I will tell you in her own words as nearly as possible.

“After you had all left me, I felt rather afraid of being quite alone; but all at once I thought, Well, if it is true, as Miss G. has so often told me, that Jesus is always near, and knows everything about us, and loves us so much, He must know why I am here, and all about my glove.

I’ll ask Him, and then I shall see if it really is true. So I knelt down and said, ‘O, Jesus, have you really died for me? are you living in heaven now? do you love me? and O, dear Lord Jesus, do take care of me, and let me find my glove.’

“I felt very happy while I was kneeling down, and somehow I felt that Jesus was really, very near, and listening to all I said; and when I got up I felt so sure I should find the glove, and not a bit afraid, and everything looked so bright and beautiful.

“I went on a little way, and looked about as I went for my glove. In a few minutes a man came along and said, ‘Well, little maid, what are you looking for?’ I told him a brown kid glove. He laughed, and said, ‘Well, I wonder whether this is it,’ and held up my own very glove. I was so glad, and thanked him very much.’

As soon as he was out of sight, I knelt down behind the hedge, and thanked Jesus, O, so very much, for I knew He had made the man give me my glove, and that he had heard me ask Him for it. I did not go home because I liked staying out there in the sunshine, thinking how good He was, and He seemed with me all the time.”

“So you see,” she added, “I do know your Jesus now, and He is mine too.”

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

ML-07/11/1920

Jealousy.

POOR Shep does not like to see his little playmate fondling the little kittens on her lap, and he is not getting any attention, so he has put his paw on her knee, and looks into her face as much as to say, “Are you not going pet me, too?”

We need not wonder at the poor dog being selfish, as it does not know any better, but how sad to see children and grown up people too, jealous of someone else having something that they do not have, and you know, that is selfishness. The Lord Jesus was not that way, for He gave up all that He had, even His life, for poor sinners as we are, and now He is waiting for that time when He will take all who put their trust in Him to His bright home above to share all that He has. Who do you think is like the Lord Jesus? I am sure we can say there is no one just like Him; but if we know Him as our Savior, as the One who gave His life for us, we can ask Him for grace that we may be more like Him, and thus be pleasing to God in all our ways down here.

“LET US HAVE GRACE, WHEREBY WE MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR.” Heb. 12:28.

ML-07/18/1920

A Noble Self-Sacrifice.

TERRIBLE storm, raged on the Irish coast, and one of the oldest inhabitants of T., a small fishing village, could not remember one like it. In the imposing castle, that was built on the rocks, the inmates seemed to feel no inconvenience from the storm. A flood of light poured from the windows, and inside, it was pleasant and comfortable.

A hoy came running straight up the entrance of the castle. His cap was pulled down over his ears, and his hands were held deep in his pockets, and so the storm did not trouble him.

Just then the large dinner-bell ring and he hurried in to get ready. When he entered the dining-room, the whole family were seated at the table, and he excused himself for being late.

“That poor boy, Robert Garth, fell this afternoon and hurt himself badly,” he said, “and I took him home to his mother, as he was screaming with pain.”

“Poor boy,” answered his older brother, “that is too hard for him, especially as his father is expected home today from a long voyage. The “Storm-bird,” the boat in which he is, ought to arrive tonight.”

When the meal was over, William, as the young inmate of the castle was cancel, went once more to see how Robert was getting on, and took with him a picture book and some candy that he had promised him.

In spite of the heavy storm, he went no his way cheerfully, following the curve of the hay, that was unapproachable from the top, and could only be reached down below when the tide was out.

With some surprise he heard beneath him the murmur of voices. Who could be there in such rough weather as this?

While he was still wondering, he noticed the splashing of oars, and saw that a boat was pushed off from the shore and went off. Suddenly he perceived at a little distance that a red light was hoisted up on the mast of another boat; the first one returned soon and the men pulled it up on the strand and everything was quiet again.

“What does that red light mean?” thought William, as he continued on his way, “and what are those people doing so late in the day in this out-of-the-way bay?’

Finally, he reached the small house in which Robert and his mother lived. After hearing that Robert was sleeping calmly, he asked the woman if she knew what the red light was for.

“There yonder, you mean? Well, that is the lighthouse in the harbor. By that lighthouse many a boat is saved from certain destruction.”

“But we can’t see the harbor from here,” said William, “the light that I mean is just down here, under the cliffs.”

Jane Garth let her sewing, that she had in her hands, fall and with a look of terror, and a voice scarcely to be heard, said, “O, that is surely the work of those wicked strand-robbers. There is a band of them here in the neighborhood, and they have certainly heard that the “Storm-bird” is due in the harbor this evening. What shall we do?”

“What do you mean? What is their idea?” asked William in astonishment.

“Well, just outside the bay there is a reef of sunken rocks, and they have now hung out a false light to mislead the crew. The “Storm-bird has a rich cargo, that the wretches know well. My poor husband is un board, and, several others from this village. O, it is terrible! they must all be lost,” moaned the woman, as she walked around the room in despair, “Could we not get a boat and take away that wretched light?” cried out William.

He was bitterly disappointed when he heard that it would take two hours, at least, for a boat from the village to reach the place where the lantern was. And perhaps at that moment the “Storm-bird” was steering for that light.

Just for a few moments the boy stood lost in thought; then as if moved by a sudden inspiration, he left the house hurriedly, went quickly back to the spot where a little while before he stood looking down at the little bay. He saw directly the large lantern with its sinister red light. Then he thought of the many human lives, doomed to destruction, if the boat should be stranded on the rocks, while the wicked men whose voices reached his ear now and then, were greedily watching out for their rich booty. Then he made his decision.

June Garth, who had followed him, came just in time to see the boy descending, the steep and sharp wall of rock. With great grace, springing from one ledge to the other now holding on to some grass, then seeking support in the crevices of the rocks, he at last fell from a height of about ten feet and found himself now at the foot of the rocks, bloody, bruised and torso. While he stood a moment to get breath, he saw at the other end of the bay a group of men of very forbidding aspect, gathered round a large fire. One of them standing at a little distance held a telescope through which he looked, and then William, following with his eye in the same direction, saw to his horror a far distant light, that it seemed to him was making straight for the treacherous gleam of the lantern.

There was no time to be lost, and yet, what could William do? The boat of the strand-robbers lay quite close to their hiding place, even if he had it, it was too large for his strength. It was quite clear that swimming was the only means in his power that gave him any chance of success, and, filled with the thought of so many lives that he hoped to save, and thinking little of the one that he placed in the balance, the brave boy threw himself in the foaming surf, with the intention of reaching the misleading light. He put all his strength in the struggle against wind and waves, imploring God to help him.

When at last he reached the boat that lay at anchor, he was nearly exhausted. His repeated efforts to climb up the side of the vessel were rendered fruitless by the continual rolling of the waves, so that at last he was on the point of giving up. But just then he again caught sight of the light of the approaching boat, and with a fervent prayer for help, he put out all his strength and succeeded finally in getting on board. At first he was too exhausted to move, but the thought of the vessel always coming nearer, left him no time for rest. High above him hung the lantern on a rope that was fastened to the top of the mast. First, he tried to climb the mast, but soon found that impossible; it was too smooth and the boat danced so on the high waves, that it seemed all the time to be in a swinging motion. What was to be done? He shook the mast, but had not enough strength to loosen the heavy pole or to break it. Then he thought by rocking the boat from side to side that he could upset it and get the mast under water, but it was all of no avail. While he was busy in this way he perceived from the angry shouts of the men on the beach that he was discovered. In the red glow of the lantern they saw him, and threatened to shoot him on the spot if he dared to touch the light. William heard their threats and made another desperate effort to get hold of the rape that hung down from the lantern.

A light flickered suddenly, William felt a sharp pain in his side, and the next moment he was struggling for life in the waves. But.... he had succeeded in seizing the rope! Slowly he lost consciousness, but retained enough presence of mind to hold on to the rope with all his remaining strength. The lantern fell out of the mast, the light went out and the evil intention that placed it there was frustrated. But William’s hold became weaker and weaker; the noise of the waves, and the shouts of the strand-robbers seemed to recede farther and farther, yet in a few moments and it was all over.

The following morning there was joy, but also deep sorrow in the fishing village. Joy that a large vessel with many human lives on board had escaped great danger and reached the harbor in safety; deep sorrow, for when the sun cast its rays over the still boiling waves, there, on the hard rocks, they found the body of the brave boy. Many a stalwart fisherman passed his toil-hardened hand across his eyes on seeing that deathly pale face; many wives and mothers did not try to check their tears. They were not ashamed to show their deep emotion.

Just at the decisive moment the treacherous light was rendered harmless, and thereby many lives spared, but at the cost of the one that was freely offered up by the heroic boy, whose earnest desire was to be used for others, and in this way his wish was granted.

Young readers, this story gives us much food for thought. It reminds us of the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to save the souls of men. “Greater lave hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” said Jesus. But He gave Himself up to the shameful and cruel death of the cross for His enemies! One would think that only cruel men like these robbers would ever have hatred to one so loveable and kind as that dear boy, but when we look at the Lord Jesus and see that He surpassed that hoy in every way, and that He gave His life up willingly for us poor sinners, and we find that many turn away from Him and do not want Him. What are we to think of such?

Are you one of them, or are you one who is deeply thankful to Him for giving His life for you? And can you say, “Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

ML-07/18/1920

Prayer.

WE are told, “In Everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. 4:6.

We see in the history of good king Hezekiah, in Isaiah chapters 36, 37, how the Lord helped him when he came to Him in prayer. When he received that terrible letter from the king of Assyria, he went straight into the house of the Lord, that is, the temple, and spread it out before Him.

There is no temple now to go to, but God loves to hear His children tell Him in simplicity all they need. The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” John 16:23.

O, what joys we often forfeit!

O, what needless griefs we bear!

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

ML-07/18/1920

Contrary Winds.

WHAT pleasure the children have in their humble home while dear grandma stays with them, and they have their boat in the tub of water. Whichever one blows the hardest gains the day, and so the little boat is driven back and forth in the tub. There is a lesson we may learn from this little boat, and it is that we must not yield to everything that comes along. We must have a standard to go by, and that is the Word of God. Someone comes and tells us we must pray, and do good works to be saved. Another tells us we must keep the commandments in order to be saved. Another says we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. It is evident we cannot believe them all, or be going from one to the other. What shall we do when we hear all kind of things as to how we should be saved? Who are we to believe? I trust each one of you can readily answer, Believe the Word of God.

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

The jailor at Philippi was much troubled about his soul, and he said to Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:30, 31.

The Scriptures answer also as to our works having nothing to do with saving us, for it says “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.

Then again, bringing before us our works and salvation, it says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3

We can readily see by these scriptures that it is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved, and not by any thing we can do. Jesus is the Savior, and all the praise must go to Him. Our works follow as a result of being saved, and as response from these hearts of ours for all that He has done for us.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

ML-07/25/1920

God's Lamb for Me.

WHAT can be the matter with S.?” I asked of a friend; “she looks so wretched and miserable, and wears on her face so different an expression from the bright, happy one which a short time ago 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, little friend S., this 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, as 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 very different from what you told me some time ago, 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 to please me, or did you really think it was so at the 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, 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.” (vers. 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’”?

“O, yes, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“That is true. 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 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.”

“Who are the ‘us’ spoken of here?” “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 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 also like to show you.” I turned to Isaiah 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 God laid your sins 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 who 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 can-not he measured. God has said, ‘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 thank God together ‘that He has accepted us in the Beloved,’ and forgiven 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!

Now, if any poor, doubting, fearing one, tempted sorely by Satan, should read this paper, let him remember that Christ is God’s Lamb; that “He 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 the Beloved One to God. “Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7.

May God bless these most important truths to the soul of every distressed one, and he shall have “joy and peace in believing,” even a present, personal, perfect salvation, now and throughout eternity.

ML-07/25/1920

Trust.

WELL remember a little incident which I saw one day in the hospital. A little boy of three years had been operated on for club feet. Both feet were very badly deformed, and at the operation the ligaments had to be cut, but the greater part of the work of straightening the little feet had to be done gradually. Every day or two the doctor would come and draw the bandages a little tighter. It was a very painful process. One day I happened to be with the child when the doctor came, and although he was as kind and gentle as could be, poor little John shook with sobs, and the tears flowed freely. One could tell by the doctor’s face how much it hurt him to have to hurt the child. As soon as he had finished, he left abruptly to go away and wash his hands; but returned in a few minutes, only to find poor little John still sobbing and crying.

The doctor spoke a kind word or two to him, and then said,

“Have you a kiss for me today, John?”

Up went the little tear-stained face with a smile to give the doctor a kiss. The old doctor could not keep his own tears back as he turned, and said, “Is there anything in the world so wonderful as the forgiveness of a little child?”

This is just what God wants—children who will trust Him, though they cannot understand. We all have crooked feet, we want to go in our way, but in His infinite love and wisdom, He wants us to go in His way, which is always the best way. It hurts Him when He has to hurt us to make us to go in the right way. O, for hearts to trust Him fully. May we always be ready to say, “Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.” Psa. 25:4.

ML-07/25/1920

Acceptable Words

A little word in kindness spoken,

A motion, or a tear,

Has often healed the heart that’s broken,

And made a friend sincere.

A word—a look—has crushed to earth

Full many a budding flower,

Which had smile but owned its birth,

Would bless life’s darkest hour.

Then deem it not an idle thing

A pleasant word to speak;

The face you wear, the thought you bring,

A heart may heal or break.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov. 25:11.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psa. 19:14.

ML-07/25/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for June

1. “For whosoever shall,” etc. James 2:10.

2. “If we confess our,” etc. 1 John 1:9.

3. “How much more,” etc. Heb. 9:14.

4. “If there come any,” etc. 2 John 10.

5. “Even as Sodom and,” etc. Jude 7.

6. “But the God of all.” etc. 1 Peter 5:10.

7. “For the prophecy,” etc. 2 Peter 1:21.

ML-08/01/1920

Bible Questions for August Rewards

The Answers are to be found in Gospel of Matthew.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come unto Me.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come see the place.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “To come unto Me.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come to worship.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come, ye blessed.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “I will come.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “He that cometh.”

ML-08/01/1920

The Ministry of Angels.

DID you ever think, dear young readers, that the angels of God were so much interested in the plan of redemption, that it was they who first proclaimed the birth of the Lord Jesus; that they ministered to Him in the wilderness of temptation, and in the garden of Gethsemane and were the first to announce His resurrection from the dead, and to foretell His return from heaven, His blessed coming again? All this is very wonderful, is it not? and proves to us how deep and continued their interest in all that pertains to the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor did their interest cease with the ascension of the Lord to heaven; for the apostle Peter assures us that with regard to God’s work in the world, “which things,” he says, “the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:12.)

Now, if man had been thus interested, it would not excite surprise, for man’s salvation was the object of the Savior dying on the cross—for him He lived; for him He died, and knowing this, surely we should have supposed that he would have been intensely interested in it all. But no angels gaze, but man turns away his face; angels intently follow, but man has no interest at all!

I repeat, is not this astonishing? When angels fell there was no Savior sent to rescue them.

“When angels fell, no Savior came

To rescue or atone;

No precious blood, no saving grace.

By them was ever known.

But man, poor man, ah! when he fell.

The heart of God was moved,

And for rebellious, erring man,

He gave His own Beloved.”

Yes, dear young reader, God gave His best Beloved for you, because you are a sinner, and Christ died for sinners. Will you hear His words, believe in, and love Him? Or shall angels rise up in judgment against you—they are interested in man’s salvation, and you are careless of your own? He is ready to receive you; are you ready to receive Him? God grant you may be.

“All heaven is there, all joy, go in, go!

The angels beckon you the prize to win;

Room, room, still room.”

ML-08/01/1920

Saved in a Ditch.

IN a country district there lived a shepherd, a kind-hearted and faithful Christian. He was never backward in grasping opportunities for saying a few words for his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There were two boys employed on the same farm, and their great delight was to give as much annoyance to the shepherd as they possibly could. But he sought grave for each day, and was kept superior to every opposition and persecution. In spite of the treatment he received from the boys, his heart went out for them, and he desired blessing for their souls, and prayed constantly for it.

During the dinner-hour he would go and sit in a ditch at the side of a field on the farm and eat his humble meal. The boys used to follow, and sit a few yards away, in order to keep up their annoyance. After his meal he would take his well-worn Bible from his pocket, and read a chapter out loud to the boys.

This went on for some considerable time, apparently with no effect. Indeed, the boys seemed to get harder and harder, but he still pursued, waiting upon the God of patience, endurance and long-suffering; the One who willeth not the death of a sinner, in spite of his rebellion.

One day, however, one of the boys was particularly quiet, and would not join the other in his disgraceful conduct. The faithful man continued his practice day by day, and the boy still remained quiet and subdued. Some days after, at dinnertime, he confessed the Lord Jesus as his Savior, in the ditch.

There was no more annoyance from him. His great desire was to read the Word of God with the shepherd. They arranged a Bible reading in the farmer’s house, and the two met together for some time, and were much encouraged. They prayed for the other boy, who was still on the wrong road.

Each dinner-hour found them in their usual spot, and soon afterward the second hoy was brought to the Lord, much to the cheer and comfort of the dear man of God, who had borne a quiet, faithful testimony for many days. The Lord honored his patient endurance in spite of all the persecutions, for he longed for the two dear boys, with never-dying souls, to come to the Lord, and to know Him who died for sinners, and such were these boys. The Lord too, was yearning over them, and each day as they heard the Scriptures read, it was a loving voice to them, “Come unto Me... and I will give you rest.” Matth. 11:28.

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

ML-08/01/1920

The Broken Window.

ONE day at noon, the boys of a certain school were amusing themselves in a game of ball, when one of them sent the ball through one of the windows of the schoolhouse. The teacher, on returning from dinner, saw at once what had happened, and, after school was called, drew the children’s attention to the broken window, and said, “Will the boy who broke the window please hold up his hand?”

They hardly expected such a question, and not a hand moved. Again the question was asked, but no hand stirred. Firmly and lovingly the teacher repeated the question for the third time, “Will the boy who broke the window please hold up his hand?”

Not far from the teacher’s desk stood a small boy whose hand began slowly to move. It was a hard struggle for the little fellow, but at length up went the hand, thus owning before all his schoolmates that he had broken the window.

Now, dear children, do you suppose the teacher could punish that boy? True, he had done wrong in breaking the window, but he was honest and confessed it. The window had to be repaired, and it cost something to do it; but the little boy was forgiven, and the teacher ever afterwards loved him for his uprightness.

My dear readers, young and old, is not this just what God expects of you? You have sinned, broken God’s law, come short of His Glory, and are guilty. Listen to this from Job 33:27, 28.

“God looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned... He will deliver his soul from going into the pit.”

God is looking to see who will confess his sin to Him. He has given His blessed Son to die for us on the cross, such was His love to us.

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

Just as the teacher was glad when the little boy held up his hand, so God is glad when any one, young or old, confesses to Him that they have sinned, and are unable to save themselves. Then they are ready to accept the Lord Jesus who alone is able and willing to save them from the dreadful results of all their sins—being shut out from the presence of God Forever—lost, eternally lost.

Have you, dear reader, held up your hand to God? Have you told all to Him, and that you are unable to save yourself? If not, we entreat you not to put it off. Tell Him so this very hour. He will save you, and cause your heart to rejoice in a present and an eternal forgiveness, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, His Son.

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

ML-08/01/1920

Sympathy and Comfort.

POOR little girl! she has dropped her doll, and the head has come off. That is not much to cry over, nevertheless, it has hurt her feelings so badly that she could not help crying, and dear brother sympathizes with her.

One is reminded that this is the way the Lord Jesus has acted toward us. He was in no trouble Himself, but He saw what great trouble we were in, through our sins, and His heart was moved with compassion towards us, so He went to the extent of giving up His glorious home above, where He was ever dwelling with the Father, and He came into this world of sin where He had no home, and where He was hated, shamefully treated, and finally He went to the cross in love for us to bear the awful penalty for sins, so that our dreadful condition could be met, and we could be saved. Who has loved us as He has? Who is so high and so holy as He, and who so competent and willing to save us as He?

Do you respond to such sympathy and love, and praise Him and thank Him for having so thought of you?

He is worthy of all praise, and if we love Him, we will seek to please Him in all our ways.

“O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME, AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER.” Psa. 34:3.

ML-08/01/1920

Jesus Hears the Children.

Jesus, high in glory,

Lend a listening ear;

When we bow before Thee,

Infant praises hear.

Though Thou art so holy,

Heaven’s Almighty King,

Thou wilt stoop to listen

When Thy praise we sing.

We are little children,

Weak and apt to stray;

Savior, guide and keep us

In the heavenly way.

Then, when Jesus calls us

To our heavenly home,

We would gladly answer,

“Savior, Lord, we come.”

ML-08/01/1920

Luxury and Poverty.

EVEN among the poor brute beasts there is such a thing as luxury and poverty. Just look at that fat dog sitting on the top of the wheelbarrow! He has been well cared for, and everything eatable seems to be eaten up. The poor, hungry, half-starved dog is looking so wistfully at the empty plate in the basket, and would say, if it could, “I would like one bite to stay my hunger.”

Have you ever thought why it is that there is such a condition in this world? God’s Word is where we get the answer.

All this has come in through sin. It is not that the brute beasts have sinned, but man, who was made head, sinned, and the whole creation under him consequently suffered as the result.

What a terrible thing sin is! It always has its bad results, and the worst result is—those who have their sins upon them must be finally banished from God’s presence, because God could not allow sin in His presence; but there is good news for us all, and that is, God is love as well as He is holy, and in His wonderful love He gave His only begotten Son to take our place under the awful load of our sins, and He bore the dreadful penalty on the cross. That is why the Lord Jesus said, when hanging there, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Can you answer by saving, “It was on account of my sins being laid upon Him, and God being more holy than to behold iniquity, that God could not look upon Him”? If you can say this, you have the great remedy for the awful, eternal result of your sins; but for the results un this life, the Lord has not delivered us yet, but the day is coming when He will.

What a blessed time that will be, and—the whole creation shall rejoice. No one then shall suffer because of sin being in the world, but each one who will sin shall be slain, and they shall be abhorred by all flesh. (Isa. 66:24)

The brute creation too shall be delivered from this groaning condition, and peace shall fill the scene. (Rom. 8:21)

May you rejoice in that Savior as yours, who has delivered His own from eternal wrath, and will yet deliver the whole creation from its groan.

“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.

ML-08/08/1920

God Has Called Us All by One Name

“HOW am I to know that when Jesus died, He died for me?”

This question was asked by a little boy named Freddie.

“Supposing God had written a text in the Bible which said that Jesus died for Freddie, would you know then?” was the reply.

“O yes, Miss R., I should; 1 wish that He had done so,” Freddie answered, with a very bright look.

The bright look faded and tears filled his eyes as he answered, “But there are many other Freddies in the world; how would you know that God was speaking of you?”

“O, so there are many other Freddies, how can I know, then?”

The earnestness of the manner in which the question was asked, made his governess look up silently to the Lord for special wisdom before answering little Freddie’s question.

“Well, Freddie,” she said “God has called us all by one name and those who are really willing to take that name before Him, He has said that Jesus died for those people.”

“What is that name, Miss R.?”

“Sinners Freddie,” was the reply. “You are only a child, yet you have done many things that God calls sins, and therefore you are a sinner, and need to be washed from those sins by the blood of Jesus before He can have you in heaven with Him. The great apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, yet he could say that Jesus loved him and gave Himself for him. Shall I tell you a little verse about this? He said, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

“Who was it Paul said loved him and gave Himself for him? It was Jesus, the Son of God, He was God, as well as man, and was holy so had no sins to die for of His own. I could not die for you, Freddie. Because I am a sinner too, and deserved to be punished for my own sins. But if we go to God and ask Him to save us for Jesus’ sake, He will tell you that Jesus has died instead of you.”

“Yes, I will,” said Freddie, “and I am going to say that text to God tonight that ‘Jesus loved me, and gave Himself for me!’ I wish you would print that text for me, Miss R.; will you please?”

So while little Freddie was peacefully sleeping, the text was roughly printed on a piece of cardboard and hung beside, his bed.

“THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.”

From that day Freddie constantly spoke of the verse as “his text.”

Perhaps some little reader of this incident may have often thought, “Yes, I know that Jesus died, but I am not cure that He died for me.” Will you not put your finger by faith on “Freddie’s text” and say, “I know I am a sinful child, but Jesus, the Son of God, loved sinners, and gave Himself for them, and therefore for me.”

He knew how wicked man had been,

He knew that God must punish sin,

So out of pity Jesus said,

“I’ll bear the punishment instead.”

ML-08/08/1920

The Lost Boy.

WE had just started our meeting for the young on a Friday evening, when we were interrupted by the appearance at the door of a little boy, brought in by someone who inquired if any of the children knew him or where he lived as he was lost.

None of them seemed to know him. Evidently he had wandered from home farther and farther until he could not find his way back again, then he began to cry, thus attracting the attention of the person who had brought him to the door of the schoolroom.

No doubt his friends were sorrowfully seeking him, and how anxious they would be until the little wanderer was found. Our inquiries were soon rewarded, and the little boy was taken back to his brothers and sisters. How pleased they were to see him again, and how glad he was to be at home in safety.

Does not this remind us of the Lord Jesus, who came to seek and to save that which was lost? He is the tender Shepherd who went after His lost sheep until He found it. He left the brightness of His home above that He might have the joy of bringing us there cleansed from all our sins and made fit for His presence. Have you found out that you are lost, and are you glad to flee to Him for refuge? If so, you can sing joyfully, “I WAS LOST, BUT JESUS FOUND ME.”

It is a very necessary thing that we should learn that we are sinners in God’s sight and thus need a Savior. God loves you, but He does not love sin. He must punish that. It was God’s loving kindness that gave Jesus to die for us, to be punished in our stead. What wonderful love He has shown to us, who were lost and in our sins, away from God. Will He hear you when you cry? He will, and He will answer you too. He says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

A day of trouble would be when we discover that we are helpless, and the Lord Jesus is the only one who can save us. O, He is such a precious Savior, just the Savior you need. You need Him, dear boy or girl, and He desires that you should give your heart to Him.

It is sad to be lost in this world, to be wandering away from home and from those who love and care for us, but O, how terrible sad to have turned away our faces from the God who loves us, and has given His own Son for us. He died on the cross to show us God’s love and His own, and in order that our sins might be put away Forever; and now He lives for us at God’s right hand. Listen to what He says.

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me.” Isa. 44:22.

“No longer delay,

But come back today.”

One there is who loves thee,

O, receive Him now;

He has waited all the day,

Why waitest thou?”

ML-08/08/1920

"That Is Just What I Want."

ONE of the Lord’s servants told a touching story of a poor blind man in China. The first time he heard that wonderful word, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” he jumped upon his feet, clapped his hands and shouted, “Thank you, sir, very much, that is just what I have been longing for and praying for many years.” The people said he was mad, but the dear old man gave the following account of his sad and sorrowful history: “When I was twenty-five years of age, I came to the conclusion, like many others, that idolatry was vain. In despair, one morning, as I was walking behind my house in a field, I saw a glorious ball of fire rise up out of the East, and I fell down and worshipped the rising sun, saying, ‘O Sun, take away the load from my heart.’

Again in the evening, as the sun was going down behind the hills, I said, ‘O Sun, before you go, leave a blessing behind thee, and take the burden from my heart.’

For two years I worshipped the rising and setting sun, but the burden remained on my heart still. Again as I was walking in the fields, I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the moon can save me,’ and prayed to the moon for twelve long months. But no peace came to me either from the sun or from the moon.

Next I turned to the glittering stars, and for a year I worshipped them. But they brought me no comfort. One day I threw myself on the ground, and said, ‘If there be a Ruler above the stars, reveal Thyself to me.’ But no voice came from the Ruler above, and I went on my weary course in the world till I became a blind old man bearing a heavy burden in my heart. Some time since, in the midst of my sorrow, I heard a commotion in the street and asked what it was all about.

“O,” they said, “a preacher has come to tell us of a new religion.”

I went to hear the foreign man preach. I heard him describe the great love of God above, and then he went on speaking of His love to man. I could stand it no longer, and jumping on my feet, I exclaimed, ‘That is just what I want.’ Now tonight here I am, and I can say with Simeon, ‘Lord, now let me depart in peace, for I have found my Savior, and the burden is taken away from my heart.’”

Alas! there are many sorrowful hearts among the millions in China, and it is only the gospel of the grace of God—it is only Christ that can take away the burden of a broken heart—that can give rest to the weary.

May you, dear children, take Jesus as your Savior, accept Him as your Lord and Master, and you shall know what this rest, sweet rest, is.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matth. 11:28-30.

ML-08/08/1920

Come.

“All things are now ready!”

There needs no delay;

You only reap sorrow

By staying away.

There can be no season

As suited as this,

And while you yet linger,

True joy you may miss.

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

ML-08/08/1920

The Dog and the Rabbits.

WHAT a strange thing to find a dog, and especially one who has been trained to hunt rabbits, stay beside two tame rabbits and watch them, so that they would not run away. Stich was the case with a dog which a gentleman had in New Hampshire. His master had succeeded in making him understand that he must not touch these rabbits, so he quietly watched them and would not allow them to run out of the lawn.

When all the animals shall be delivered from Satan’s power, no one will need to train them then not to harm one another, but we shall see the purpose of God in connection with them, and shall praise God for all His wonderful works.

The reason we see one animal seek to destroy another, is because of sin being in the world.

Satan was the one who brought it in, so when his power shall be taken from Him, then the animals shall be at rest.

When boys and girls, yes, and men and women fight and quarrel, it is all the result of sin, and Satan is the one who is urging them on and gets them even to destroy one another; but believers in the Lord Jesus should show forth the peace of God and let it rule in their hearts.

The marks of a true Christian, are, lowliness, meekness, gentleness and peace. They are to be seen in all their perfection in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who represents all believers before God in all His perfection, so the Scripture says, “Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Heb. 7:26.

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER TENDER HEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.”

Eph. 4:32.

ML-08/15/1920

The Little Negro Boy.

ON a cold, wintry day, many years ago, a trading-vessel arrived at London from Jamaica. In a few days the cargo was unloaded, and cheerfully the sailors and crew left the vessel to visit their relatives and friends after a long and dangerous voyage. One remained alone behind. Nobody troubled themselves about him. No loving mother received the arriving son. No brothers or sisters welcomed him to a comfortable home. Jimmie, the colored cabin-boy, stood there alone on the wharf, and knew not where to go. On board he had been well off, but now what must he do? The poor boy! He walked up and down, until it was getting dark, and then went into the city. Trembling with cold, and crying with sorrow, he walked along the streets, ardently longing for his sunny, warm native land. How much he was to be pitied, the little negro-boy! Who would take care of him? Who would have any thought for him? O, dear readers! The Lord Jesus would. The unseen eye of God was watching over him, and following all His steps. The Lord God who cares for the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field in their magnificent raiment, did not forget poor Jimmie in his loneliness.

A kindhearted man, whom the Lord sent in his way, as in former days He sent the ravens to feed the prophet Elijah, said to him: “Where are you going, my boy?” Jimmie looked up astonished, and said: “Nowhere, sir! I have no home here.”

“Don’t cry so, my boy; come along with me; I’ll bring you to a good home.”

You can imagine, dear readers, that Jimmie did not hesitate very long. He walked cheerfully beside the friendly man, who took him to a refuge for homeless boys. The director welcomed our little friend heartily, brought him into the large hall, where he was soon surrounded by the other boys. His black face, his dark, bright eyes—not now full of tears, but shining with joy—attracted the attention of them all, so that for quite a time he was the theme of their conversation, and many were the inquisitive questions they asked him.

Every Sunday morning at 7 o’clock there was a Sunday-school held in the Home, by Christians who volunteered to do this work. Jimmie came into a class held by a lady. He was not quick at understanding, but he was friendly, attentive and confiding. The teacher took much trouble in telling him the Bible stories, and explaining them to him; and as his memory was not very good, it was slow work. Fortunately he could read a little, as his mother, that he loved very much and often spoke about, had sent him to a day-school in Jamaica.

On a certain Sunday the teacher tried to make it clear to the boys, how the Lord Jesus loved children. All at once Jimmie said, “O, teacher! I think that you are just like my mother!”

“Really?” said the teacher, “well I am glad of that.”

“But we are not,” cried out all the boys together, laughing loudly. “A nice compliment you are paying the teacher; your mother is a black woman, with a face shining like a pair of polished shoes, with thick lips and a flat nose. And just look how white the teacher’s face is.”

“That doesn’t matter,” said Jimmie, “Teacher is just like mother, I know.”

“Don’t be angry, boys,” said the teacher, “I understand what he means. If Jimmie loves the Lord, then God will be his heavenly Father. The Lord does not look at the color of the skin; He made the black people just as well as the white: He looks at the heart. And so Jimmie thinks that I am very like his mother, because I love him, as his mother did, and in his heart he feels the power of love.”

The summer passed pleasantly by for the boys in the Home, with their work and play. Jimmie was sent to a shoe-maker to learn the trade, and he liked his work very much. Then came the fall and the winter. The cold climate of England Jimmie could not bear. He took cold, and it settled on his lungs. Towards Christmas there were great preparations going on for a merry feast. All the boys helped with decorating, except Jimmie who felt too weak. When the long-wished-for evening came at last, the boys with their care takers, masters and a large number of benefactors were together in the brilliantly lighted reception hall. How the children enjoyed all the beautiful things prepared for them, and how merrily and joyfully they played! Jimmie sat in a chair looking on, he could not play with them, as it tired him too much. His Sunday-school teacher sat beside him. Taking his hand in hers she said: “Well, Jim, what do you say of the feast? Have you ever seen anything like it in Jamaica?”

“No, ma’am, I have never seen anything like it—it is very beautiful.”

“It is very beautiful, my boy! but still it will soon be over. But listen, in the Bible it says: ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.’”

He looked up in her face, and then said with a soft, trembling voice: “Jimmie thinks, that he will soon die, and go to God.”

“Do you think then, that God will receive you?” asked the teacher.

“Yes, surely. You have told us so often, that Jesus, the Son of God, died to save bad boys like me. You have read it to me out of the Bible and all that is in that, is quite true. And you said, that the blood of Jesus can wash away all Jimmie’s sins.”

“Yes, that is so, my boy; hold that fast; we are saved, eternally saved by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.”

He spoke like a little child; but he knew very well that he was a sinner, and that he needed a Savior. ‘The Holy Spirit Himself taught him. Shortly afterwards they were obliged to take him to the hospital. There he lay for several months, wrapped up in flannel. His patience was great, a complaint never passed his lips. The boys nursed him lovingly, and every possible care was taken of him. His Sunday-school teacher visited him regularly, read for him and prayed with him. On a Sunday morning, the 8th of March, the Lord released him from his suffering, and took him to Himself. Shortly before his death, he called the boy, who was taking care of him, to him, and said: “Willie, Jimmie is black, but Jesus has made him white.” The teacher, who had noticed a great change in him the preceding Saturday, came very early in the morning to the Home, but Jimmie had already fallen asleep.

So ended the life of Jimmie. He was just fourteen years of age. The Refuge had proved to be a real refuge for him. There he had learned to know Jesus the true Refuge for the soul, the never-failing Friend.

“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God.” Psa. 62:7.

ML-08/15/1920

The Robin's Nest.

FROM my window I can look out and see a robin’s nest on a bough of an apple tree that grows close beside the house. I can go quite close to the bird as she sits upon her eggs; she seems to know I will do her no harm.

Only a short time ago, as I looked out of the window, I could see her very busily building her nest. With what wonderful skill she wove the different materials together—dried grass, twigs and bits of thread—which her sharp eyes had searched out. She seemed so glad and happy in making a home for her young.

The nest was very soon completed, and a few days later, on looking into rt from the upper story I could see four pretty blue eggs lying so costly in the nest. As I looked at it, I could not but think what a pity it would be if any harm should come to the nest, and how grieved the pair of birds would be at such a sad ending of their happy plans.

I once heard a pair of swallows utter the most piteous cries for hours after their nest had been destroyed.

I am sure all our boys and girls will feel an interest in these little builders, and cultivate a sympathy and kindly attitude towards them, and indeed, towards all of God’s creatures, whether birds or animals. They are all under His care, and He provides for their wants, and gives them the wisdom they need.

As great as God’s care is in connection with the vast multitude of His creatures, He sets a much greater value upon you, dear children. He provides for you, not only for your material needs that arise from day to day, but He has also made a rich and wonderful provision for your never-dying souls in the sacrifice of His dear Son upon the cross. How great was the love of God to do this; and how great was the love of Jesus to endure the cross in order that you might be saved! May your hearts be touched by this love, and be won to Him.

“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.

ML-08/15/1920

Trust in Him.

O children, have you heard

How Jesus Christ, the Lord.

A man became?

He left His home on high,

Above the starry sky.

To suffer and to die

A death of shame.

Soon He again will come

And take His people home,

To heaven above;

In brightest glory there,

Eternal joys to share,

Beyond the reach of care,

Where all is love.

Come, children, trust in Him

He’ll pardon all your sin,

And you shall be,

Washed in the precious flood

Of His atoning blood,

Made fit to worship God

Eternally.

ML-08/15/1920

Happy Childhood.

HOW pleasant it is to see them going on peacefully and happily together. Look at the little brother and sister: how delighted they are to show all attention to their baby brother. They have prepared their wagon, and hitched the big dog up to it, and even the little dog seems to realize that little baby brother is the center of attraction. I expect the kind mother has helped them, and she is happy to see her baby boy such an object of delight.

As we look at this, it may well make us think of how pleasing God’s beloved Son was to Him. He was daily God’s delight, and God loved Him far more than any father or mother could love their darling child. Have you ever thought that God so loved you that He gave that beloved Son of His, to die in your stead? How much there is in that well-known verse, “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.

Many times has this verse appeared in our paper, and it will bear repeating again and again, for the marvelous thing is that God’s love to us, who have sinned against Him, is so great that He gave that beloved Son of His to take our place. Rather than have us bear what we deserved, He gave the dearest One He had for us. What praise, what thanksgiving and gratefulness should come from us to Him for all His love. “BY HIM THEREFORE LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD CONTINUALLY, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME.” Heb. 13:15.

ML-08/22/1920

Now Is the Day of Salvation.

ONE bright summer morning Ellie, a fair-haired girl about nine years of age, went with her sisters to bathe in the sea. Almost directly—they were in the water, her sister spoke to her, and not receiving any answer, looked around. Alas! what a sight met her gaze! Ellie had gone beyond her depth in a cross-current, and was rapidly floating away from the land. Every effort was made to save her, but only her lifeless form was brought back to her sorrowing parents.

My dear reader, this true account only shows you the uncertainty of life here. Ellie little thought that morning, her last day on earth had come; and we cannot say that God will spare you to see tomorrow’s sun rise; but we can tell you, on the authority of God’s Word, that “Now is the accepted time; NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Do not put off your soul’s salvation for another day. The Lord Jesus waits to bless—He waits to save—His precious blood can cleanse you and make you fit for His own presence in glory. Trust Him NOW as your own Savior; then, come what may, Christ will be your everlasting portion. He has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “He is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Do not rest till you can say, “I am saved through the blood of Jesus.”

ML-08/22/1920

For Your Sakes.

IT was in the end of 1912, that the church building in Laguna, a small town in North America, was filled with people. They were Indians who had come from the surrounding country to hear the white man tell about the Lord Jesus. It was as still as the grave, when the missionary climbed into the pulpit, and quite motionless were all the copper-colored faces turned towards the white man as he uttered the following words: Of the Lord Jesus it is written: “He was rich!” Do you know, when that was? Have you ever thought about when the Lord Jesus was rich? He was not rich at His birth. We read in the Bible, that Mary and Joseph, on the night that the Lord Jesus was born, came to an inn, but there was no room for them. Now it is possible that the little place was filled with strangers, but we are all convinced that for a rich man, a room would have been found. But Mary and Joseph were poor. They could not give a high price for a room, and so they were obliged to pass the night in a stable, and in that stable the Lord Jesus was born. They then took the Holy Child, wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in the manger. That was His cradle.

The Savior at His birth was as poor as the very poorest. And yet Paul says: “He was rich!” When then? As He grew older, was the Lord Jesus rich? He was yet very small when Herod tried to have Him killed, for God sent wise men from the east to worship Him. But King Herod feared that he would lose his throne, and planned to have the little child killed. Then an angel warned Joseph in a dream, and ordered him to flee into Egypt with the young child. Obedient to this command Joseph took the young child and His mother and fled. NOW, they were poor refugees without a country, and when the time came that they must return to Palestine, they settled in Nazareth, one of the most despised places in the whole country. There the Lord Jesus grew up, and was known as the “Carpenter’s Son.” At that time He was far from being rich, was even very poor. Rich people did not live in Nazareth. If they became rich there, they would certainly have moved on to a more important town.

After this time the Lord Jesus was baptized by John, and went throughout the country preaching and proving by His mighty works that He was the Son of God. Did He become rich now? No, for He said: “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.” Luke 9:58.

Who could be poorer than He? You, my dear hearers, have each of you a dwelling; but He had no home. Often He slept in the mountains while His precious head was resting on the bare earth: He was a stranger here below.

And yet Paul says: “He was rich!” But He was not so during His life here below. But before that time, before He was born in the stable, then He was rich. The heavens were His kingdom. The angels stood around His throne and served Him. Heavenly riches and glory were His portion; but He gave it all up for your sakes. O, what love! He came down to this earth that through His suffering and death, multitudes of sinners, cleansed by His blood, might enter the glory with Him. There they will have joy forever. Jesus was rich. No one was as rich as He, but for your sakes He became poor.

I have spoken of poverty at His birth and during His further life, but that was not the greatest poverty. If I have friends, to comfort and help me, then it is not so terrible to be poor; and if I am sick and my friends think of me, and show me warm affection, then I am really not poor. No one is poor that has a real friend. But listen. The time came, that the Lord Jesus must die. Had He friends, who helped and comforted Him then? No. All His disciples forsook Him and fled. Crowned with a crown of thorns, He was nailed to the shameful cross, and in His terrible suffering there was no one to comfort Him. Truly, at the end of His life He was poorer than ever. But I ask once more: “Was that the greatest poverty then?” No. It was not yet the greatest poverty. Although when you are in the greatest distress and every one forsakes you, still God will be with you. And the presence of God maketh rich! Had the Lord Jesus the strengthening power of God’s nearness? Just hear the agonizing cry: “My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Yes, that was the greatest poverty. God turned away His face, and let His beloved Son suffer and die alone!

Do you ask now: “Why should He, the righteous one, die in such a way?” The answer is again: “For your sakes.”

If God should meet you, while your sins are unforgiven, He would be obliged to turn His face from you, for God cannot behold sin; and therefore He turned away His face when the Lord Jesus died, laden with sins, in order to be able to look down on us in grace. For your sakes He came on earth. For your sakes He was forsaken of God.

But although the Lord Jesus became poor, so that through His poverty ye might become rich, still many will not get the heavenly riches. Forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of God’s Spirit in our heart, a dwelling in heaven throughout eternity, all that the Lord Jesus has gained for man. But man can only get it by going to Him; taking Him as his Savior. You cannot possess all this, and hold on to your sins. You must turn to God, and believe in the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior. People will someday complain in eternal torment: Jesus became poor that I might be rich. He died that I might be saved, but I loved my sins better than Him, although I knew it all. I chose my own evil ways, and would not listen to His gentle voice. Therefore I am lost. I did not desire the heavenly treasures. Now I must be poor throughout eternity!

I trust that none of you shall join in this terrible lament. Then hesitate no longer. Come to Jesus, and confess your sins. He will blot them all out with His precious blood, and give you the imperishable riches. All this I have declared unto you in the Name of Jesus. Now you must know for yourselves where you stand. But I pray for you that you may inherit the eternal riches for which the Lord Jesus became so poor.”

Thus spake the white man, and the simple but earnest words made a deep impression on the attentively listening Indians.

Dear readers, I hope these words have also a message for you. How much the Lord Jesus has suffered for your sakes! Will you think today of how He came on earth, and in great poverty was laid in a manger in a stable, and that He walked through this sinful world the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, with no home and no money, and He went to the cross and bore the severe judgment of God on account of the sins which were laid upon Him, all for your sakes!

“Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

ML-08/22/1920

"It Will Never Sting Again"

WHEN I was a schoolboy, I remember being stung by a bee one day in the garden. It was very sore, and when I showed my swollen hand to my mother, she found the sting of the bee in the flesh. I remember how she comforted me by saying, “It will never hurt you again, Bertie, for it has lost its sting.”

We read in the Word of God, “The sting of death is sin” (1 Cor. 15:56), and when that sting is removed, death need be no Bread then. All who believe on Jesus as their Savior, have had their sins removed, put away and forgiven.

To them death has lost its terror and its sting. They have life in Christ, and into judgment they can never come (John 5:24). It was of this that Paul Gerhardt sang long ago—

“For me sin has no sentence,

For me death has no sting.

Because the Lord, who loves

Shall shield me with His wing.”

How blessed it is to be able to say so, and to know that it is true! The Lord Jesus knew what it was to bear sin and suffer its judgment on the cross, but to all His believing people, all who trust Him as their Savior, the judgment is past, and nothing but life and glory on before. Who would not be among this blessed people?

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

ML-08/22/1920

Jesus.

’Twas God who gave the precious name

Of “Jesus” to His Son,

Because for all His people’s sin

And guilt He should atone.

The name of “Jesus” Savior means,

And such He is indeed,

To all who know the weight of sin,

And peace and pardon need.

His name was Jesus when on earth.

His name is Jesus now;

And God declares that to that name

All heaven and earth shall bow.

And truly happy is the child

Who loves that precious name:

He soon shall Him in glory see,

Who once in mercy came.

ML-08/22/1920

The Childhood of a Queen.

A STORY is told about Princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James I. of England, when she was a child. She showed a great love for all kinds of pets, so a portrait was made of her with a number of her pets around her. She was so kind to them that they loved her, and not one of them would hurt her. Some of them would not hurt anybody, but the big dog and the monkey could, if they wished, but because of her kindness, they would not hurt her. I suppose my little readers are not a bit surprised at this, and would say it is only right that they should be kind to her seeing she was so kind to them.

Have you thought of the great love of God to us in the gift of His Son, and His many kindnesses to us every day? I expect many of you will answer, “Yes,” but I ask another question, Have you responded to that love? Can you say, “We love Him because He first loved us”? 1 John 4:19.

No one has loved us as God has; for, rather than have us bear the eternal results of our sins, He gave His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, to take our place on Calvary’s cross, and there He was forsaken of God on account of our sins having been laid upon Him, and the Lord Jesus exhausted the punishment, and said “It is finished,” so He left nothing for you or me to do in atoning for our sins. We could not, so He did it all for us.

Should not this kindness and love of God, cause us to respond, and seek to live for Him, and please Him in all our ways? You are not surprised that these dumb animals responded to the kindness and love that was shown to them. How much greater is the reason that we should do all things pleasing to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, seeing that the love which He has shown us is beyond all measure.

“IF A MAN LOVE ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORDS: AND MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, AND WE WILL COME UNTO HIM, AND MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM.” John 14:23.

ML-08/29/1920

The Little Prophet.

A RIDDLE.

MORE than 2500 years ago there lived in a small town a boy, who feared God, and loved His word. The whole world had given itself over to idolatry and to open godlessness. Therefore God could have nothing to do with it. But He had chosen out of it one people, to show by it that He is the eternal and true God. For this people He had had a book written, in which great things were promised, and to this people He gave a country, more fruitful and more pleasant than any other country. The people were few, and the country was not large.

God generally chooses small things show forth His power and His goodness in an especial way. He cared for this people. He gave them good laws. But, alas! They made an abuse of God’s goodness, and became, if possible, more wicked than the others. By degrees they forgot God so completely, that, when the little boy, of whom I am going to tell you, was born, there was not one copy to be found of the book, that God had written. And there were then but very few in the whole country, who had any love or fear for God. For this cause God decided to bring down a terrible judgment on this people. But there must be somebody who could bring a message from Him to the people, and tell them what was going to happen. There were many learned men in those days. But God did not choose them. He chose a little boy.

I have often thought, that God loved the little boy more than any of the others, and for this reason chose him to bring the message.

But when God told this boy, that he must leave his father’s house and stand before kings and priests, he was very much afraid.

“What can I do?” said he. “I am but a child. I cannot speak before these great men.”

But God would not deprive him of the honor of serving Him. He told the boy that all those great and important men could do nothing to him, “for,” said He, “I am with thee to deliver thee.”

It appears, that our boy from that moment was as brave as a lion. He met many hindrances in his path, and many evil men did him as much harm as they could, yet he did not once forsake God, or keep silence for fear of man.

What became of him? Hear his own words, spoken when he was an old man; after that he had undergone so much suffering, that stronger than he would have been crushed by it; after his message had been rejected, and he himself mocked and despised by those who should have honored him; after he had been in the stocks, had been thrown twice into prison and often in danger of his life; after all that, in the midst of a heartrending lamentation, he says to us: “The Lord is my portion, The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. The mercies of the Lord are new every morning.”

Can you now tell who this little prophet was, who was called so young, and who served his Master so faithfully?

ML-08/29/1920

"Out of the Mouth of Babes"

ON a small town there lived an old woman. She was very ill, and it seemed she could not live much longer. She thought of death with terror, for, although, she believed in a God, and even that He had a son, Jesus Christ, still she had no peace, and was not sure how it would be with her after her death. A preacher who was a believer often visited her, and repeatedly spoke to her long and earnestly about the wonderful grace of God. Still it seemed all in vain.

On a certain day the preacher came to her again. It was a beautiful, bright day, and the sun cast some of its rays into the sick woman’s room to cheer her up. Propped up with cushions, with the Bible on her lap, the pool-woman sat in her arm-chair near the opera window. The preacher stood up to go.

“I commend you to the Lord!” he said kindly, while he held the thin, trembling hand in his. “Tomorrow I will come back, but I really don’t know what else I can say to you.”

Outside in the narrow street, some hoys played with their kites, and every time that one went higher than the rest, a loud cheer went up. When the preacher saw them, he went up to them and “Listen to me for a moment, boys! You must not make such a noise. In the house opposite an old sick woman lives, who cannot bear it.”

“Is she very sick?” asked the oldest of the boys.

“Yes, my boy, very bad. She will die very soon.”

“Is she happy then?” the boy asked again.

“No, my boy, alas no!”

“But does she not know the Lord Jesus?” continued the boy, while he gazed thoughtfully at the preacher. The latter shook his head.

“No, she does not know Him. O, if only she had peace!” He nodded to the boy once more and continued on his way.

No sooner had the preacher turned into another street, but the oldest boy, who took up the case of the old woman very seriously, walked slowly to the open window. There, by standing on his toes, he could just look over the window-sill, and when he saw the sick woman, he called out with a clear voice: “Sick woman, sick woman! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Twice he called out clearly and plainly the same words, and then hurried away to join the others in another street. According to his promise. the preacher returned the next day to the invalid. But how surprised he was, when he saw her. Her eyes shone with joy, and with a trembling voice she cried out to him when he was coming in: “O, God be praised! Now everything is in order. All the dark clouds have vanished. Now I am no more afraid of death. I trust in Jesus. He is my Savior.” And then she said.

“Listen to what has happened. When you left yesterday with the sorrowful remark, that you had said everything to me that you could say, and really did not know what more to tell me, I felt more unhappy than ever. I was still sitting in my chair near the window, when all at once I heard a clear voice calling: “Sick woman, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!” And that happened twice. The voice came from the side of the window. It was as if I heard an angel. I turned around, but saw nobody. Certainly God Himself spoke to me. I could not do otherwise than turn to Him at the same time, and now I know for sure that the Lord Jesus is also my Savior.” The hands of the sick woman were folded in prayer, and the preacher heard her stammering: “He died for me! I have only to believe. Everything else was finished, long, long ago. At last the light has broken in on me, and now I am no more afraid of death.”

She lived happy for six weeks, and then left for the Father’s house with its many mansions.

Let this true story encourage us, young and old, big and little, to bear testimony wherever we are and whenever we can, to our Savior.

“Joy to confess Thy blessed Name,

The virtues of Thy blood,

And to the wearied heart proclaim,

‘Behold the Lamb of God!’”

ML-08/29/1920

Edgar and the Gold Watch.

MOTHER had left her watch upstairs one morning, so when Edgar wanted to know if it was time to start for school she could not tell him. She felt in her pocket, but the watch was not there.

“O,” she said, “I remember that I left it on the dressing-table upstairs.”

“Shall I go and get it for you, mother?” said Edgar.

Now Edgar was not a careless boy, but mother’s watch was a gold one, and she valued it very much. She was afraid to trust her little boy to carry it down the stairs. He might drop it and break it.

“No, thank you. Edgar,” said mother; “I will go for the watch myself.”

The Lord Jesus has a great treasure in this world. All those who trust in Him, whether they are boys and girls or grown-up people, are His jewels. All of them together are like a very precious pearl— “a pearl of great price,” in His sight. He is not going to leave His “pearl” in the world Forever. He wants His loved ones to be with Himself in His bright home in glory. How will He get them there? Will He send an angel for them? No. He loves them so dearly that He will not let an angel bring them to heaven. He is coming for them Himself!

There is a verse in John that tells us this. Will you find it in your own Bible? “I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Just as Edgar’s mother would go for the watch herself, because she valued so much, so the Lord Jesus will come Himself to take us to be with Him. All who belong to Him will be caught up to meet Him. What a glad moment that will be for all who are ready. I am ready. Are you?

“A little while” the Lord shall come,

And we shall wander here no more

He’ll take us to His Father’s home,

Where He for us is gone before

To dwell with Him, to see His face,

And sing the glories of His grace.

ML-08/29/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for July

1. “But that which ye,” etc. Revelation 2:25

2. “He which testifieth,” etc. Revelation 22:20

3. “And the angel thrust,” etc. Revelation 14:19

4. “Behold He cometh with.” etc. Revelation 1:7.

5. “And I beheld, and,” etc. Revelation 8:13

6. “For the great day of,” etc. Revelation 6:17,

7. “And God shall wipe,” etc. Revelation 21:4.

ML-09/05/1920

Bible-Questions for September

Rewards will be given (D, V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, to those not getting hele from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address. E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers are to be found in the Gospel of Mark.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway.” “Cried out.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway.” “Was healed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway,” “Beheld Him.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway,” “Kissed Him.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway,” “Bound Jesus.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway,” “Followed Him.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Straightway,” “Knew Him.”

ML-09/05/1920

We Are His Witnesses.

MY old friend, Mrs. M.— was telling me the other day of a conversation she once had with a young lawyer.

She was going on a short trip on the local train. Sitting in the seat with her was a young woman who mas a Sunday school teacher, and in the course of conversation they were talking of the lesson on the previous Sunday—“The Children of Israel crossing the Red Sea.”

Sitting behind them was a young man whom Mrs. M— knew to be a young lawyer from the city. He overheard their conversation, and after listening for a time, he leaned forward and said to her; “Surely you don’t believe that old story?” To which Mrs. M.— replied, “Indeed I do; I believe the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover, and every word God speaks is true.”

“O, well.” said the lawyer. “I can’t believe that, but it is the way one is brought up that makes the difference.”

“No”, said Mrs. M.— “I can assure you from my own experience that it is not the way you are brought up that makes the difference; it is whether you have Jesus in your heart or not, that makes the difference.

The lawyer looked very sober for a few minutes, and then said; “Would you mind telling me about your experience?” She felt somewhat embarrassed, but remembering the word; “Be ready always to give an answer to him that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear,” so lifting her heart to the Lord for strength and wisdom, she told him that few children had been more carefully trained up in the fear of the Lord than she had. Her parents had both been devoted Christians; she had been taught the Scriptures from her earliest years, had committed whole chapters to memory, and really loved to read her Bible. Yet she had grown to womanhood, had married and had three children before she had found the Lord as her only personal Savior.

All those years she had known she was not saved, and she had not been happy, but when questioned about her soul, her excuse had been that there were some things she could not believe.

When at last she became thoroughly aroused to her lost condition and the Lord would bring before her some word to convict her of sin, and point her to the Savior, Satan would always whisper to her, “You have known that all your life; there is nothing in that.”

But one day being in an agony of soul, and being alone in the house, except for her little children, she left her work, and kneeling down, poured out everything to the Lord, and told Him if He would only give her one word from Himself that would meet her need, she would believe it unquestioningly. Instantly the word came, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace.” And as her little children came crowding around her the Lord gave her that word also. “If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him,” and she rose from her knees a new creature in Christ, with a peace and happiness in her heart which the world could neither give nor take away.

As she finished her story the lawyer said, “O, you all tell the same thing.”

“Who do you mean by all?” said Mrs. M—

“All you who say you know the Lord,” he replied.

“Well,” said Mrs. M.— “you are a lawyer, are you not? and if you have a case in court, and all your witnesses tell the same story, you have your case, have you not? Now, the Word says, we are His witnesses, and if we all tell the same story, don’t you think you should believe our witness, and accept our Savior?”

The young lawyer had listened to her story with apparently deep interest, but when she put this question to him, he made no reply, but got up suddenly and left the car.

Dear children, do you believe the word we bear witness to? Yes, God bears witness to,

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

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.

ML-09/05/1920

A Zulu Father's Love.

TRAVELING through the bush in Zululand, a missionary one day came upon Zulu and his family of six boys, all busy trying to catch the monkeys which swarmed among the trees. They had evidently been successful, for one of the little boys had a squealing monkey tucked under his arm, while the father held two more struggling captives. Approaching the party, the missionary asked the Zulu if he would sell him one of the monkeys, and after some bargaining, a price was agreed upon, and the monkey handed over. The Zulu’s little sons had by this time gathered round their father, and seemed greatly interested in the white man. Pointing to one of them, the missionary asked the father, “How much will you take for your little boy?”

The big Zulu drew the little fellow closely to his side, and placing his hand affectionately on the curly head, replied, “I would not sell him for all the money in the world.”

The missionary, glad of an opportunity to speak of Jesus, began to tell the heathen family of God the Father, who had but one Son, whom He loved with a great love, and yet He gave Him up in order that He might come down to this sin-blighted earth, and offer Himself up a sacrifice for the sins of His enemies.

The Zulu’s love for his little boy was great indeed, but who can fathom the depth of God’s love, which caused Him to part with His only Son in order that we, who were sinners, might he saved and cleansed from our sins.

Dear children, have you thanked God for His great love gift?

“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.

ML-09/05/1920

Patience.

JUST look at these two dear children, patiently watching till a little fish will come and bite and then they will take it to their mother to cook for them. They wait and watch, and that is a hard thing for them to do, for children like to be on the go and seeing all they can. It must be they are very anxious for that fish, and this occasion will no doubt teach, them a needful lesson, for we all can afford to be more impatient. There are many things which happen to us in our short life that calls for much patience.

There was no one so patient as the Lord Jesus, and there was no one more tried than He, but He never failed. How wonderful to see perfection in every way with Him. Wherever we may view Him, whether it is in lowliness, meekness, gentleness, love, obedience, grace, etc. He is the only perfect one in, every respect.

For us, we need to be put through tribulation, that is trouble, to teach us patience, so, the Scripture says, “Tribulation worketh patience.” Rom. 5:3.

Then again another Scripture says, “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4.

We will find that we are unable of ourselves to be patient, although some are more patient than others, but if we have the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we then can go to Him, and He will enable us to be gentle and patient, and if we want to, be more like Him, He will enable us.

“BE PATIENT TOWARD ALL.” 1 Thess. 5:14.

ML-09/05/1920

Too Late.

ONLY a little while ago I read of one who had often been warned of her danger, and whose last words were, “I might have been saved once, but it’s too late now.”

Do not let this be so with you, my young readers, but come now, and Jesus will in no wise cast you out.

You need a Savior, and Jesus is the Savior you need.

“Too late, too late!” how sad the sound

On anxious human ears,

Of those who’ve waited long, a prey

To doubts, and hopes and fears.

But there’s a time, when sadder far,

Shall sound in human ears,

A dread “too late,” which, killing hope,

Will turn to death all fears.

“Too late” they’ll feel their lost estate,

Which now they don’t believe;

“Too late” they’ll see the grace of God

Which now they won’t receive.

“Too late” they’ll find the door will shut,

Which now stands open wide;

“Too late” they’ll have to meet their God

With no place then to hide.

O! sinner, pause, ere yet “too late;”

Now is the day of grace.

Now Jesus calls, O! do obey

His pleading, loving, voice.

Today ’tis free to all who come,

And take Him at His word;

Tomorrow’s sun may rise “too late”

For you who now have heard.

ML-09/05/1920

Caught in a Trap.

POOR little mouse has been caught in a trap and now one of the little girls has gone after the cat and brought her to catch and kill the little mouse as soon as they open the door of the trap and let it out.

A trap is a good thing for such a little destructive creature as a mouse, and God who is righteous, allows snares to be brought upon the wicked. They think they can go on without Him and do just as they please and forget that all they have they have received from Him, so God lets them fall into a trap that they might learn what weak and foolish things they are. The one therefore who puts His trust in the Lord for salvation, and then goes to Him about every, step in his path, will be preserved from getting into traps or snares. The Scripture says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress: My God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” Ps. 111:1-3.

May you not only put your trust in the Lord for your salvation, but for all your ways, and He will preserve you from falling into many a trap or snare that the wicked one would have for your feet.

“IN GOD HAVE I PUT MY TRUST: I WILL NOT BE AFRAID WHAT MAN CAN DO UNTO ME.” PS: 56:11

ML-09/12/1920

The Blood Upon the Gold.

ON the holy place of God’s ancient tabernacle stood the golden altar with its four horns of gold. Once a year a blood stain was put upon these horns (Exod. 30:6)—a spot of blood on the shining gold. The message borne by that blood to us is, that none can enter God’s presence now as a worshiper, or go to dwell in His heaven hereafter, save in virtue of Christ’s death trusted by the soul. The blood is the only tale to the glory. Only the sinner who is made clean from sin enters there.

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

ML-09/12/1920

The Lost Child.

“THE Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.”

A family of tiny children went to the seaside with their mother and grandmother. It is such fun to play in the sand with spades and buckets, is it not?

Well, Harold, Katie and tiny Lucy, each had a bucket and spade, and they enjoyed themselves as much as any other children, while mother, with baby on her lap, sat on the sand with grandmother watching the play. So passed a happy week: but, alas! a sad day was to come.

Harold loved to play in the sand, and was always in a hurry to run off there as soon as he had swallowed his food, and in his baste, he sometimes forgot to do what mother told him. He was only six years old, but quite old enough to know how to obey, was he not? This afternoon that I am telling you about, he was as usual in a great hurry to start for the beach, and was not at all pleased when mother, having dressed wee Lucy, told him to take care of her outside the house, while she got the others ready. Now Harold never liked waiting, and mother seemed a long time coming, and he got more and more impatient, at last he thought Lucy might just as well stay there by herself until the others joined her, while he amused himself on the sand. So off he ran, and never looked back, nor found out that his little sister was toddling after him, as fast as her very short legs could carry her.

On he ran, and soon turned one corner and then another, making his way to the great sea beach, where the pretty shells lay, and the little crabs crawled about so funnily. But Lucy did not know the road so well, and, when she lost sight of Harold, she soon went wrong, trotting on, down one street and cap another, every step taking the poor wee thing further out of the right way.

When mother and grandmother Came out presently with Katie and baby, they were very much vexed to find that Harold had not done as he was told. They hurried down to the beach, and there they soon found him at play, but no little Lucy was with him! Now do you think mother said, “Ah, well, we have two boys and a girl left, that is quite enough”? O, no! you all know mother’s love better than that, don’t you? And Jesus’ love for His little stray lambs is far greater than even mother’s love, so that though He may have ninety-nine sheep left, He will still go after that one which is lost until He finds it.

O! how ashamed and how unhappy Harold was, when he found out what sad consequences had come of his disobedience, for he tenderly loved his little sister, although he had deserted her so naughtily. He and Katie both cried bitterly as they ran along the side of their mother, who hurried here and there, asking all she met if they had seen the lost child. Grandma went in another direction, vainly inquiring after her, but no one knew anything of poor little Lucy.

O! how glad they would have been if they could have heard her call out, Grandma! mamma! here I am!” but no cry did they hear. And I am sure this is just how Jesus longs to hear some of you call out, “Lord, save me,” and, O! how quickly then He would find you and save you.

Two very long hours passed away in fruitless search for Lucy, hours that seemed longer to the unhappy seekers than a whole day. Poor mother’s heart was sick and heavy as she went back to the house, hoping to hear her child had come home, and then hurried again to the beach, vainly searching among the merry groups of children for her tiny Lucy. O! what would father say be heard what had happened? How they all wished he was there to help them, and to tell them what to do—the strong, young father, who had stayed at his daily toil, while he sent them to enjoy this holiday, which now seemed ending so terribly.

And now what do you guess suddenly changed all the tears into smiles? Ah! I see you know. Yes, it was little Lucy, in the arms of a stranger, who had picked her up, and was now carrying her to the police station, hoping her parents would go there to inquire after her. What delight all the little family were in, as they each in turn hugged, and kissed, and laughed over the little one that had been lost and now was found!

Now this is just a faint picture of the dear Savior’s joy, when He finds a poor lost sinner—one for whom He has bled and died on Calvary’s cross, and whom He has long sought.

Dear children, will you give Jesus the joy of finding you? Will you call out to Him to save you? Do you know that you are lost, and that you need Him to seek you and to find you? How gladly He would pick up His little stray lamb, and lay it on His shoulders rejoicing! How happy you would be, too, if you were found by Him, the tender Shepherd, and could sing from your heart

“I was lost, a little lamb,

Out of Jesus’ fold,

Faint with hunger and with fear,

In the dark and cold.

Jesus missed me, though a lamb,

Little, lone, and weak,

And He could not rest for love,

‘He the lost must seek.

“Now I’m safe, a little lamb,

Safe in Jesus’ fold,

Jesus found and brought me in

From the dark and cold.

Is He glad, and am not

who went astray,

Glad that He has brought me back

To the heavenly way?”

ML-09/12/1920

How I Know That Jesus Died for Me.

AS a boy, I was sorely perplexed with the doctrine of Election. It was preached in the parish where I lived, in such a way as to make it impossible for any to be saved, except those for whom Christ died, and they seemed to be a very select and holy few. The result was that I became skeptical. God only knows how far I would have gone, and what the end would have been, had He not in His mercy sent the gospel message, as it is recorded in His Word, to my ears. A number of young men on a holiday held an open-air meeting on the “Common” close by our village, on a summer Sunday afternoon. A good number of the people attended. I went, out of curiosity, and stood a good way off. One read John 3:16, and re-marked that “‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,’ meant, that there was not one present but was included in ‘the world,’ and therefore loved by God.” I said to myself, “That means me.”

The second speaker read Romans 5:8: “While we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us,” and added, “If you know yourself a sinner, then you can say, on the authority of this verse, ‘Jesus died for ME.’” That was another ray of heavenly light to me.

A third read Acts 13:39: “All that believe ARE justified,” and remarked, “If twenty persons here, believe that Jesus died for them as sinners, then God says these twenty persons ‘ARE justified.’” I never heard the way of life made so clear before: I have not heard it made clearer since. I forgot all that I had heard of man’s reasonings about election, and all that I had said against God, and what I had wrongly thought to be His Word. The truth, plainly, simply, and I believe powerfully spoken by these three young men, who knew its saving power themselves, cleared my mind of all the false ideas that lodged there, and at the same time reached my heart as God’s message. That afternoon at that little open-air meeting, I, as a sinner, believed that Jesus died for me, and was saved. Praise the Lord!

If you want to be saved, take God’s Word for it, as I did.

ML-09/12/1920

The Hungry Boy.

AS a gentleman was walking along the street, he noticed a small, ragged boy looking with hungry eyes at the good things in the window of a bakery. Touching the boy on the shoulder, he asked him if he was hungry, and would like something to eat? If so, he was to follow him. The boy looked at him, believed his word, and quickly followed his guide who entered the store, and, putting some money on the counter, told the woman to get a cup of coffee, and to supply plenty of food to the starving boy. When he had had enough to eat, the gentleman began to tell him that God offered to all, without payment, the gift of salvation, by accepting which, the hungry and miserable one is fed and made happy Forever.

Now, dear little friend, won’t you be like this boy, and accept at once God’s invitation, and come to the Lord Jesus who will save you, and lead you in the narrow path that ends in glory?

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

God has told us that all have sinned, so that we know that we are lost, and unless we come to the Lord Jesus for salvation we shall be Forever miserable.

Don’t think that God does not mean what He says. The boy did not stop to talk about his unfitness to enter the store, nor did his friend say to him, “You must make yourself better before I take you in.” So we must not think that we can do anything for our salvation, but, as God says, “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom. 4:5.

“This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:29.

ML-09/12/1920

Autumn

The autumn, has come, and the beautiful roses

Are gradually falling and fading away:

The leaves and the blossoms, now falling, discloses

That all that is beautiful sinks to decay.

The birds of the woodlands, whose songs have so gladdened

Our hearts, as we wandered through meadow and lane,

Will soon take to flight—but while we are saddened,

We know that in spring they are coming again.

‘Mid all that is changing—in gladness and sorrow—

Believers in Him who is now on the throne,

Wait joyfully still for that precious tomorrow,

That moment when Jesus returns for His own.

“YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.” HEB. 10:37

ML-09/19/1920

Not a Stranger.

ONE of the shortest, and one of the best known, and longest remembered names of the Old Testament is Job. And a wonderful man Job was contemporary with Abraham, it is believed, yet living far, far away from him, he nevertheless knew about God; and he also knew that access to God was by sacrifice. He knew that God was holy; he knew that He was righteous; and he knew that He was merciful: and not all his sorrows and all his losses could shake his soul from this rock. Sometimes with feeble utterance, be it said, he spoke of all this; yet nothing could move him from his confidence in Jehovah. And one of his most remarkable utterances, as proof of this, is found in chapter 19, ver. 25.

“For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Beautiful utterance, indeed! And where, do you think, it was Job’s desire to have this recorded? “In the rock Forever!” Not only in a book, and surely not in the sand. No, but

“graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever”!

“For I know.” sweet words, indeed. No doubt, no fear. “My Redeemer liveth,” —yes, his own Redeemer, “liveth.” The One who had all power towards him and for him.

“Shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Thousands of years have gone since then, but still the words are true. It shall be.

“In my flesh shall I see God.” His faith in the resurrection of the body, thus beautifully proclaimed as the hope of Job’s heart; “Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Here I pause, for I have a few words to say about this. Now, if you have marginal readings to your Bible, you will see that the word “another” is rendered “stranger”. Hence Job’s words were, “Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not a “stranger.” It was not to be a stranger-Redeemer, or a stranger-God whom Job was going to see, but One whom he knew, and before whom he had often bowed in worship and adoration. Job not only knew about God, but he knew Him. Like Paul, when he exclaimed, “I know whom I have believed,” so Job could say, “I shall see Him whom I know is living, and He won’t be a stranger.” Happy Job!

It may be, dear readers, you have often heard Christians singing that beautiful hymn, “There no stranger-God shall meet thee.”

That is, when all the flock of God is gathered home. He will not be a stranger-God, for all who are there will have long known, and long trusted Him.

Do you know God, dear children? Shall I tell you how He is to be known? As Job knew Him through the Redeemer Jesus. If you can say, like him, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” you know God. Jesus has made Him known, “He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father.” There will be always much to learn about God. But we must know Him before we can increase in knowledge. We must all have to do with Him in some way, either as our Friend or as our Judge. One who is known to us, or as a stranger. O, see to it—and that now, “while it is, called today,” go to Him through Jesus; remembering His own precious words, “He that heareth My words, and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life.” May such be yours. Then when you get home to glory,

“He who to His rest shall greet thee,

Greets thee with a well-known love.”

ML-09/19/1920

He Comes! He Comes!

I KNOW a little girl, whose father went on a journey about a year and a half ago. She thinks that he will soon return; and longs so for him, that the thought that every day brings her nearer to the moment, fills her heart with joy. They do not know for certain when he will come, but they have reasons for believing, that it will be soon, if God spares him; and she is doing all she can to make him happy when he returns. All the books that have been given to her, she puts carefully together to show them to him; at school she does her best to learn well, so that her father may be pleased; and when the day comes that he returns safe home to his loved ones, who will be happier than his little daughter?

Dear reader, someone there is, who left this world in which we live, and who, before He went away, said to those who loved Him: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” It was the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But before I tell you anything more about His second coming, I am going to tell you why He came the first time.

God knew that all were sinners, every one. And He had said that no sinner could appear in His presence; but He was at the same time so full of love, that He sent His own Son to suffer and to die for us.

You have heard all this before, dear readers, but tell me, do you know that Jesus is your Savior, too? Do you understand clearly that you are a sinner? God says that you are a sinner, and that there is no other way to enter heaven than through Jesus, and in order that your soul might be cleansed from sin, He came the first time, and died on Golgotha.

The second time He will come to gather together all who love Him, so that they may be Forever with Him. O, what a happy day that will be for them! Those who sleep in Jesus, will arise from among the dead, and those who are alive will be changed, and with new bodies they will go to meet Him, to be with Him Forever and ever.

But for those, who continue in sin, who are indifferent about Jesus, who will not believe in Him, for them, when the Lord comes, it will be a time of trouble.

Then they will see that it is too late; and while the Lord takes up those to glory who believe, the others will be left behind, in distress and misery!

Think seriously about it, dear reader! If a little daughter loves her father so, that she looks forward longingly for his return, how much more should you long to see Jesus, if you have been washed in His precious blood!

If you have not yet come to Jesus, if you have not yet been touched by the Savior’s love; O, do not put it off any longer! Do not wait another hour, before going to Him. Be not afraid that He will cast you out. No, come to Him, just as you are, a guilty sinner. He will receive you immediately with open arms. Then you can as a child of God, as one of the lambs of Jesus, look out longingly for the return of Jesus.

He comes! Are you ready?

Ask yourself these two questions: Are my sins forgiven? If Jesus should come, while I am lying at night asleep in my bed, would I be saved and go with Him? If you cannot answer, “yes”, then I hope, that you will not rest until you can say, through His grave, My sins are forgiven; I am saved and ready to meet the Lord, for His blood has cleansed me from all sin. Then you will be really happy, because then you would have peace with God, and you will soon see the Lord Jesus, and be made like unto Him.

“We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

ML-09/19/1920

The Toothache That Helped.

THE well-known writer, Armin Stein, once told a story out of the years of his childhood, as follows: As a boy I went to a boarding-school, that of the famous orphanage at H—. In this institution, there were young people from all parts of the country. Russians, French, English, and Americans.

The pupils were put in rooms, eight in a room, and, as is often the case, one of the eight took upon himself the right to govern the others. In our room I was especially under the orders of such a one. It was perhaps my own fault, for I was very timid and shy. He made me take all sorts of messages for him, and teased me incessantly.

When I was four weeks in my new surroundings, something happened in our room that made a deep impression on us all.

One of my fellow-scholars, a poor boy, informed us, that twelve dimes had been stolen out of his purse.

It was bad news, as one of us eight must be the thief, for no other boys were allowed in our room. The director made inquiries but did not succeed in discovering the thief.

To my horror, suspicion fell upon me, on account of my great timidity. No one could say a word to me, but what I became as red as fire. The day after the robbery my tormentor said plainly for the others to hear, at the same time pointing at me: “Still waters run deep.” I could not answer this, and from that moment I was considered guilty of the theft. Many a hard thing I had to put up with. I felt so thoroughly unhappy, that I scarcely cared to study, and often passed sleepless nights. At one time when, on account of this suspicion, I lay awake, I became all at once so distressed that I cried out: “O, Lord Jesus! Come to my help, and release me from this unjust suspicion.”

At the same moment it seemed to me, that something creaked in the bed where Paul, one of the best boys in the school, slept. I listened, but heard nothing more, so thought that my ears had deceived me. The following day I found that my prayer had been heard. The doctor was friendly, and the boys too, showed no signs of suspecting me. It seemed as if all hearts were changed towards me, and that all were sorry for their treatment of me.

A few days later it came out who had committed the robbery. One of the boys, and just the one who had teased me so, was proved to be the thief and sent away from our school.

But I could not understand how that suspicion was so suddenly drawn away from me. That problem too was solved. In a conversation that I had with Paul, he said, “That night I could not sleep from toothache, and I heard you continually sighing. A little while later I heard you praying. I told this to the director, who said to me and the other boys, that we must not suspect you any longer, or treat you unkindly. He then made a rigid inquiry into the matter with the result that you know.”

Paul looked on it as accidental that he had overheard my prayer, but I saw in it the hand of the Lord, who had come to my help.

The Lord God hears and answers prayer. He is “near to all who call upon Him in sincerity.”

“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” 1 Pet. 3:12.

ML-09/19/1920

A Full House.

WHAT a full house! There are four little puppies in the basket and one outside. How sad the poor little fellow looks who has fallen out; he is probably cool and wishes he was in the nice warm hay with his brothers and sisters. But it is of no use for him to wish, as he is not old enough to climb back, and besides if he could, there is not room for him.

Does not the puppy remind us, dear little reader, of all who have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior? Yes, such an one is outside of God’s house, outside of His family. But one thing we should be thankful for is that in God’s house there is now plenty of room. But some day the Lord Jesus will come and take all those who have trusted in Him to forgive their sins; up to glory to stay with Him forever. And then God’s house will be full; the door will be shut; there will be no room. Then the ones which are outside will say, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” but will receive the terrible answer, “I know you not.” Why will the loving and tender Jesus who now calls tenderly to everyone, “Come unto Me,” answer them in such a way? It is because many, many times before they received the loving invitation, but they refused. While there was yet room, and God’s door wide open, they would not hearken to Jesus’ call and enter in.

Dear little reader, have you accepted the invitation and entered in? The Lord Jesus came down to earth and died that you might enter; He received the just punishment that you deserved, and calls to all who have never yet heeded, “Come unto Me.” O, what joy it gives Him for someone to say, “Lord, I come! Thou hast died for me.”

“THEY THAT WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” MATTH. 25:10

ML-09/26/1920

Gone Home.

IN a small Swiss village a little girl of thirteen lay on her deathbed. The little girl lived with her grandmother, an old woman whose heart had become hardened by a long life spent in sin. The glorious message of God’s love had never reached her conscience, and she had never told the little girl of the good Shepherd who loved her. Only once, in the commencement of her serious illness, had the little girl received a message of His love. It was when a Christian lady, who had heard of her illness, came to the little cottage. She brought with her a little book for the child and at the same time told her of Jesus, who had called the children to Himself and had blessed them. At her request the old Bible was hunted up. The friendly visitor then read some portions, and marked some texts with a pencil.

The child, who was naturally timid and reserved, had scarcely uttered a word during the visit. Accordingly the visitor when she left, did not know if her words had made any impression. When taking leave, she said that she was going away for some weeks but that on her return she would call on them again.

But it happened differently. She did not again see the child. Weaker and weaker the little girl became, and soon it became apparent that her life here below was drawing to an end. With intense desire she looked forward to the return of the visitor who had told her so many delightful things. But it would be some time yet before she could come. Then came the day of her release from suffering. An Aunt who knew as little of the Bible as the grandmother did, stood beside her bed.

“Auntie.” she called out suddenly; “Auntie, I am going to die! Why doesn’t that lady come back? Auntie, read to me again that beautiful story about Jesus. It has really happened. He came to take me to heaven. I must only believe in Him; that is all.”

Her aunt took the Bible and read to her one of the underlined passages. It was the beautiful story of Jesus calling the children to Himself and blessing them.

And there—while she was still reading, she heard a deep sigh; Her little niece had passed away—safe in the arms of Jesus! She had heard very little of the Savior, yet this little had been enough to fill her young heart with love to Him.

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

She clung to her Savior, and the one who does that is saved.

ML-09/26/1920

Lost.

“I AM lost, lost! I do not think it is any use trying to be saved,” she moaned.

A— had every reason to feel happy; the friends with whom she lived were God’s own children; she seldom mingled with any but Christians, and by some she was considered converted; but A— felt very differently. She knew she was not the Lord’s; she knew that if she died she would have to spend an awful eternity with the lost.

Many times had A— heard God’s servants proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, and as many times she had turned a deaf ear to the offers of mercy. Now she said to herself, “I have sinned away my day of grace; God has often pleaded with me, but I would not hear.”

The spring of which I write came, but it brought no joy to A—; she needed the Sun of Righteousness to shine in her heart.

While she was in this desponding state of heart, some special services were being held in the town where she lived. One evening she went, and the evangelist, with great earnestness, set forth the gospel of the grace of God, but A—’s heart only grew more desponding. “I have refused so often, it is of no use now,” she thought.

The service ended, A— moved to leave the room, when someone touched her, saying— “You are not happy.”

“No, I am not,” she answered.

“Then stay and have a talk about these things.”

“It is of no use; I have sinned away my day of grace.”

But A—sat down again, and the evangelist quoted the words in 2 Cor. 6:2, “Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation.” He repeated them twice with great emphasis, and a ray of hope sprang up in A—’s heart. “Can you say ‘I am a sinner'?” he added.

“O yes,” exclaimed A— , “I am lost, lost; I have refused the message of salvation so often and—”

“Then, as Christ said to the woman of whom we read in Luke 7, surely He says to you, ‘Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.’”

“Is it true?” asked A—.

“Yes, God cannot lie. Jesus Christ died for sinners.”

“O yes, I must believe it. What love! He died for me;” and A—’s heart filled with joy.

“Now,” said the evangelist, “read this verse: ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’” A few words of prayer, and A— hurried home to tell her friends of her newfound joy.

Dear reader, have you yet learned that you, if out of Christ, are lost like A— “dead in trespasses and sins”? O, be warned in time; it is no use trying to save yourself, it will be a miserable failure, as A— proved; but as a lost, guilty, hell-deserving sinner, look to Jesus Christ, who died for such. God grant that you may believe, and you shall find peace and joy in believing.

ML-09/26/1920

The Gospel Alphabet.

ALL men have sinned, God’s Word declares,

And thus come short of heaven:

BUT ‘twas for sinners, vile and base,

That God’s own Son was given.

CHRIST died for the ungodly ones,

For those whose strength is gone,

DELIVERS them from hell’s deep pit,

And brings them to a throne.

ETERNAL life He gives to all

Who bow to Him the LORD.

FORGIVENESS free they know, e’en now,

Who trust His faithful word.

GRACE brings salvation to the lost,

No sinner need despair.

HOW shall we then escape, unless

We to the LORD repair?

IN CHRIST all condemnation’s gone,

And God is glorified.

JUSTLY He pardons, all who come

And trust in HIM who died.

KINGS they are made, and priests to God:

Their sins are washed away.

LOVED with a Father’s love, they know

Christ as their strength and stay.

MERCY and truth can now agree,

And peace and justice meet.

NOW God can gladly welcome man

Before the mercy seat.

O, wondrous love! O, matchless grace!

The plan devised by God.

PARDON and peace are now revealed

Through faith in Jesus’ blood.

QUICKENED by God the Holy Ghost,

and newborn from above.

REDEMPTION now is known in Christ:

Fruit of the Father’s love.

SALVATION is of God alone,

To Him all praise is due.

THERE’S nothing wanted, blessed thought,

For we could nothing do.

UNTO His name, the Savior God.

Be ceaseless praises given.

VAST is His love! boundless His grace!

The triumphant song of heaven:

WORTHY of homage and of praise,

Worthy to be adored.

‘XALTED on the Father’s throne

We hail Thee, Savior Lord.

YES, blessed Lord, Thy claims we own,

For Thine alone are we,

ZEALOUSLY would we serve Thee here

Until Thy face we see.

ML-09/26/1920

Do You Know Jesus?

SOME weeks ago a friend of mine was asked to go and see a man I knew by sight, who was lying in bed very ill a few houses further along the street. When my friend saw the man, he knew he was so ill that he would never get well again, so he leaned down, and said quietly to him, “Do you know Jesus?”

The poor man shook his head. Then my friend said, “Do you want to know Him?” and again the man shook his head. After saying a little more my friend had to come away. A few days later that poor man died.

Do you not think it was very sad that he died without knowing Jesus?

I heard not very long ago of a little hoy who was asked the same question, “Do you know Jesus?” He said, “Yes.” So the old man who asked him said, “Who is He, then?” and the boy said, “He is my Savior.”

Yes, dear boys and girls, Jesus is the Savior of all who believe that He died instead of them on the cross, and bore the punishment that they deserved.

Now let me ask you the same question: Do you know Jesus as your Saviour? If you cannot say, “Yes,” I must ask you too, “Do you want to?” Do not think you can wait until you are bigger because Jesus may come and take all the boys and girls who believe in Him to be with Him Forever before you have finished reading this page, and then it will be too late for you to say, “I want to be saved.”

God tells us in His Book that we are sinners, and deserve to go to hell, but that Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the Cross, and if we believe on Him, our sins are all forgiven.

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

ML-09/26/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for August

1. “Come unto Me all ye,” etc. Matth. 11:28.

2. “He is not here for He,” etc. Matth. 28:6.

3. “But Jesus said, Suffer,” etc. Matth. 19:14.

4. “Saying, Where is He,” etc. Matth. 2:2.

5. “Then shall the King,” etc. Matth. 25:34.

6. “And Jesus said unto,” etc. Matth. 8:7.

7. “And the multitudes that.” etc. Matth. 21:9.

ML-10/03/1920

Bible Questions for October

The Answers Are to Be Found in the Gospel of Luke.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Soul shall be required.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Fear not, believe only.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Behoved Christ to suffer.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Great drops of blood.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “For she loved much.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Love your enemies.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “That looked for redemption.”

ML-10/03/1920

A Wonderful Deliverance.

EVERY now and again we may read of remarkable escapes from death. Sometimes it is a child preserved from a runaway horse; at another time it is a farmer saved from an infuriated bull, or a sailor rescued from drowning, or an engineer from death in a railway accident, or a miner delivered from injury in a colliery explosion.

Events such as these come home to us, and our sympathies are touched, and we feel very thankful that the individual was saved. Warm-hearted little children are often so eager to learn the outcome of an accident they may hear about, that before the narrative is finished they will burst out with the inquiry, “Was he saved?”

Now there is a true history of a youth who was protected from death and injury on several occasions in a most wonderful manner. His father was a farmer, and as he had several sons, and was not very well off, the boys had to help. The youngest was a gentle boy, and so he was given the sheep to look after. He was very fond of music, and it seems that he would sing and play his own accompaniment while the sheep would be resting on the hot days.

One day the sheep were near a spot that gave cover to a hiding enemy, and before the young shepherd was aware of what was happening, a lion sprang out of its hiding-place, seized a little lamb and was making off with it; but the brave youth heard and saw the disturbance, and rushing forward saved the lamb and killed the lion.

Another day a bear came along and gripped hold of a lamb, and would have eaten it; but the kind young shepherd was instantly after it, released the lamb and killed the cruel bear.

‘When the shepherd grew to be a man, he wrote a beautiful hymn telling of some of his experiences, and he wrote “the young lions do lack and suffer hunger” (Psa. 34:10), for he remembered how he saved his little lamb from being their dinner.

He explains how he was enabled to do it. He says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (verse 4). Do you notice that word “fears?” David had sometimes felt afraid; but whenever he did feel a bit afraid, he prayed to God, and God really did hear him, and deliver him, and therefore he could advise others to do the same.

Just listen a moment to the call of David: “Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” (verse 11). It is as though he said, “Come! come close up to me, dear children, while I teach you to love and reverence the God who heard and saved me.” Read the next verses, and see what he says. He tells you the things that God loves, and bids you “seek peace.” Peace with God is only obtained through the Lord Jesus and His atoning work.

ML-10/03/1920

False Confidence.

AS I was walking one morning with some friends along a beautiful rocky coast, we came upon a vessel fast on a rock, not more than a stone’s throw from the beach. She was evidently quickly going to pieces, and appeared to be full of water.

At any time it is sad to see property cast to the wind and waves, even though there may have been no loss of life. This made us inquire of a coastguard what she was and how she got there.

A keen easterly wind had been blowing all night, and the fishing-boats and other small craft had hastened into T.—that they might find shelter there from the coming storm. The little harbor was well-nigh filled, and the vessels, safely moored and anchored, role quietly in the still water. With the wreck, however, it had been different. Her four fishermen had anchored her securely, as they supposed, and little dreaming of danger, they slept that night. The wind rose higher and the storm beat upon their bark till she was driven from her moorings, and thus became an easy prey to the mad winds and waves. The men still slept while their boat was driven on past the very mouth of the harbor (that harbor built on purpose to receive all such in the time of distress); but on she went, and her men were only startled from what became well-nigh being their death-sleep by the crash as she struck on the rocks where we saw her.

We watched the wild seabirds as they swooped and dived, and ever and anon perched on the masts of the wrecked and deserted vessel, while it was swayed to and fro by the merciless breakers.

It taught us a mournful lesson, of how many persons rest sleeping at case, feeling safe against the coming storm of eternity. They watch the dark clouds gathering again on the horizon; they know and acknowledge that that storm must come; they know and acknowledge also that a harbor of refuge has been opened for all in distress, even the Lord Jesus Christ; nevertheless they are contented with their own moorings, as the anchor of their trust holds on to the shifting sandbank of their feelings, or to the rotten rags of their righteousness or perhaps these together combined with soul-destroying indifference. Alas! for all such, in that day of which the question is put, “Who shall be able to stand”? It will be found that neither they, nor any others out of Christ, will be able to stand. Then, most assuredly, shall every prop, stay, mooring and foundation give way; for, saith the apostle: “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

“Other refuge have I none;

Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”

ML-10/03/1920

The Coming Storm.

WITH an anxious look and nervous energy they pulled to the shore as they saw the coming storm. Their crude flat boat would not be able to weather the storm, so the place of safety had to be reached, if possible, before the storm reached them.

I suppose some of my readers will say that was the wisest thing for them to do. It surely was, and we would think it very strange if they did not seek a place of safety.

There is a terrible storm coming on this world, and we know it because God has told us in Matth. 24:21. The time he is telling us of in that portion, there—will be tribulation like as never was before, and there will be nothing like it after that. At the end of all time there is to be a great white throne, and all the unsaved are to appear before it, and receive the due reward for their evil deeds. (Rev. 20:11-15.) What do you think we can do to escape that terrible storm? God has provided a way of escape, and those who refuse it must receive their judgment. God has sent His only begotten Son into this world to die for us, so that we might not perish. What a God of love He is, to provide such a Savior, who was competent to meet the storm of judgment that we deserved, so that we might go free. What do you think we should deserve if we refused that blessed Savior? Would we not deserve to receive the awful judgment for our sins? I am sure you must answer, “We would.” Now, I ask you, What have you done? Have you accepted the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ—as your Savior? If you have, it is a happy thing for you; but if not, don’t forget, you shall receive the judgment for your sins, and you will deserve it.

“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION.” Heb. 2:3.

ML-10/03/1920

A Very Short Prayer.

ONE Sunday evening, not long ago, the writer found himself in the south of London, where a number of little folks of from three to eight years of age were assembled for a children’s service. In order to gain their attention he had the words, “Lord, save me,” put on a board. As the children were reading it over, a little maid came up and said, “I say my prayers every night at mother’s knee.”

“Do you, my dear, and what is the prayer?” To which the child replied by repeating the verse— “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep: And if I die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take. Amen.”

And then she added, “When I have finished my prayers to night I shall say, ‘Lord, save me.’”

The little child’s simplicity charmed me very much. She seemed to speak from her heart, and speaking from the heart to Himself is what the Lord Jesus loves to see. I am quite sure it pleases Him to hear this little prayer, “Lord, save me,” when it comes from the very bottom of the heart. He delights in mercy, and He is mighty to save. I know that such of you as have truly called on the Lord to save you are the happy children, and that you feel like singing all the time, and that the burden of your song is this—

“I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!

He loved me ere I knew Him!

He drew me with the cords of love.

And thus He bound me to Him.

And round my heart still closely twine

Those ties which naught can sever,

Since I am His, and He is mine,

Forever and forever.”

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

He bled, He died to save me;

And not alone the gift of life,

But His own self He gave me.

Naught that I have my own I call,

I hold it for the Giver:

My heart, my strength, my life, my all,

Are His, and His forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!

So kind, and true, and tender,

So wise a Counselor and Guide,

So mighty a Defender.

From Him who loves me now so well,

What power my soul can sever?

Shall life? or death? or earth? or hell?

No. I am His forever.

I want my young readers to go to the blessed Jesus, believing He hears them, and to say from their hearts to Him, “Lord save me.”

ML-10/03/1920

Lebanon and Its Cedars.

THE word Lebanon means white, and it is applied to this remarkable chain of mountains partially because several of their summits are always covered with snow and capped with clouds, and partially because the mountains are themselves composed of white limestone, they are thus visible for a distance of thirty leagues.

They consist of two parallel ranges in crescent form and enclosing a fertile valley called Coele-Syria, or the valley of Lebanon. (Josh. 11:17.) One of the highest peaks is called Hermon (Deut. 3:9), the same mountain, Sion (Deut. 4:48), and Shenir. (Song of Sol. 4:8.) It rises to the height of from eight thousand to ten thousand feet, and from its sides flow numerous streams of pure water. (Jer. 18:14: Song of Sol. 4:15.)

Four rivers at least find their sources in the Lebanon group of mountains; the Orontes, which blows into the Mediterranean Sea below Antioch, the Leontes, the mouth of which is in the neighborhood of Tyre, the Abana and Pharpar, “rivers of Damascus,” and the Jordan itself which forms the eastern boundary of Canaan proper. The whole district is described by travelers as a multitude of mountains separated by deep ravines, and covered fairly thickly with pine and fruit trees to an altitude of five thousand feet, above which the cypress, cedar and oak predominate.

The ascent of the mountains is steep and rocky. The cedars which now remain are found principally at the foot of one mountain, covering a space three-quarters of a mile in circumference and number about four hundred, the trunks of some of which are forty feet round and the height nearly one hundred feet. A strong balsamic odor is perceptible for some distance round and is alluded to in Hosea 14:6 and Song of Solomon 4:11.

From Lebanon the cedars used in the construction of Solomon’s temple were obtained, and so many were required for the building of his palace that it is called the “house of the forest of Lebanon.” (1 Kings 7:2: 10:17.) Few of them now remain, as we have seen, but even now they may be called “the glory of Lebanon,” their fine shade, conical form, beautiful symmetry and lofty height fully justifying the figurative language of scripture. (Psa. 80:10; Amos 2:9.)

“O LORD, HOW MANIFOLD ARE THY WORKS! IN WISDOM HAST THOU MADE THEM ALL.” PS. 104:24.

ML-10/10/1920

In the Shepherd's Bosom.

HERE is a special blessedness in being saved in early days—a place of peculiar nearness to Jesus, that only those who become His in youthful years have the promise of receiving. Concerning those who are in early days converted, and brought into his flock, it is said, “He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom” (Isa. 40:11). Those “little ones who believe in Him” He takes into this place of special affection, near to His heart, and carries them safely along the way to the home of His love in heaven.

What a mistake for little boys and girls to refuse such a place, and to say they will come to Jesus when they are older. Even were this possible—and it is not always so, for they sometimes die—they lose the special place that the Shepherd would have given them, had they but come to Him when they were “little children.” Many pictures represent a shepherd, with a lamb in His bosom; but how much warmer and safer is the place that Jesus gives to those whom He carries in His bosom—the lambs of His flock.

ML-10/10/1920

Willie and Tommy.

AS the children were leaving their Sunday-school, one afternoon, the superintendent gently placed his hand upon the shoulder of one little boy, saying, “Are you trusting in the Lord?”

“No, sir,” was the reply.

“Would you like to trust Him?” asked the good man, tenderly.

“Yes,” said the little fellow, and with such deep earnestness, that the kind superintendent was convinced Willie was really longing for the knowledge of salvation through Christ.

That same evening Willie was listening attentively to a preacher, reading a portion from John 20, who at the end of verse 27, at the words, “Be not faithless, but believing,” paused and said, “Be not unbelieving, but believing.”

These words were impressed upon Willie’s young and tender heart.

At the close of the service, the boy, together with his brother, remained, by the wish of his superintendent, to speak with the preacher. Willie’s whole frame quivered with emotion, as he owned how he had been long desirous of salvation. And then the four knelt down together.

“O Lord, save me!” prayed Willie, and he repeated after the preacher these well-known words—

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee:

O Lamb of God, I come!”

Without a storm was raging, and the rain was descending in torrents, but within poor Willie’s heart there was a storm scarcely less fierce.

“What hinders you from accepting Christ and obtaining salvation through Him, Willie?”

“I want a sign to know that I am saved.” he replied.

“If you had offended me, and I told you I forgave you, would you believe my words, or would you ask me for a sign that I had forgiven you?”

“I would believe you without a sign,” the boy answered.

“Can you not believe God?”

“Lord, may I not be faithless, but believing!” he sighed.

“Jesus says, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’” was whispered to him.

“Lord, I come to Thee, and ask Thee to save me!” was his response.

“Jesus says, ‘No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.’ Just tell God that you come in the name of His Son.”

“O God, I come to Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and ask Thee to save me!” said the little boy earnestly.

Above the fury of the storm was heard that simple petition, and the Lord spake peace to Willie’s soul.

“I am saved!” he said. “Lord, I thank Thee for having saved me! Lord, I pray Thee to keep me from evil, and to save my dear brothers!”

Now, Tommy, who had remained silent, began to pray aloud, too, and, with childlike simplicity, followed the prayer of his much-loved superintendent, repeating each sentence after him, word for word.

“Jesus is so loving, and gracious, and tender,” said this servant of Christ to the little boy; “cannot you trust Him?”

And Tommy told the Lord he could do so; and then all rose from their knees and stood, and praised the Lord.

“Glory, honor, praise, and power,

Be unto the Lamb Forever!

Jesus Christ is our Redeemer!

Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.”

While we thank God that Willie and Tommy are now happily conscious that they are safe for time and for eternity, beneath the shelter of the blood of Christ, let us ask you, dear young readers, whether you have fled to Him for shelter, who is indeed a hiding-place from every storm?

ML-10/10/1920

Four Exceeding Wise Little Things. No. 1. The Ants.

No. 1.

The Ants.

I WAS once walking through one of the streets of a seaside resort, when I noticed a number of little creatures running along on the ground, all going in the same direction. They were Ants, and close to where I was passing they had their nest.

1 am sure there is a lesson to be learned from the Ants. Will you, then, please take your Bible, and turn to Proverbs 30:24, 25, where you will find it says, “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise; the Ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.”

I dare say you know that Ants are very tiny creatures, and might easily be killed with the foot of a little child; yet God says of them, “They are exceeding wise.”

Perhaps you may ask, But how do they show their wisdom?

Well, it is just in this way, “They prepare their meat in the summer.” They seem to know there is a time coming when they will not be able to get food; and therefore, while they have the chance, they get ready for that time of scarcity by laying up a store; and in that way, therefore, they teach us to provide for our future needs.

I do not want you to think that I mean you are to lay up earthly riches. What I wish is, that you should lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. (Matt. 6:19, 20.)

A time is coming when this world, with all its riches and glories, will pass away; but God has shown us in His Word, that even the youngest child, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, may have everlasting life and a home in the glory of God for eternity.

But now is the time to believe; today is the day of grace; tomorrow you may be left for judgment. While you have the opportunity then, be wise; avail yourselves of God’s abundant store of grace at once.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near,” so that, when the day of salvation is past, you may be found to have been “exceeding wise.”

ML-10/10/1920

"Not Tonight."

ONE Sunday evening, in a seaside town, two sailors were present at a gospel meeting in which salvation was preached and offered in Jesus’ name. Both of them were afterwards personally conversed with, and were entreated to seek the Lord while He might be found. Both listened, but only one of them attended to the things spoken. One was wise, and the other foolish. The one who was wise, received Christ; the other, who was foolish, went away rejecting Him, saving. “Not tonight.”

Many have said and done the same thing, and to their everlasting shame and contempt. What thoughts passed through the mind of this man as he left the meeting, no one can say; nor whether he slept comfortably that night after his willful refusal to receive Christ as his Savior or not.

A few days afterward he fell into the sea and was drowned. Where do you think his soul will be? Where do you think yours will be, if this night your soul shall be required of you?

O, dear children, do come to the Lord Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, while it is yet the day of God’s grace. Very soon the Lord Jesus will come and take all who believe on Him, up to be with Himself in the Father’s house; and all who have not taken Him as their Saviour, will be Forever shut out of His presence.

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

ML-10/10/1920

A Song in the Night.

When I am weary with sickness and pain,

When even mother’s kind help is in vain,

Better and nearer than any could be

Jesus, my Savior, is thinking of me.

Yes, He is watching me all the long night,

Darkness to Him is the same as the light;

And when the voices I love are not near,

Deep in my heart His own words I can hear.

Often He tells how He hung on the tree,

Dying for sinners—yes, dying for me;

And that He’s coming again very soon,

Morning or evening, at midnight or noon.

ML-10/10/1920

The Two Lanterns.

AS I was walking to a gospel meeting, in a dense fog one winter’s evening, I was not sorry to see a light coming towards me in the thickest part of the woods through which my path lay. As it drew nearer. I found it was from a lantern, carried by a little boy of eight years of age, whom I knew very well, and he was on his way to a children’s meeting.

“It’s pleasant to meet a light this dark evening” I remarked! “is it your own, John?”

“No, sir,” answered he: “it’s my father’s.” And he hurried on, afraid of being late for the meeting.

“That’s a brave little fellow to come so far alone this dark night!” thought I.

But then, you see, his lantern gave such a bright light that it really was not darkness for him, though it was for me.

I walked on for about ten minutes, and, as I neared the village to which I was going, I met several more little lads; also on their way to the children’s meeting, but it was too dark for me to make out clearly who they were. However, as I passed them, where the light from a distant gas lamp fell across the figure of the boy who walked first (whom we will call Tom), I could see he was carrying a lantern, much the same as that which guided me through the woods, but this one had no light in it.

“Well,” I thought to myself, “that boy’s lantern is not a bit of good, either to himself or to his companions, and they have to go through the dark woods; too.” They were late already, I knew, and, having no light, they could not hurry along when once they were beyond the reach of the village gas, as John had done.

What do you think made all the difference between these two lanterns, which looked alike? Why, the difference was this—John’s lamp had oil in it, which burned brightly, and Tom’s had none, only thing that could make it of use was wanting, and he might just as well have left it at home, and saved himself the trouble of carrying it, to say nothing of the risk he ran of breaking the glass against the trees while groping his way through them.

As I walked on, those two boys with their lanterns set me thinking of a parable, that the Lord Jesus told His followers when He was down here. I expect every little Sunday school scholar guesses at once which one I mean: the parable of the ten virgins (Matth. 25:1-13.) John, with his bright light, reminded me of the five wise virgins, who had “oil in their vessels with their lamps,” and Tom of the other five, who, though they took their lamps, “took no oil with them.” I am sure you all think Tom was a very silly little boy, and so he was but I expect he was not so silly as he looked, for no doubt he had lit his lantern before he left home, and did not find out that the wick only was burning, until it was too late to get the oil. When Jesus calls these last virgins “foolish,” and when He calls any foolish we know they must be so indeed.

Perhaps some of you children do not know what is meant by the lamp in the parable, so I had better explain that it is the profession of Christianity, which every little boy or girl makes, more or less, who kneels in prayer to God, and who is under Christian teaching. The oil means the Spirit of God, which He gives to everyone who is washed in the precious blood of Jesus.

We can picture the joy and gladness of those wise virgins as the Bridegroom (the Lord Jesus Christ) welcomes them to His marriage feast, and takes them in with Him, for they are “ready.” Are you ready, dear child? Just think of those foolish virgins who, of course, came in long behind the wise, who had pressed forward quickly in the light of their lamps. You know these last had wasted their time in trying to buy for themselves, the oil that was not to be bought, and the end could not get any, so they came stumbling along through the darkness, doubt getting many a bruise, and many fall. One wonders why they ever went forth to meet the Bridegroom; for what was the good of their pretending to go as light-bearers, to welcome Him at His coming, with lamps that were not burning at all? When they reached the gate, ever so late, what did they find? “The door was shut” —shut against all the dark lanterns which their bearers vainly held up, crying out “Lord, Lord, open to us.”

Now, dear children, I beg of you to take this sad account to heart. The Lord Jesus is coming very soon—it may be today. How terrible it would be if any little boy or girl, who reads this, were to find heaven’s gate closed in his or face, and were to hear those dreadful words, “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not!”

“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.

“THEY THAT WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE: AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” MATTH. 25:10.

ML-10/17/1920

About Prayer.

WHEN little Helen came home from Sunday-school her grandma asked her what the lesson was about. She replied, “O, it was about a poor woman, and her little girl was sick, and she went and told Jesus, and He gave her a crumb, and she got better.”

Helen was only a little girl—only four years old—and she did not tell the story in quite the right way, but if you will take your Bibles and turn to Matth. 15:22-28, you can read it for yourselves, and then you will see that, after all, Helen had learned the deep truth taught in the lesson. That is, that the poor mother was in trouble, and she went and told Jesus, and He gave her what she wanted, for He has said, “Ask, and it shall he given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matth. 7:7.

Does this mean that Jesus will give us everything we ask for? O, no! He loves us too much to do that, for we all ask for many things that would not be good for us, and would only do us harm. If a little girl saw the pretty red coals in the grate, and asked her father to fill her hands with them, would he do it? No, no, because he knows how much they would hurt her, and he knows, too, his little girl would never trust him again if he did give them to her.

But Jesus wants us to tell Him all our troubles, and all our joys too, and ask Him for what we want and tell Him we will trust Him to give us everything that is good for us. Let us not forget to thank Him for everything.

“FILL our hearts with thoughts of Jesus,

And of heaven where He is gone;

And let nothing ever please us.

He would grieve to look upon.”

ML-10/17/1920

Happy Day.

AS I toiled at my daily work in the noisy whirl of machinery, through my heart rang the words of my little daughter Nellie, “Sing ‘Happy day! happy day!’”

That morning she had come as usual to our room for a little fun, and had found her mother singing something in which she could not join. She said, “Sing ‘Happy day,’ mammy, sing ‘Happy day.’” Nellie is not quite three years old, but she has learned to sing, “Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.”

Perhaps some of you, dear children, may say, “We also often sing ‘Happy day.’” But stay; do you mean what you sing? Remember it is when Jesus has washed your sins away that the happy day begins. Have you, dear children, had your sins washed away? All who go to heaven, whether young or old, are made whiter than snow, and unless you are washed in the precious blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin, you will never enter that scene above, nor swell the song of the ransomed in glory.

Do not think, dear little ones, that by saving your prayers morning and evening, attending the Sunday-school regularly (good as these things are in their places), you will save your souls. No, no; there must be a coming to Jesus, and a confessing one’s sins to God, as David says he did, in Psalm 32:5. Then we shall receive the forgiveness which he speaks of in this verse. Let me tell you that when you have come thus to the Savior, you will have the witness within that you are a child of God, for “He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself.” (1 John 5:10.) Let me advise you not to rest satisfied until you know you are a child of God.

A young friend of mine was very anxious to find Jesus as his Savior. I had spoken to him several times about the way of salvation, and had quoted many passages of Scripture to him, but still he seemed in doubt and fear. However, one day, he looked very bright and happy, so I said to him, “John, when were you saved?”

“O!” he replied, “it was on that Sunday evening, when we sang ‘Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away’ at the enquirers’ meeting.” Since then, whenever we sing that hymn his face always brightens up at the sweet remembrance which it brings to his mind.

You see, dear children, the joy of the one, who knows his sins are washed away, is not only on that first “happy day,” but goes on through time and eternity.

Thus, amid the rattle of the machines, my heart kept tune to the sweet song my baby girl raised before I left home:

“O happy day, that fixed my choice

On Thee, my Savior and my God!

Well may this glowing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad!”

And now let me ask you, in conclusion, shall my Savior be your Savior too? may never meet you on earth, but I should like to meet you in heaven, and that cannot be, unless you trust in Him now, and know for certain that His precious blood has cleansed you from your sins, and made you fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. Jesus invites you. He says, “Come.” Will you go to Him now, and say from your heart, “Jesus, I trust Thee to save my soul; I trust Thee now”? If this be true, you will gladly sing with us “Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.”

ML-10/17/1920

Four Exceeding Wise Little Things. No. 2. The Conies.

THE conies are rather like rabbits in appearance and ways.

We find them named among the unclean animals in Leviticus 11:5. They were, therefore, not allowed to be used for food by the Israelites.

We read again of these little creatures, in Psalm 104:18, that the “rocks” are a “refuge” for the conies; and King Solomon, who studied the habits of animals very closely (see 1 Kings 4:33), points out to us this very fact as that which is a mark of the truest wisdom.

If you will look at his words in Proverbs 30:26, you will see that he says, “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” That is to say, they have such a sense of being weak in themselves, that they put all their trust for safety in the rocks, those great and strong masses of stone that will stand as long as the earth lasts. There the conies dwell in perfect security from the attacks of beasts and birds of prey, and from the destructive storm.

What a wonderful lesson we learn here! Boys and girls are weak and sinful in themselves, and exposed to become the prey of Satan, who, as a roaring lion, goes about, seeking whom he may devour... But the Lord Jesus Christ is the Rock of Ages (Isaiah 26:4, margin); in Him is everlasting strength; and every girl or boy who goes to Him, who believes in Him, and makes Him his or her Refuge, will be entirely and eternally safe from every spiritual

“The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,

A Shelter in the time of storm!

Secure, whatever ill betide,

A Shelter in the time of storm!”

I do hope all my little readers can truly sing these confident words.

ML-10/17/1920

Learning to Walk.

WHAT affectionate interest and tender care these parents are showing in their tottering babe! How they love to see the first attempts to walk.

The picture reminds us of three beautiful texts of Scripture, “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.” Hosea 11:3.

“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” Psa. 103:13.

“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Isa. 66:13.

If the Lord spoke thus for the encouragement of His ancient people in Old Testament times, how much more does He care for us whom He has redeemed to Himself by the precious blood of His own beloved Son!

We may be as helpless as babes, but we may trust the love of His heart, and the strength of His almighty arm. “WALK IN LOVE, AS CHRIST ALSO HATH LOVED US.” EPH. 5:2

ML-10/24/1920

Johnnie, the News-Boy.

“PAPER, sir, paper, Daily News, Standard, Telegraph papers,” cried the newsboy at the busy railway station, and the gentlemen put their hands in their pockets to pay for the news of the day. It was an everyday occurrence, but he still persevered in doing a trade in newspapers. Few took any notice of him beyond the small purchase, for as soon as they received their paper they were engrossed in “last night’s news,” or “money market,” or “foreign affairs,” and the boy went along to the other cars selling his papers as fast as he could.

“Paper, lady!” he said, little knowing that her ear had been attracted by the sweet music of the newsboy’s voice, and now she had the opportunity of seeing him, nor was she disappointed, for he was indeed a handsome boy. His dark eyes and brown hair added an extra charm to his voice, but his pinched and hollow cheeks and a sorrowful look in his eve told a tale of human woe.

Taking a paper she asked, “What is your name, my boy?”

“Johnnie, ma’am,” said he.

“Can you read?”

“Yes ma’am, I’ve been to school a little.”

“Johnnie, I had a little brother once of the same name as you, he had brown hair like you."

The whistle blew, in a moment the train would start, but there was something that drew the lady’s sympathy out to the poor boy, and she longed to give him something. She had no time to hesitate: a beautiful little Testament, with pretty steel clasp, was given to Johnnie with—“You’ll read it?”

“I will, lady. I will!”

One moment, and the train was rushing on its way, and Johnnie was waiting for the next train to sell his papers, while the Christian lady was silently praying that He who cares for the destitute, and whose love is beyond measure, would use the contents of the book to bring blessing in his home.

Some little time after she happened to stop at the same station. Coming in on the same train and looking out of the window, there she saw Johnnie, but so altered: he looked taller, healthier and cleaner, his eyes brighter and his voice sweeter.

“I wanted to see you, lady, and tell you about that little book.”

“Well, my boy, what has it done?”

“I carried it home, and father looked at it and read it. He was out of work, and so he had time,—mother read it too, and she cried, and when I saw them both so sad over it, I thought it must be a very bad book, and I wished you had not given it to me; but it’s all right now. Father don’t drink or swear, and mother is so kind, and I am to go to school, and it is all through the little book.”

Again the whistle blew, and this time it was silent praise for what God had wrought through a little Testament.

This is only one instance out of many where the Word of God has found an entrance into a hovel and made it a home, but perhaps my reader, you may he saying, “I have plenty of Bibles and Testaments in my home.” But I would like you to ask yourself, what good have they done you? There are some who have the Bible but never open it, while some read it and yet are not benefited by it, and a third class are entirely without it. Do you belong to either of these classes? Have you a Bible in your bookcase or in your trunk unused and unread? If so, search it out from its hiding-place and see if it does not contain that which is incomparable with riches. Jesus said to some of old, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, neither the power of God. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39).

The Psalmist says, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word” (Ps. 119:9).

Have you confessed Christ with your mouth? Have you believed in Christ with your heart?

If so, the Word declares, “He that believeth shall he saved.” John 3:36.

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

ML-10/24/1920

Four Exceeding Wise Little Things. No. 3. The Locusts.

THE locusts are mentioned several times in the Bible.

In the first place they were used by God to plague Pharaoh, when he would not let the children of Israel depart out of Egypt. (Exod. 10:12-15).

Then they are one of the things which God said may be eaten (Leviticus 11:22) and so we have an instance in the New Testament where they were used for food, for it is stated of John the Baptist, “He did eat locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6).

Solomon says of these insects, “The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by hands.” (Proverbs 30:27). When they go forth it is usually in countless numbers. They mostly seek pasture land, and eat up every green thing which comes in their way, leaving the place behind them quite desolate, as if a great fire had passed that way.

Now I think the lesson they teach is specially suitable for those of our readers who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the locusts have no king, they must all be of one mind, and banded together: otherwise they could not so thoroughly carry out, as they do their work of destruction.

So, if we wish to carry on any work of love or mercy in company with others, we must be of one mind, for we have no visible head to guide us. But we have One in heaven who will lead and instruct and guide us, if we appeal to Him in every detail of our lives.

ML-10/24/1920

"Just When Thou Wilt."

YES, my loving, tender Savior, come or call thy little one “home,” just when thou wilt, to see Thy face, and be with Thee, and like Thee Forever.

O, happy, glorious moment! O, glad tomorrow! Yes, for this I wait, but in the meanwhile may life, intellect, will, heart-love, yea, myself, be wholly consecrated to Thee. Do what Thou wilt with Thy redeemed one, but keep her wholly Thine.”

The above words are a copy of what was written by a dear girl, at the end of a few verses of poetry called, “Just when Thou wilt, O! Master, call.”

It was found by her friends after her very sudden home-call.

She went out one afternoon with her father by train to a meeting a few miles away, looking quite well. On her return journey she complained of pain in her head: sickness came on and before she reached home she was unconscious. It proved to be an attack of apoplexy. She passed away that evening at about eleven o’clock without regaining consciousness. How sudden it was!

Dear young reader, if your call came as suddenly would you be ready? Can you say with our dear young friend, “Just when Thou wilt, O! Master, call.”

For her it was a call from One she had learned to love; to go to be with Him and like Him Forever. She had been to Him some time before about her sins, and He had said to her, “Daughter, thy sins are forgiven thee: go in peace.”

For her it was to leave an earthly home for a heavenly one. To meet a Lord and Savior, instead of a Judge. To be with One who had died to save her, and redeem her to Himself.

How would it be with you, dear children?

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

ML-10/24/1920

Bobbie's Birthday Text.

NEVER had a more attentive scholar than Bobbie. He was always in his class at the hour; always able to repeat his “text” correctly; and, if there were “Bible Questions” given, he was sure to have the answers the following Lord’s day. I asked the boys in my class one day to write out their “Birthday texts” that is, the text that had been used as the means of their conversion, or second birth, on a slip of paper, or write them in their text books, and bring them the following Lord’s day to Sunday-school.

I did this on purpose to make them think; for I knew full well that most of them had no such text to bring. Their ways too plainly told, that they had not been “Born again,” or been “Born of God.”

Next Lord’s day came, and I asked the boys to read out their texts, but no one spoke. Some of the bigger boys held down their heads, and seemed ashamed. At last, Bobbie stood up with his text book in his hand, and quietly said, “My birthday text is found in 1 Tim. 1:15, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ I am a sinner—that is my name—so Jesus came to save me. I believe on Him.”

The simple testimony of the dear boy the youngest in the class was greatly blessed of God, and before another year, several others had come to the Savior, had been born again, and could tell their “birthday text.”

Dear children, have you a birthday text? Can you point to some text given in the Word of God that has led you to Christ, and has given you the knowledge of salvation? If not, then let Bobbie’s “birthday text” be yours “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

ML-10/24/1920

Jesus' Little Lambs.

Mirrie’s little song, on the death of her brother Luther.

I want to be with “Luther,”

Among the heavenly throng.

To sing with him the praises,

The everlasting song,

Of Jesus our Redeemer

Who died upon the tree,

Who gave Himself a ransom,

For little ones like me.

I know he must be happy,

That little baby boy,

For now he is with Jesus,

Where all is peace and joy.

And I may go to Jesus,

If I on Him believe,

For in His word He’s promised

The children to receive.

I’m only “little Mirrie,”

And not yet four years old.

But Jesus wants to have me,

A lamb within the fold,

How kind it was of Jesus,

That we might happy be.

To give His life a ransom,

“For little ones like me.”

ML-10/24/1920

Deer in Winter.

EVERY one knows that deer are very timid creatures and that at the approach of a stranger they speedily retire under the covert of trees at some distance. What change then has come over the deer in our picture to lead them to so alter their habits as to venture so close to the habitation of man? This is no doubt the cottage in which one of the keepers of the park resides, and the thick snow on the ground reveals possibly another reason for their tameness.

The snow has covered up all their food and hence they came to the keeper’s cottage, hoping that their felt need may be supplied.

Often the man who dwells in that cottage has given them food, they know him as a friend and fully trust him.

What an illustration is this of our own blessed Savior, Lord and Friend.

As lost sinners we were driven to Him by our need. Like the prodigal we were “in want,” and we know our help and salvation was centered alone in the Lord Jesus. Perhaps we said with the poet: “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.”

He spoke to our aching hearts the blessed words, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee,” or “Daughter, go in peace; thy faith hath saved thee,” for “THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST GOD’S SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.” ¤ John 1:17.

We heard His word, through grace received it, and our hearts rejoiced. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ became Our Personal Savior. Now through grace we have come under the sway of His love, and He has become our Lord. His wishes begin to control us, and by His Spirit we are being newformed in His moral likeness and delight to respond, even if feebly, to His all-constraining love.

Thus we know Him as our Friend and look to Him to succor, and sustain us in our times of need.

“What a Friend we have in Jesus!”

ML-10/31/1920

The House on Fire.

DEAR reader, have you ever seen a house on fire? What a terrible sight it is! In large cities it is not at all an uncommon sight, and if you live in a large city you have certainly seen more than one fire. Well, I will tell you of a fire in London, that large city in England, where such a large number of people live.

On a certain night, when the whole family lay fast asleep—father, mother and children—fire broke out in the kitchen. No one noticed it at the beginning, and the flames began to spread into the passage and from the passage into the other rooms, until they reached the stairs, and now—as if rejoicing that they could do still more damage—with loud crackling and clatter they crept along the banisters to the upper story. The whole stairway was very soon on fire, and there was great danger of the flames reaching the bedrooms, and those sleeping there could not possibly be rescued. The whole house was filled with smoke: and the flames were already trying their strength on the closed doors of the bedrooms, when suddenly the parents awoke, and with terror became aware of the fact that the whole house was on fire, and no means of escape for them. The first thing they did was to open the door of the passage, in order to get at their children, but imagine their horror to find that it was impossible to get at them through the flames. Then all at once, they heard a piercing cry for help, coming from the children’s room. They did not know what to do and were filled with anxiety and dismay realizing that if there was to be any help, it must come from someone who was not in the same danger as they were.

Behold, just then they hear a voice, calling loudly for everybody to come to him. It was a man that stood in the window! He had come up from the street by means of a ladder. Standing on the window-sill he was prepared to save them all.

Well, dear reader! don’t you think, that the parents were glad, when they heard the voice of this man? Without doubt, and when he sprang into the room and took them by the hands to take them in safety to the street you may he sure that they did not turn away from him, but willingly let themselves be carried down. And when a few moments later he went to the children’s room and taking them in his strong arms carried them through smoke and flame into a place of safety. You may be sure that not one of them said: “No, no! I don’t want to! Surely not. No, they trusted him joyfully and always felt grateful afterward to him for rescuing them from such a horrible death.

Now, dear children! does this not remind you of something else—something, that you have often heard of, and too have often read about here in the “Messages of Love”? Like this family in the burning house, you know that everybody, we all, are in great danger, and that a place is waiting for all, where the fire never be quenched. But you know, too that the Lord Jesus came to deliver us from that great danger. He was not in any danger, as we were, for He was the only Son of God, and knew no sin: but He came down from heaven on this earth, and willingly let Himself be nailed to the cruel cross, and was “made sin for us.” And now He is again in heaven; He has been in the grave, but He rose again, and calls now to everyone: “Come unto Me!” The blessed Lord Jesus has often called to you. But have you listened to His friendly voice? Have you gone to Him?

The children in the burning house did not think long about it, if they should listen to that man or not. They went directly to him and were saved. Would you refuse, dear readers! to listen to the Lord Jesus? O, I hope not. Truly, the Lord Jesus loves you; when He was still on earth, He took the children in His arms and blessed them, and now in heaven He still loves them. Trust yourselves entirely to Him, and wait no longer. The Bible says, that whoever believes in the Lord Jesus shall be saved.

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

ML-10/31/1920

"Be Thou Faithful."

AN Eastern King was once in need of a faithful servant and friend. He gave notice that he wanted a man to do a day’s work, and two men came and asked to be employed. He engaged them both for certain fixed wages, and set them to work to fill a basket with water from a neighboring well, saving he would come in the evening and see their work. He then left them to themselves, and went away.

After putting in one or two buckets full, one of the men said: “What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as you pour in water it runs out.’

The other man answered: “But we have our daily wages, haven’t we? The use of the work is the master’s business, not ours.”

“I am not going to do such fool’s work,” replied the other, and, throwing down his bucket, he went away.

The other man continued his work, and about sunset he exhausted the well. Looking down into it he saw something shining at the bottom. He let down his bucket once more, and drew up a precious diamond ring.

“Now I see the use of pouring water into a basket,” he exclaimed to himself. “If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was dry, it would have been found in the basket. The labor was not useless after all.”

But he had yet to learn why the king had ordered this apparently useless task. It was to test their capacity for perfect obedience, without which no servant is reliable.

At this moment, the king came up to him, and, as he bade the man keep the ring, he said: “Thou hast been faithful in a little thing; now I see I can trust thee in great things. Henceforth thou shalt stand at my right hand.”

The Lord wants us to be faithful in the little things of our daily life, serving Him in our home, school, business, with our little friends—anything that is given us to do.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 11:31. May the Lord be able to say of us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matth. 25:21.

ML-10/31/1920

Four Exceeding Wise Little Things. No. 4. The Lizard.

AND now we come to the last of the four exceeding wise little things mentioned in Proverbs 30:24-28: “The lizard taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” (v. 28).

In most English Bibles it says, “the spider,” but I understand the word correctly translated should read as above.

The lizard is mentioned only twice in the Bible; namely, in the above passage, and in Leviticus 11:30, where it is included among the unclean creeping things which were not to be eaten.

This little creature evidently chose a grand place to dwell in; and we might well challenge his right to be there; yet of all the places that boys and girls like to see, perhaps there is no greater favorite than a king’s palace.

But I wonder how many of my little readers are going to dwell in the palace of the King of kings, in that glorious mansion which Jesus has gone to prepare for all who believe on Him? There will be none to challenge the right of those who enter that happy place, for “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:27).

I sincerely trust that the lessons taught us by the four exceeding wise little things mentioned in the passages we have been looking at the last four weeks, may be learned by each of my young readers, and that any who may still he unsaved, will come to the Lord Jesus Christ without further delay.

“A full salvation, vast and free,

Wrought out, by Christ, awaiteth thee;

Come then, at once, and happy be:

Come away.”

“O! come, for time is fleeting fast,

The day of grace will soon be past,

Your turn will surely come at last,

Come away.”

ML-10/31/1920

The Coming of the Lord.

Whene’er I read God’s Holy Word,

Almost in every page,

I find the “Coming of the Lord”

My happy thoughts engage.

I once was sad whene’er I read,

Or thought upon that day,

For then that I believed in Christ

I could not really say.

I could not say that I should share

In that bright glory then;

For sin unpardoned, well I knew,

Would surely me condemn.

But now I know the Savior’s mine,

I wish the day to come.

For I shall be with Jesus then,

In my eternal home.

He bore my sins upon the tree

And put them all away;

’Tis this which makes me glad whene’er

I think upon that day.

I wish that all we love were one

With us in precious faith—

Were saved above the fear and dread

Of judgment and of death—

Could grasp this promise to their hearts,

And, joy to think! a home

Above the clouds, where Jesus is,

And cry, “Come, Savior, Come!”

ML-10/31/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for September

1. “And straightway the.” etc. Mark 9:24.

2. “And straightway the.” etc. Mark 5:29.

3. “And straightway all the.” etc. Mark 9:13.

4. “And as soon as He was.” etc. Mark 14:45,

5. “And straightway in the,” etc. Mark 15:1.

6. “And straightway they.” etc. Mark 1:18.

7. “And when they were,” etc. Mark 6:54,

ML-11/07/1920

Bible Questions for November

The Answers Are to Be Found in the Gospel of John.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The world itself.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “God so loved the world.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The light of the world.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The world may know.’

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Savior of the world.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Overcome the world.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come into this world.”

ML-11/07/1920

The Two Houses.

A CERTAIN rich and well-known man resolved to build himself a large and handsome home. He bought a piece of ground in the best part of a great city, and spared no pains, nor cost, to make it of the handsomest description. He arranged spacious rooms, taking special care that they should be comfortably warm in winter, and refreshingly cool in summer. In short, he sought in every way possible to make it a pattern of modern elegance and case, hoping to enjoy his new and magnificent home for many years.

During the erection of this palatial family residence, he had another building prepared. How great the difference between the two! While the one contained a number of splendid apartments, the other was of one small room only, for the whole family, and that was under the ground. Although the wall was built of beautiful marble, there was no other entrance than a small iron door.

Strange! Both were prepared for the same person: the one, a large, roomy, beautiful building for the living; the other, a small, narrow, low vault for the dead, in case any member of the family should depart this life.

Long before the mansion was completed, the tomb was ready. Into which of these two houses, do you think, the rich builder made his first entry? How singular! He was ready for the tomb, before the mansion was ready for him. Long before the spacious apartments of the new house were habitable, the owner was found in the narrow, dark, cold room under the earth, where his body must lie until the hour comes, in which all who are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. (John 5:28.)

Dear children, many things in this life may appear bright and attractive, and promise rich enjoyment, but how soon they fade into the past. “The house of the living” is great and beautiful, so that it hides from people’s eyes, and covers over “the house of the dead.” But, dear children, do not forget that you too, may be laid in the grave before you come to enjoy the looked-for pleasures of this life. And what then?

After death the judgment. “It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27.) Now you are alive; and now is the day of grace. Come now to Jesus, believe on Him, and the judgment shall never overtake you.

The true believer, whose sins are forgiven, has the sure promise of a house, not made with hands, but eternal; not in this fleeting world, but in heaven. The passing out of this life into that is not death, but going into the presence of the Lord, where is fullness of joy, and pleasures forever more.

Or, if the Lord comes, which is the Christian’s blessed hope, the sleeping ones shall be raised, and those who are alive and remain changed in a moment, caught up together to meet Him in the air. (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:15-18.)

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

ML-11/07/1920

The Carrara Family.

A GREAT many years ago a family of the above name had to flee for their lives from the power of Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. They had to travel slowly, as they had to walk, and Mrs. Carrara was sick, and the only way they could take her was on a mule, so it was with great difficulty they went on their journey, secluding themselves as much as possible by taking by-ways where they would not be noticed. They anxiously watched, and had some guards with them keeping watch too, and would, no doubt, have done their best to protect them if the enemy had come upon them.

These people were wise in seeking to get to a place of safety, and one is not surprised that they were filled with anxiety till they reached that place.

Do you know, dear children, that there is a terrible judgment coming on this world? The Scripture tells us that John the Baptist said to some Pharisees and Sadducees, who came to him to be baptized, “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

They were wanting the outward appearance, but were not real. They did not believe in the depths of their hearts that judgment was coming, but the Carrara family fully believed their judgment was come, and their fleeing was real.

Are you like the Pharisees, or like the Carrara family? If you are like the latter, I can tell you the only place of safety to flee to is Christ. He is the One who came from the glory to this poor world and bore the judgment that we deserved, and all who put their trust in Him will be saved from the coming wrath.

“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.

Then another verse, written to those who were believers in the Lord Jesus, lets us know that Jesus delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thess. 1:10.) He is the only place of safety, as these scriptures show, and if you are wise, you will flee to Him now, if you have not already done so.

“O THAT THEY WERE WISE, THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS, THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER THEIR LATTER END!” Deut. 32:29

ML-11/07/1920

Where Is We Now?

SUCH was the question put to me by my little girl, as we were going by train on a journey towards home.

I held a map in my hand, with all the way marked out in plain lines, showing the places at which we were to stop, also many places we should not go near, and the great point to which we were all looking, Home! Much oftener than the train stopped, she would look up into my face with all confidence and say, as she laid her hands on the map, “Where is we now?”

I continued to show her the different towns as they were marked on the map, telling her the distance was getting much shorter each time we looked at the marked out way.

She was quite concerned about the way and the long distance, and more than once left off looking at the map, which was our true guide, and would heave a deep sigh and say, “Isn’t we nearly home now?” and at each of the three stations we stopped at after this, and before we arrived home, she asked, “Is we going to get out here?”

At last the journey came to an end. We had arrived at the very last station. The train stopped, and ALL had to get out. Are my little readers as ready to look at Jesus as the travelers were to get out of the train? We had safely arrived, and were truly thankful.

Now as I think over the journey, and the oft repeated question, I frequently ask myself the question, as now I ask my little readers, “Where are we now?” Stop; before you attempt to answer, and look at the map. Do you know what I mean? I think I can see the glad smile on many little faces as they say, “O, I know, ’tis the Bible, that is the map that will guide us all the way home.”

Yes, you are right; but now I ask YOU, “Where are you now?” Ah! many different answers, I expect, will be given; but what does the map say? Let us look at it together: turn to John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Let us mark first who the speaker is—‘tis Jesus. He says, “I am the way,”....

Let these words search us well, and let us ask ourselves, am I in the way, have I come to Jesus; do I believe in Him; am going home to heaven to be with Him? If you have come to Him, He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.” If you have believed on Him, His precious blood has cleansed you from all sin; and O, what joy it is to know that, as the sweet hymn says:

“’Tis Jesus, the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home.

We will praise Him for all that is past.

And trust Him for all that’s to come.”

O what a happy portion is ours who believe in Jesus! To be able to take the map God has marked out, and speak to Him about it in the happy confidence of children, trusting Him for every step of the way, and singing His praises all the day long. If any little readers have not come to Jesus yet, “Now is the accepted time.” Come just as you are—Jesus calls, Jesus waits your answer. Arise, He calls for you. Precious Savior, may He be your portion through time and’ eternity, is the prayer of one who would seek to bring you to His blessed feet, and truthfully to say, Where are we now? going to heaven. How are we now? all sins forgiven. Where are we now? at Jesus’ feet. How are we now? in Him complete.

ML-11/07/1920

"He Died for Me."

AT the close of a children’s meeting, during which the preacher had spoken a great deal of the love of Jesus, and of what He had done out of love for sinners, a little boy was asked, “And can you tell me what Jesus has, done?”

With a bright smile, the little fellow looked up into the questioner’s face, and said, “He died for me.”

Happy child! In the simplicity of faith, he had believed the glad tidings concerning Jesus the mighty Savior, and the value of that wonderful work Jesus finished on Calvary’s cross, was for him.

Dear boys and girls, can you say the same in truth; can you say, like the beloved apostle Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”?

How precious this makes Jesus to us, and how worthy He is of our confiding trust!

ML-11/07/1920

The Angler's Nook.

WHAT a quiet secluded place this man has found to fish with a rod. He has chosen a position where the fish will not be able to see him, and no doubt, he will catch them fast. If they were to see him, they would be afraid, and would not bite on the bait that hung on his hook.

It is so with ourselves, if we see that it is Satan that sets snares for us, we would not be deceived by them. The only way to know what are Satan’s snares, is to be well acquainted with the Scriptures.

The psalmist could say, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.

True wisdom is to be found there, and if we go according to it, we shall not only find the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior for our souls for eternity, but it will cleanse us in our ways, and keep us from doing the wrong things that Satan puts before us.

“WHEREWITHAL SHALL A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? BY TAKING HEED THERETO ACCORDING TO THY WORD.” Ps. 119:9

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

“By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Ps. 17:4.

May each one of my readers prize the Word of God highly, and walk in the fear of the Lord, and thus be to God’s glory, and be preserved from many sorrows that both Satan and your own evil heart would be sure to lead you into.

ML-11/14/1920

Letter From China

Yeung Kong, South China.

My dear young Friends: I WANT to write a letter, to thank each one who has been kind enough to send cards and tickets for the little Chinese children. I cannot tell you with what pleasure we have opened the various parcels and boxes, containing such lovely packages of cards; and it would be harder still to describe the pleasure with which they are received by the little brown children.

Such funny little children, with their bright, black eyes, and dark skins. Most of the little boys have their heads shaved; though some have a little tuft of hair left in front, or on the top. As to clothes, they do not wear very many, just a little pair of trousers, tied round their waists with a string, and indeed some little fellows of four or five have nothing but a silver chain round their necks, or a silver anklet on their ankles. The little girls however are always dressed in trousers and shaam, (or coat), and their hair always neatly plaited.

I think it would make you quite sad to see how many children have boils and sore places on their heads, caused often by the heat, and the dirt, and the unsuitable food they have to eat. When a baby is three months old, they call it his “ten dish day,” and after that he is supposed to have a taste of everything his parents eat.

Now I must tell you some more about the cards. We have two wooden stamps; on one is “Jesus forgives sins,” and on the other, “Jesus gives eternal life.” We try to stamp one of these, on the back of each of the larger cards; the very little ones, we use for the very little children, who of course do not like to be left out, on the side of the boat, in which we are now living, Mr. Willis has a large text in Chinese. I dare say you can almost all guess what it is, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

While we were stopping at a certain place on the river, a number of little boys used to come down to the river bank every morning, and Mr. Willis promised each boy who learned the verse, a nice card, and quite a number learned it perfectly.

I wonder how you would like to live on a boat? Hundreds of children live on boats in this country. Not large boats, like you sometimes go for trips on, with comfortable cabins, and large decks where you can run about, but small narrow boats, with a “pong,” or covering of bamboo over the middle, very often too low, for even a child to stand upright, but it does to sleep under, and to hold the little pottery stove, (looking like a flower pot), on which the rice is cooked, and the bowls and chopsticks to eat it with, and in cold weather, the warm quilt or “min-toy” to cover the family up. There is generally a little shrine too, where incense sticks are burned to the false god. Sometimes a little pig lives in the boat and when the family stop near the shore, piggie is put in the water, and tied to the boat.

As for the children, they almost remind one of frogs, as much at home in the water as on land. The very small ones are tied to the boat, or wear a float in case they fall overboard. The men do not often row with oars, as we do, but use poles to push the boats along, for the rivers are very shallow, sometimes a man will walk in the water, and push his craft in front of him. Another way is to tie a long rope to the boat, and walk along on the shore pulling it along. I saw two children doing this yesterday, and such wild little creatures they looked.

Our boat is larger than many of those around us, and we are not at all uncomfortable on it. The country, as you go up and down the rivers, is very beautiful; you see high hills in the distance and lovely plains with bamboos, and other wonderful trees, and sugar cane, and hemp, and little fields of rice, covered with water, and of the very greenest color.

Hidden away behind the trees, you see heathen temples, and shrines, and you know that the people who live in those pretty villages you are passing, are all, heathen, knowing nothing of God, and His love to them.

We went into a nice little village the other day, and the women and children crowded round, asking questions, and making remarks about our clothes and hair and eyes. At last one woman said, “Sit down a little while, and tell us about the heavenly Father.” So the children brought out some wooden stools, and we sat down, and did our best to tell them of Jesus and what He has done for us. But I am afraid my letter is growing too long, so I must say goodbye; again thanking you all for your kindness and love.

I remain, your sincere friend,

F. Willis.

ML-11/14/1920

Are You Wise?

THERE is a saying in the world that a wise man looks out for a rainy day, and surely, true wisdom belongs to the man or woman, boy or girl, who looks at the present in the light of the future. Many are living only for the present; and are shutting their eyes to the future.

Dear children, have you looked ahead and faced the solemn question as to where you are going to spend eternity? “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

There is an old fable which serves to illustrate this truth. It tells of a grasshopper who hopped and chirped in the grass all through the summer as happy as he could be, never thinking that the summer would all too quickly come to an end.

A big bumblebee saw him, and said, “Look out, my friend, for the winter, or you’ll starve.”

Then a hardworking ant asked him to give a helping hand to roll a large piece of bread it had found.

“Not I,” said the grasshopper, “you do not catch me working like a slave with this beautiful sunshine all about us.”

“But there is winter coming on,” said the ant, “and what will you do when the snow is on the ground?”

“O, wait until it comes,” was his reply. “I never saw a winter, and I do not believe it is as hard as people say.”

At last it grew very cold, and the poor grasshopper began to feel the effects of it, and not knowing what to do he went to a beehive and begged them to take him in. They said their house was full, and had no room for loafers.

Then he went to the anthill and tried to get in, but he was told at the door that they had no food to spare for those who did not work, so the poor creature was left to die in the cold.

The moral is not hard to see you perhaps say, silly thing! but what of yourself, dear children? The bees toil all summer in view of the winter, and the ants labor to gather food to keep them during the cold weather.

So, the wise people, dear children, those who have true wisdom have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and know Him as their deliverer from the judgments which are coming upon this poor world.

Are you one of this company? If not, no folly can be greater than, yours for every moment is hurrying you on to eternity, and then where will you spend it—in heaven or in hell, which?

O, dear children, do be wise, come now to the Lord Jesus Christ, while He is inviting you. He says, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isa. 55:6.

ML-11/14/1920

What Will You Do With That Voice Throughout Eternity?

A PREACHER of the gospel was struck by the extraordinary beauty of a young woman’s voice, who sat next to him.

Some days later, when calling on her, he asked if she loved the Savior, and was one of His sheep? She answered rather indifferently: “I am not a Christian, and besides that, I don’t think that I love the Savior.”

“Then, my dear friend,” said the preacher, “what will you do with that voice throughout eternity? Must it serve to bewail the lost eternally?” He said no more, but with a grieved heart left her to her own reflections.

The serious question followed her everywhere—during the day it rang in her ears, and at night was mingled in her dreams. In fact it never left her, until she found peace through faith in Jesus, and was prepared to join in the joyful songs of praise with God’s children on earth; and now she is waiting until she can sing the new song with the redeemed, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.”

ML-11/14/1920

"Only Trust Him."

ONE day I saw a little girl, and I asked her, “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

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

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

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

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

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

She looked up so brightly, and said, “Is that what trust or believe means? Then I do trust, and I will give Him my heart now. I want Him to take my heart now. I do trust Him.”

I think little Emily, then and there, really put her trust in the Lord Jesus, her Savior.

To you, dear children, who feel your need of the Savior, I would say, Come to Him, as Emily did, in all your sins, for He will save you. Take your place before God as a sinner, and ask Him to show you the Lord Jesus on the cross hearing our sins.

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

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

ML-11/14/1920

Dry Reading.

HOW often we find that the Word of God is dry reading to many. The reason is, it is not according to the natural desires of the heart. It gives us God’s thoughts about His Son, and tells us also about our lost and sinful condition, and that is not pleasing to the human nature.

When the Lord Jesus was here upon earth, the people did not want Him. He was not like them; they were sinful and He was holy. He loved God, and they hated God. The prophet told us long before He came, "When we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Isa. 53:2. It is the same today; people want pleasure rather than the Lord Jesus, and indeed they chose anything rather than Him.

How is it with you, dear reader? Would you rather go to hear about the Lord Jesus, than to some place of pleasure? Would you rather read the Word of God, than some other book? Can you say, “Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them?” Ps. 119:129.

We may be sure, if we want to know the way of salvation, or how to get true wisdom we must turn to the Word God.

“THE ENTRANCE OF THY WORDS GIVETH LIGHT; IT GIVETH UNDERSTANDING UNTO THE SIMPLE.” Ps. 119:130.

It is that blessed book that shows us the way of salvation, that tells us of the Savior, of the ways of righteousness, of the paths of true happiness and how we can glorify God.

The first thing we can do to glorify God is to accept His Son whom He hath sent. If we do that, He will become precious to us, and we shall find great delight in reading and meditating on His Word. Me shall no longer say, “We see no beauty in Him,” but rather say, “He is altogether lovely.” Song of Solomon 5:16. The Word of God will be no longer dry to us, but we will be able to say “Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Ps. 119:111.

ML-11/21/1920

What Are You Doing?

A CHRISTIAN man was walking some time ago through one of the busiest parts of a large city. He stood still at the corner of a street, attracted by a crowd of some hundreds of foot-passengers that surrounded a man dressed like a clown, who was amusing them with all kinds of savings and tricks. He remained for some time looking on, with a feeling of deep pity for the unfortunate object who tried to earn his living in such a world. He waited, feeling that there was something here for him to do.

Finally with an earnest prayer in his heart, he took from his pocket a package of tracts, and choosing one that seemed suitable, he made his way through the crowd, and offered it to him with a few friendly words. The man took it from him with a look of the greatest contempt, and, to the great surprise of the giver, held it up high in a mocking way, as if he were going to treat his hearers to another joke. Then he began to read aloud, with such a clear, load voice, that nobody there could possibly miss a word. Our friend who had given it to him, remained at a distance listening, but with a wounded heart, that such words breathing forth only love and grace should be uttered in this mocking way.

The closing words were: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Luke 12:20.

While reading this, his face changed suddenly, and showed the utmost dismay Immediately afterward the clown pushed his way through the crowd and hurried off, as if he were being followed for some crime. The people looked after him in astonishment, but our friend followed him, and had the good-fortune to overtake him. Walking beside him, he tried to bring him to a standstill, and at last succeeded, but the only answer he could get from him was: “I am lost! I am lost!”

Great was the joy of our friend at the immediate answer to his prayer. He never ceased his efforts until he had set before him clearly the power of. God’s saving love for sinners. While reading the closing words the arrow of conviction had pierced the heart and conscience of the hardened sinner. Filled with the deepest contrition, he fell down at the feet of the Lord, and soon received full assurance of forgiveness and salvation. The same man could be found for many years afterwards working with a band of zealous Christians among the very lowest and deeply fallen, preaching with great blessing the gospel of the free grace of God through Christ Jesus.

ML-11/21/1920

The Bible.

BIBLE study in childhood and youth brings into the life a blessing unmeasurable. Parents who neglect the training of their children in knowledge of the Bible are robbing them of a priceless heritage. A visitor to a penitentiary once asked the chaplain if he thought that the five hundred men incarcerated there had been surrounded by Christian home influences in their childhood. The chaplain’s reply was that most of them were there because of the woeful lack of home training. The world will never outgrow the loving, living truth of God’s Word.

“Study it carefully

Think of it prayerfully,

Deep in thy heart let its pure precepts dwell;

Slight not its history,

Ponder its mystery,

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

“Accept the glad tidings,

The warnings and chidings,

Found in the volume of heavenly lore;

With faith that’s unfailing,

And love all prevailing,

Trust in its promise of life evermore.”

ML-11/21/1920

Officer Robert.

ROBERT was kept in the house by a cold, so he flattened his nose against the glass, and watched a military procession pass by. They were in very gay uniform, with very bright buttons, and kept step beautifully.

Robert watched until the last glimmer of their brightness disappeared round a corner; then he turned with a sigh to watch his mother place pies in the oven, and said to her, “I would like to be a soldier.”

“Very well,” said his mother, “then I would be one.”

Robert stared at her a few minutes, and then said, “Would be what?”

“Why, a soldier. Wasn’t that what you said you wanted to be?”

“Well, but how could I be?”

“Easy enough; that is, if you ask God for His grace. A soldier’s life is never an easy one, of course.”

“But, mother, I don’t know what you mean,” Robert said.

“Don’t! You haven’t forgotten the verses we spoke and prayed about this morning— ‘Greater is he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.’ It takes real soldier-like fighting to rule the spirit, I can tell you.”

“O,” said Robert, and he flattened his nose against the glass again.

“But, mother,” he said at last, “I didn’t mean that kind. I would like to be an officer, and have some soldiers under me.”

“Nothing easier by God’s grace,” said the mother. “There are your ten fingers, and your eyes, and that troublesome tongue that hates to obey. I am sure you have soldiers enough to control. I pity any officer who has as troublesome ones.”

Robert laughed. He had had so many talks with his Mother that he understood her very well; yet this was a new way of putting it. He stood awhile thinking about it; then he said to himself. “With the help of Jesus, I will be an officer in God’s army.” And then lifting up his heart to God, he prayed that he might indeed be “a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” and that his soldiers under him might do God’s will. Then he wondered what orders he should have to give them first.

Poor fellow! In less than ten minutes from that time he knew.

He went to the sitting-room to find that baby Carrie had been there before him. There lay his birthday book on the floor, some of the loveliest pictures in it torn into bits. His photograph album was on the sofa; but chubby fingers had tugged at mamma’s picture until it lay loose and ruined, and papa’s page was gone entirely.

O! how angry was Officer Robert. He wanted to run after Carrie and slap her naughty fingers; she was almost two years old, and ought to know better. He wanted to run to his mother, and with red face and angry voice tell his story of wrong, and demand that Carrie be whipped. He wanted to bury his head in the sofa cushions, and cry just as loud as he could roar. Why did he do none of these things? Just because he remembered in time that he was an officer in the Lord’s army, and had soldiers that must obey. And, moreover, that he had a Captain— “The Captain of the Lord’s host” (Jos. 5.), whom he must obey, and who had told him to be forgiving and patient, and “slow to anger.”

“Halt!” he said to his feet, as they were about to rush away; and they instantly obeyed. “Stop!” he said to the tears, as they began to rush in torrents up to his eyes; and back they all went, save one little straggler who rolled down his nose, and was instantly wiped out of, existence. In short, the boy, by God’s grace, proved himself a good soldier for that time at least. He even sent his feet upstairs presently with a rosy-cheeked apple for Carrie, and bade his arms give her a loving hug, which they did.

Mamma found out all about it, as mammas almost always do; and when papa came home at night, what did he do but bow low and say, “Officer Robert, I am proud to salute you. I hear you have fought a battle and won.” Then gravely he added, “Thank God, my boy, that you have taken your stand as ‘a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ Trust Him at all times, and He will enable you and your soldiers to win every battle.”

ML-11/21/1920

How to Make a Beautiful Chain.

ONE evening a little party of us began making a chain, not a daisy chain, nor a gold chain, for we had neither daisies nor gold. It was a text chain, and this is how we made it. One quoted a verse, or a part of a verse and the next person had to quote a verse beginning with the word the former verse ended with, or with some other leading word contained in the verse. Thus: The first verse quoted was, “God is love.” What a grand verse! a good beginning, for it began with Him who was from all eternity, and it ended with what His character is—“love.”

Repeating this last word, the second person gave as a text, “Love one another.”

A word in the last text, and commencing the next text, was “one.”

“One is your Master.” What a good Master is Jesus! He works, is wise, is love, and if all His workers love one another, what happy service it will be!

“Master,” being the last word here, the next link in the chain was, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” A storm had come on, and the disciples thus called upon Jesus. “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

Taking the word “Thou” as the link, another “Thou” was used, “Thou art my God,” followed by “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” so none need be lost, if they will take their place as sinners, and accept Him as the sinner’s Savior.

This was such a lovely link in our chain that we stopped here, for it brought us to Jesus Himself, who is God’s dear Son come down from heaven to work out salvation for us.

ML-11/21/1920

In Old Hyde Park.

AS we look at our beautiful picture this week we are made to think of the great changes that take place. One would hardly think that such would have been the appearance at one time of the now beautiful Hyde Park, but such is the case.

The artist who painted the picture, and the engraver who engraved the copy, are both gone from this world long ago, so as we look at our picture we can say “It is all a thing of the past.” Also think of that verse, “The fashion of this world passeth away.” 1 Cor. 7:31.

There is another thing we might think of, and that is the restfulness and apparent contentment of the people who lived there, as we see them sitting dining under their vine.

Contentment is not by having everything that the heart could wish in this world. These people did not have the mane comforts of life that people have today, but very likely were more content; and if they knew the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, and God as their Father, and walked in His ways, they surely would be happy and content.

“GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.” 1 Tim. 6:6.

May you, dear children, walk in God’s ways and be content with such things as ye have.

ML-11/28/1920

Lost Willie.

ON a certain afternoon in the month of November, Willie Robertson ran to the end of his father’s yard and climbed on the wall. At first, he watched some boys, who were at play, and then he began to talk to himself “I’d like so much to play with them,” said he, “there’s no harm in that. Why won’t my father let us play in the park? I think that he is very severe; I’m getting to be a big boy now; tomorrow I’ll be seven years old.” All at once he jumped down.

“Well the Bate is open, the gardener didn’t shut it well; now I can come nearer to the boys, there’s no harm in that.” Willie went a few steps into the park, then a boy called out to him; “Will you just take that ball, and throw it over here?”

Willie ran as fast as he could, and forgetting his father’s orders, played with them. Very soon he was at the other side of the park, not far from the city.

A little farther on, in one of the streets, a group of children surrounded an organ-grinder, who had a monkey with him. In a moment the boys in the park joined them and little Willie with them. The man went from one street to another; with the children following him, so that in less than an hour they had gone quite a way from the park. Then it began to rain, the little crowd broke up; some went this way, the others that. The organ-grinder too, went home, and Willie found that he was quite alone. He was very much frightened, it was getting dark, he was very hungry, and he had no idea where he was. He wished now that he had remained in the yard; and then he recalled his mother’s words I hope, that you will never leave the yard without permission, it would make me very sorry, if you did that, but I can certainly trust my little boy.”

“Ah!” though poor Willie, “if I had only remained in the yard, it would have been much better.”

It began to rain very hard, Willie ran to the end of the street, thinking that perhaps he would know the way, but he came just to the busiest part of the cite. He saw many stores there lit up; at first he looked at them delighted, but soon he was exhausted, he felt cold, wet and hungry.

At last it came into his head to ask someone the way; he approached an auto that was waiting for someone, and asked the chauffeur, if he could tell him where Mr. Robertson lived.

The man thinking that he was begging, did not answer. Poor Willie began to cry, and went to sit on a step; he felt so unhappy, but he could not remain there long, as a woman came out and drove him away.

A little while after this he followed a girl, and asked her if she knew where his father lived. The girl could not understand him, so throwing him a few cents she went on.

Willie thought his heart would break, but picked up the cents and bought a roll of bread with it.

“O! if I could only see my father or mother,” he cried out, “how happy I would be. I never would go away again!”

It was Saturday evening, and although it still rained, the streets were full of people. Willie was so pushed about in the crowd, that he tried to find a quieter place, where there were large, handsome houses. He could see into some of them. In one that was lit up, he saw a gentleman come in, who had just returned from his office, and the children all came to meet him. Some climbed on chairs to kiss him, and he took up the youngest in his arms.

“That’s the way we do at home.” said Willie to himself, “when father comes home. Ah, perhaps I shall never see him again, because I’m lost.”

A little farther on he saw a lady sitting at a window, reading to a little girl.

“Mother is now certainly reading aloud for our little Mina,” he thought. “What a bad boy I have been. They won’t want to have me anymore,” but although he said this, he still felt that it was not true, and began crying again.

“Father and mother are always so kind and loving to me,” he continued, “that I still think they would forgive me, if I could only get back to them.”

Then he went and stood in front of a store, and called out now and then: “O, father, come and get me!”

“Who must come and get you?” said a friendly woman to him.

“My father,” said the boy, “I have lost my way, and I want to get home so badly. Show me where to go, please.”

“I’ll gladly do so, if I can,” she said, taking him by the hand. “Do you think it’s very far?”

“I think it is. I’ve been disobedient and ran away, but I am so sorry,” said Willie sobbing, “I think they will still take me back.”

“They certainly will,” said the kind woman, “if you go to them, and tell them that you are sorry for what you have done. Poor boy! how pale you are, and how you tremble, I am afraid you are going to be sick.”

“I am so cold and hungry,” he said, “but if you will bring me home, I shall soon be better. The house is quite near to the park, and my father’s name is Robertson.”

“I know where the park is,” she answered, “and if we walk fast, we’ll soon be there.”

They went quite a way, and were not very far from the house, when they saw a man approaching. When he was close to them, he called out, “Is that you Willie?” And Willie answered sobbing: “Father, father, you found me at last. Can you forgive my disobedience?”

His father took him in his arms, and kissed him.

“Well, my boy, where have you been? We have been searching for you so long. How cold and wet you are! Come quickly home to mother, she is so anxious, and longing to see you again.”

The kind woman turned to leave, but Mr. Robertson first thanked her warmly for helping his little son.

As they walked on, Willie told his father what he had done; and his father forgave him, seeing that he was really sorry, then he brought him to his mother who was watching for him at the window.

“Mother,” sobbed Willie, “may I come back? I have been very disobedient, but I am sorry.”

I need not tell my readers, that she took him in her arms, just as he was, in his wet, dirty clothes, and told him that he was forgiven. Willie never knew before how much they loved him, or how much he loved them. They dressed him in clean, dry clothes, and after he had had a good supper, laid him in a warm bed. Willie never forgot the difference between being lost and being found again.

The next day he had a bad cold, and was kept in bed, but his mother came to sit beside him, and to have a talk with him.

“Perhaps you have found out now, my boy, why your father would not let you go out alone? We have been only a month in this house, and he was sure that you would lose your way. But I don’t want to speak to you about that. I only want to tell you of what it reminds me. It reminds me of a verse in the Bible.

“All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” You see, God says that we all went astray like sheep; that we each of us turned to his own way, that we have done things that He told us not to do, and many things that He told us to do we have left undone, so that we are sinners—we are utterly lost. Did you feel happy yesterday, when you thought of your disobedience, and knew that you had lost your way?”

“O, no! mother, I was so unhappy, I longed to see you, and tell you how unhappy I was.”

“I am glad to hear this, dear Willie; the Lord wishes also, that you should turn to Him. He wishes that you should be sorry for having disobeyed Him, and that you should long to have peace with Him. But you must first know and feel that you are a sinner. I will show you from God’s Word, that you are. Have you always loved God, even as a little child, with your whole heart?

“No, mother.”

“Well, by that you can see, if you are good or bad. Have you always in everything, obeyed your parents?”

“No, mother,” said Willie softly.

“I am not at all angry with you, my boy. I only want to point out to you that what the Bible says is true. Have you never said cross and angry words? Have you loved others as yourself? And don’t you often want to have the best things, instead of letting others have them?”

“Yes, mother, I have often done so.”

“Then you are a sinner, and cannot appear in God’s presence; you are then really lost.”

“I thought that I never again would lose my way,” said Willie.

“I hope that it will never happen in this manner, my dear boy. Were you not glad, when that friendly woman offered to take you home, and did you go with her directly, or did you stand hesitating?”

“I went with her directly, and O, how glad I was!”

“Dear Willie, I am now showing you the way you must take to turn to the Lord, do not wait, but go now to Him. I have proved to you that you are lost, that you can do nothing to help yourself; but just as your father went out to seek you, there is One who loves you, Who came to seek and to save you, and He is the Son of God. He waits with open arms to receive you, for a long time ago He came into this world, and took your sins on Himself, and died on the cross in your stead. He is called the good Shepherd, because He seeks the lost sheep; and when little boys and girls are sorry for their sins, when they feel that they are lost and cannot help themselves, but cry out to Jesus to save them, then He hears them and takes them up in His arms. Then they can come to God as their Father. He receives them as His children, for God is love; and even when the poor sinner is still far from Him, He loves him. Would you have liked it, if I had sent you away to be washed and dressed, before I took you in my arms?”

“O, no, mother dear, I could not have waited so long.”

“God does not tell you that you must wait until you are better, but that you must come just as you are with all your sins, and He will forgive you for Jesus’ sake. God and the angels will rejoice, because another sinner is washed in the blood of Jesus.”

“Now, my boy, I want you to remember these two verses. The first is, “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.

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

ML-11/28/1920

Answers to Bible Questions for October

1. “But God said unto,” etc. Luke 12:20.

2. “But when Jesus heard,” etc. Luke 8:50.

3. “And said unto them,” etc. Luke 24:46.

4. “And being in an agony,” etc. Luke 22:44.

5. “Wherefore, I say unto,” etc. Luke 7:47.

6. “But I say unto you,” etc. Luke 6:27.

7. “And she coming in,” etc. Luke 2:38.

ML-12/05/1920

Bible Questions for December

Rewards will be given (D, V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The Answers are to be Found in the Acts

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Justified from all things.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “None other name.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Judgment to come.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Sent unto the Gentiles.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “This same Jesus.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “To be a Christian.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Raised Him from the dead.”

ML-12/05/1920

Substitution

A RESPECTED preacher of the gospel said once to an aged Christian, who lay on his deathbed: “How beautiful it is, that we have the gospel of our salvation in a few, simple words.”

The old man looked at him, and said: “In one word, sir!”

“And what word is that?” Was the question in reply.

“Substitution,” continued the dying man.

Yes, dear readers! in that one word “substitution” is contained the whole gospel of God’s grace. Perhaps for some of you this word is difficult to understand, and it is my desire that you should all understand it, and think much about it. If anyone should ask me: “What is the way to salvation?” and I wished to put it in as few words as possible, my answer would be: “Take Christ alone and immediately as your substitute, on the ground of God’s word and of His offering.”

As well as I can, I will try to explain to you, what is understood by the word substitution, or rather, what a substitute is. If you, for instance, have debts that must be paid; if you must give money to somebody, and cannot pay it, and I went to the man to whom you owed it, and said to him: “Consider me as the one who owes you money, I will pay it,” then you could name me as your substitute.

Or if you committed a crime, and in consequence were seized and imprisoned, and the law allowed me to take your place as criminal, and to undergo the punishment in your stead, then I would be your substitute.

I remember a little boy, who had acted badly. His mother was going to punish him, but his brother was grieved about it, and said, “O, mother! punish me instead of him.” The mother did so, wishing to teach them both a lesson, a practical one showing how the Lord Jesus in the same way had taken the sinner’s place.

There was once a king, who made a law, that, if anybody did a certain thing, both of his eyes should be put out. The first one, who committed this crime, was the king’s own son. Certainly some of the people will have said; “Now we shall see if the king is just; his own son has broker his command.” Others will have thought: “But who would dare to put out the eyes of the king’s son?” The king however, said: “What I have said, remains; two eves must be forfeited for the breaking of mv command.” And what do you think, he did? He gave orders that his own eyes should be put out instead of his son’s.

You certainly know, that with soldiers there is a severe punishment for the one who leaves his post, or neglects some duty. Especially in time of war, when the losing or winning of a battle can depend on a sentinel falling asleep, or leaving his post; for either case the punishment is death. Now it is said, that during one of the first wars of Napoleon against his enemies, one of his sentinels was so worn out and exhausted, that he fell asleep in spite of himself. Just then the emperor passed, and finding the sentinel asleep, took up his gun and did the service for him, and when the soldier woke up be saw the emperor with the gun on his shoulder marching up and down. So the emperor was his “substitute.” He did what the sentinel should have done, and saved his life.

I will tell you one more story, to make it still clearer to you what a substitute is. When some time ago a detachment of soldiers took part in a mutiny, the sentence which was passed over the whole detachment was, that every tenth man should be shot. It was a terrible punishment, but the commander of the army had come to this decision after serious consideration, to make this dreadful example a warning to all the rest. We can imagine how anxiously they all waited, standing lined up, with their eyes immovably fixed on the man, who would presently draw the lot, deciding where he should begin counting from one to ten.

Among the number there was a father with his son. What thoughts must have passed through the minds of these two! Would one of the two perhaps be obliged to pay the penalty of death for his participation in the mutiny! They stood next each other; the son counted out, where it must begin, to make his father the tenth man, and alas, the lot fell just so, his father would be one of the victims! Quicker than I can write it, he changed places with his father, and was shot a moment later. Truly a sad story! But does it not teach us that the Lord Jesus loved us so unspeakably—we, who were not His friends, but His enemies, that He took our place, and the punishment that we deserved, on Himself, and died on the shameful cross in our stead?

Yes, even as the son became substitute for his father, so did Christ become substitute for us.

If you had asked that father later on, how it was that he escaped punishment would he not have told you with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, that his dear son had borne the punishment for him? How that son must have loved his father, and how inexpressibly much more must the Lord Jesus have loved us, to be willing to die for us! This son died for his father, the dearest friend that he had on earth, but Jesus loved us and died for us, while we were yet sinners—enemies.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” and, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” (1 Peter 3:18; 2:24.)

ML-12/05/1920

No Putting off!

A YOUNG man once asked an aged Christian, how long before death must one be prepared for it.

“A few minutes,” was the old man’s answer.

“So,” thought the youth, “I have plenty of time to enjoy life, and when the end comes, I shall ask God to have mercy on me.”

“But,” continued his old friend, “when do you think you will die?”

“That I don’t know,” replied the youth.

“Then get ready now,” said the old man, “for you know not the hour of your death. What is your life? It is a vapor, that is seen for a short time, and then vanishes. You know not what tomorrow may bring forth.”

To illustrate this truth I will tell you of a case that has happened.

A miner who had heard a gospel address, spoke after the address to the minister of the gospel, who earnestly urged him to go to Jesus, so that he might get salvation through Him. Although the miner felt his need of a Savior, he still wanted to put it off, but when the servant of God reminded him of these words: “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation,” he bowed to God’s Word, received deliverance through faith, and went home thanking God for His unspeakable grace.

The following day he went to his usual work, but was scarcely in the mine, when a part of the roof fell in on him, and buried him under the earth and rubbish. They hurried to get him out, and to all appearance he was brought up lifeless out of the pit. One of the by-standers seeing his lips move, listened and heard him utter these words: “God be praised that He saved me last night for all eternity.” Some hours later he passed away, to be forever with the Lord.

Dear children, do not put off for a single moment coming to the Lord Jesus! Accept His loving invitation; “Come unto Me!” If you do not come to Him now, it will soon be too late, and you will hear Him say to you, “Depart from Me!”

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded. But ye have set at naught all My counsel,... 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. For they did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Prov. 1:24-29.

“Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely.” Prov. 1:33.

ML-12/05/1920

A Polish Village

THE picture in the front of our paper this week gives us a view of a Polish village many years ago. We see the wealthy driving by, and the poor beggar by the side of the road holding out his hat to get them to give him some money. Now we know from the reports that the conditions are much worse now than they were at that time, and many of the people are starving. Such is the terrible result of war.

How true the Scripture is, “The way of peace have they not known.” Rom. 3:1; Man has gone according to his own thoughts, and he has made this world terrible place to live in, but if he had only cared to go according to God’s Word, what peace and happiness would have been his.

The Lord Jesus said,

“PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU.”

John 14:27.

The peace He has left to us is in connection with our sins, and the judgment that we have deserved from God for those sins He has made peace by the blood of His cross. Peace fills the believers heart, and there is no further fear of having to meet God.

He gives us His peace. No circumstance ever disturbed Him. He, as man, accepted all from God the Father’s hand, and He wants all those who have put their trust in Him for the salvation, if their souls, to take all things from His hand, and they shall know His peace. The man of the world knows nothing of it, and he will not come to the Lord Jesus that He might have peace.

ML-12/05/1920

The Little Boy's Gift.

THERE is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: ... and Jesus took the loaves; ... and likewise the fishes.

John 6:9, 11.

’Twas only a small boy’s basket,

And a small boy’s love for Him;

But the gift with the love,

Moved a power above,

And thousands were fed by Him.

“Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any.” Job 36:5.

ML-12/05/1920

The End of a Winter's Day

THE day’s work is over, and the father and son have gathered up the wood they are able to carry home for another day’s fire. The father feels his responsibility to care for the family, and he is doing that to the best of his ability. No doubt you are not surprised that a father should act like that for that is the father’s duty: but have you thought how God so constantly takes care of us, and constantly watches over us, and is the One who supplies all our needs? Do you trust Him for all that you need and thank Him for all that you receive? May you never forget to do SO.

I wonder how many of my young readers can tell me what is the greatest gift that God has given to us? I am sure most of you can readily say, “His beloved Son.” He is the One in whom God delighted throughout eternity, and God loved Him while He was here upon earth, for He pleased His Father in all things. Yet God gave Him to die in our stead that we, not only might not perish, but, have eternal life. How great is God’s gift to us!

“HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL WE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” Rom. 8:32.

We may well trust Him for all that we need, and thank Him above all for the gift of His Son.

Answers to “The Riddle,” in “Messages of Love,” Aug. 29th, 1920.

ML-12/12/1920

The Little Prophet

WE are very thankful that so many of our young friends have answered “The Riddle,” and trust much blessing has resulted from looking up the scriptures. Many have gone into the subject very fully, which has much pleased us.

Rewards will be sent out shortly, as we have now heard from distant lands.

Jeremiah was the little prophet. He lived at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. Jeremiah 1:1-5.

God chose Israel. “Israel was holiness unto the Lord.” Jeremiah 2:3.

“For the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” Deut. 9:5.

He gave them the law. “When Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book.” Deut. 31:24.

“I brought you into a plentiful country.” Jeremiah 2:7.

“A land flowing with milk and honey.” Jeremiah 32:22.

“Ye were the fewest of all people.” Deut. 7:7.

“The Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt that led us through the wilderness through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt, and I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof: but when ye entered ye defiled my land and made mine heritage an abomination.” Jeremiah 2:6,7

“I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it.” Jeremiah 6:19.

“Which My covenant they break.” Jeremiah 31:32.

Jeremiah prophesied in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, and for many years after. Jeremiah 1:2.

In the eighteenth year of king Josiah.... Hilkiah the high priest said.... “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” 2 Kings 22:8.

“My people have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters.” Jeremiah 2:13.

The Life of the Prophet.

“The word of the Lord came unto me saying: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou comest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God, behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth: and the Lord said unto me: Behold I have put My words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah 1:4-9.

He was continually in danger of his life. (Jeremiah 11:21; 26:8.) He was put in the stocks (20:2,) shut up in the court of the prison, (32:2, 37:21,) put in prison (37:15,) cast into the dungeon, (38:6.) He could write in his old age: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness: the Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lam. 3:22-26.

ML-12/12/1920

"Choose You!"

EVERY one, young or old, must at some point in his life choose for himself whether he will be for God or for the world! Sometimes the choice is made very early.

An aged Christian, whose life was spent in God’s service, said, before he died, that when he was a little child of four years of age, he had thrown himself upon the floor, and sobbed out to God that he would be His!

Many times very young children have felt their need of Jesus, and have come to Him for His salvation. Remember, dear children, there is only one way of salvation, and that way is the same for young and for old.

Another aged Christian was telling us how that, at seventeen years of age, she had decided for Christ, and how that God had been with her through her long life. “Ye must be born again,” she said, was the scripture of all others she would impress upon the young.

“Choose your For it is impossible to belong to both God and the world, and as there is only one way of salvation for all, so all have to choose which they will take, heaven or hell, the Lord Jesus or Satan, life or death, joy or sorrow, for eternity. The Lord Jesus is a Savior for all, but only those who accept Him, and believe in His work of atonement on the cross, can have part with Him.

Little children can be selfish and unkind quite as easily as grown up people; and they can show the happy life of a true Christian in their way, as clearly as old people do in theirs.

“Choose you”! How glad was the aged man, of whom we have spoken, that he came to God, his Father, when he was but a little child. We have never heard of any one regretting that he came to Jesus too soon.

May each of you choose for yourselves without delay, and may your lives show that you are His. In Christian things the first step is usually the most difficult to take, for when there has been decision to be firm and true, the battle is won: therefore the importance of the exhortation—“Choose you.”

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.

ML-12/12/1920

One Little Sin

IT is a beautiful, warm summer morning, the sun shining brightly into a cozy little room in the suburbs of one of our large towns. A little fair-haired girl, of some five years or more, sat at her mother’s feet, listening eagerly while she read aloud the daily portion of the Bible. Slowly and distinctly the twenty-second chapter of Revelation is read, and each word of these first grand verses falls sweet and clear in the silence of the room: “And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

And, as each verse was read, the description of that fair city seemed glorious indeed to the little listening child: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.”

The child sat quietly, with clasped hands and flushed cheeks, as she listened to the revelation of the glory of the City of Light, and looking at the dancing sunbeams that streamed through the window panes she thinks, “No candles, neither light of the sun.” “Behold, I come quickly,” the mother reads, and the child lifts her eyes to the blue heavens as if expecting to see them roll away and the Lord descend with a shout, “for the time is at hand.” But then the awful words of the next few verses filled her with dismay. “He that is unjust, let him be un-just still,” and the gentle voice reads on, till, pausing slightly, she ends with—“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

“For without” —O, how that sad word pierced through the listening child and reached her very soul, “for without are dogs,” and on through the verse ending with, “and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

“O! mother,” cried the child, starting to her feet, and the big tears rolled down over her cheeks. “O, mother, mother, I will be shut out.” Surprised, the mother drew the little one towards her, and placing her arms round the trembling form, asked her to tell her all.

“Will one little sin shut me out of heaven?”

“My dear child,” the mother answered earnestly, “there shall nothing enter into that fair city that defileth, and one little lie, one single stain of sin, will shut you out forever from that beautiful city I have just been reading of.”

“Then, mother,” sobbed the child, “I can never go to heaven, for I know I have told lies and sinned many times. What shall I do; will Jesus forgive me?”

Very tenderly the mother told the weeping child the sweet, old story of Jesus and His love of how He died for sins not His own, suffering in our room and stead; then, turning to 1 John 1, she read in the seventh verse: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Slowly the light from heaven dawned on that little soul, and she saw it was for her Jesus died, and His blood cleanseth “whiter than snow.” And she learned that thus cleansed she would have her part in the heavenly city.

ML-12/12/1920

"I Will Never Leave Thee, nor Forsake Thee."

(Hebrews 13:5.)

My Lord will ne’er forsake me,

O, this is sweet indeed;

To know I have a Helper

In every time of need.

Though now my path seems dreary,

Yet He is always near,

In every time of trial

My fainting heart to cheer.

My friends may all despise me,

Yet still I need not fear;

Though scorned by those around me.

Still, Lord, Thou wilt be near.

Lord, may I then ne’er murmur,

Whate’er my lot may be,

But O, may I prove faithful,

Faithful, blest Lord, to Thee.

ML-12/12/1920

Seeing Jesus

I HAVE just heard of a dear little boy who was visited by an earnest Christian doctor in a very serious illness.

The doctor had to say that his young patient could not recover, but the dear little fellow seemed to have no fear, but was quite prepared to go. Just before he died, his eyes lighted up, while a smile played on his thin lips, and he said softly, his mother being very near him: “O, mamma, I see Jesus!”

His mamma listened in silent wonder, but with a thankful heart she will remember her dear child’s last words, “O, mamma, I see Jesus!”

“To depart, and to be with Christ which is far better.” Phil. 1:23.

ML-12/12/1920

Homeless

I AM sure we all would much rather look at a pleasant scene, than a sad one, but we know the world is full of sadness, and it is well that we should see all things just as they are.

In many parts of Europe we have scenes like our picture for this week, but we do not need to go so far from home to find such conditions for we have them in all these large cities, and if we consider how the Lord of glory left His home above, and came into this world of woe just to meet us in all our need, then our hearts will go out to others also, both for their temporal needs, as well as the welfare of their immortal souls. The main thing is their eternal welfare—the salvation of their souls, and then we may do what we can to help in their temporal needs.

Peter could say, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as, I have give I thee.” It may be so with us, we may not be able to lift the poor out of trying circumstances, but if we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we surely can tell others of Him and warn them, too, to flee from the coming wrath.

“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.”

Matth. 5:7

ML-12/19/1920

Poor Children

YOU have all certainly heard or read more than once about Armenia, a country that is situated not very far from Palestine. Thousands of people live there, who know the Lord Jesus, and for this reason have much to suffer and endure from the Mahommedan population.

Many, many times bloody persecutions of the Christians have taken place in Armenia, in which even women and children were not spared. Many died under the Turkish sword with the name of the Lord Jesus on their lips, and many times it has happened, that even children would not deny their Savior by, uttering the name of Mahomet. They were then mercilessly murdered.

What a blessing it is, to live in a land where the Lord Jesus is freely spoken of, and where one may love and serve Him, without fear of punishment or persecution!

But not alone from the Turks, who would gladly exterminate all Christians, but also from savage tribes; that inhabit the wild mountain regions of Armenia must the poor Armenians suffer.

I will relate an anecdote here about them. Close to a little Armenian village, stood a modest dwelling, hidden in the trees, in which lived a family, of five persons—father, mother and three children. Several times already a horde of Kurds—; as the mountain dwellers are called—had come on a plundering expedition to the village, taking everything they could lay hands on, and ill-treating, and even killing the inhabitants. But the little house behind the trees had so far been spared.

On a certain day, however, suddenly the cry of fear was heard: “The Kurds are coming! The Kurds are coming!” A moment later on they came, galloping on their little horses, the blood-thirsty, cruel men. The people of the village were the first to suffer. Their horses, that contained only what was strictly necessary, were searched from top to bottom and plundered, and then men, women and children were dragged out and carried off. Whoever dared to resist, was cut down by their swords, without mercy. When nothing more was to be found in the village, they ransacked the neighborhood, and then discovered the little house behind the trees. The parents, who saw the danger approaching, had just time to flee with their two children, Arschalius and Aram, but the youngest they were obliged to leave behind. O, how grieved the mother was, especially, when she found that they could not take the little one with them. What would become of the little fellow? But they must keep on, on! There was no time for thought, for the robbers were at their heels.

Then suddenly the father was hit by a bullet from one of his pursuers. He staggered for a moment, then fell to the ground mortally wounded. What must the mother do now, and her two children? She bent over her dying husband who implored her to leave him there, and try if possible to save herself and the children.

For a moment she hesitated, but when she heard the wild cries of her pursuers behind her—she took leave of her husband and fled on further with her two children, who, from fatigue were scarcely able to move. Their little feet were all blistered, and they were so hungry and so thirsty. Yet they must run on without stopping as their lives depended on their doing so.

But it was all in vain. The pursuers came steadily nearer, and in a little while they had taken Arschalius prisoner. One of the Kurds threw a shawl over her head, put her in front of him on his, horse, and galloped away with her, Meanwhile another had followed Aram and his mother, and it was not very long before Aram too was torn away.

So the mother remained alone, for they left her behind. She sat on the roadside and shed bitter tears. In one day bereft of her husband and three children! What must she do now?

She must have been seated there for some hours, and it was almost dark, when accidentally a Turkish officer passed by. He appeared to pity her, and asked the cause of her great sorrow. She told him how she was obliged to leave her dying husband behind, and had been bereft of her three children, not one of whom was left to her.

The officer was touched at the deep sorrow of the woman, and he promised to do all in his power to get back her children for her. He did succeed, after much trouble and exertion. He had the country around searched by soldiers, and at last the children were found hidden in a cave. So the mother got back, at least two of them. She then returned by another way to their home, for fear of the Kurds. But in what a condition did she find it. In the village most of the houses were razed to the ground, and not much was left of their own home. The youngest child had entirely vanished, and was never heard of again. What must they do? No house, no food, almost no clothes! It was a dreadful condition to be in! As the climax of misfortune, the mother now fell sick. All the miseries she had undergone, and the privations he had endured, had broken her and in a few days she followed her husband to the glorious land where sorrow and tears are no more found.

Arschalius and Aram were now orphans. Sympathizing people had given them food now and then while their mother was ill, but these people possessed nothing for themselves, and the children could not count on their pity any longer.

Just at this time in different cities in Armenia, large orphan-homes were built, and as mane thousand children were left orphans through the many persecutions of Christians, and through the repeated incursions of the Kurds, Christians in Europe decided to come to the aid of these poor helpless ones by erecting institutions for orphans.

Different missionaries who had volunteered for this work, went through the villages seeking the unfortunate children and taking them to the orphanages. In this way Arschalius and Aram were discovered, and shortly afterward taken to one of the institutions. What a delightful and blessed change! Especially for Arschalius, for in the orphanage she learned to know about the Lord Jesus, and when she was a little older, she began to teach other little ones about the Savior, and what He had done for us, in redeeming us with His precious blood.

And now she is a great help in the orphanages, taking care of little ones who, like herself, had lost their parents.

Pray for the poor Armenians who must suffer so much, and be thankful that your lot is not like theirs.

“A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.” Ps. 68:5.

ML-12/19/1920

The Word "Satisfied"

DEAR little girl named Ethel, when her mother gives her children on Sunday a word that they may find in the Bible, and then have a little talk with them on the subject connected with it, always turns to one favorite part—the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. The word last given was “satisfied,” and so she was not long in finding it. What a graphic description we have in that section (commencing chap. 32:13) of Him who, as Peter says in his first Epistle, referring to and quoting from it, “bare our sins in His own body on the tree,” and of whom Paul, towards the close of his Epistle to the Hebrews says: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” That was the joy of accomplishing the work of salvation. Isaiah said, He should “see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied.”

As travail means very great sufferings, the prophet’s words signify that He should see the fruit of His sufferings, and be satisfied; that sinners would look unto Him as the bearer of their sins, and in the end enjoy eternal blessedness with Him; and this would be His reward.

Is there any young reader of “Messages of Love” who has not yet given Jesus satisfaction by coming to Him, in order to be a sharer of His joy, of His most precious peace? If there be such a one, why delay any longer? When He says “Come,” do not reason with yourself whether you will come or not, but with the Lord; remember what he says, “Let us reason together.” (Isa. 1:18.) Remember also the solemn warning, “How shall we escape, if we neglect (or make light of, as in Matt. 22:5), so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

ML-12/19/1920

"What Think Ye of Christ"

(Mat. 22:42).

“What think ye of Christ” is the test,

To try both your state and your scheme;

You cannot be right in the rest

Unless you think rightly of HIM;

As JESUS appears to your view—

As He is beloved or not,

So God is disposed to you.

And mercy or wrath is your lot.

Some take Him a creature to be—

A man, or an angel at most;

But they have not feelings like me,

Nor know themselves wretched or lost;

So guilty so helpless am I,

I durst not confide in His blood

Nor on His protection rely

Unless I were sure He is GOD.

Some call Him a Savior in word,

But mix their own works with His plan,

And hope He His help will afford,

When they have done all that they can:

If doings prove rather too light,

(A little they own they may fail)

They purpose to make up full weight

By casting His name in the scale.

Some style Him “the Pearl of great price,”

And say He’s the fountain of joys;

Yet feed upon folly and vice,

And cleave to the world and its toys;

Like Judas, the Savior they kiss,

And while they salute Him, betray;

O! what will profession like this

Avail in that terrible day?

If ask’d what of Jesus I think,

(Though still my best thoughts are but poor)

I say He’s my meat and my drink.

My Life, and my Strength, and my Store;

My Shepherd, my Trust, and my Friend,

My Savior from sin and from thrall;

My Hope from beginning to end

My Portion, my Lord, and my All.

Reader, What think YOU of Christ? is He your Savior? that is, has He saved you? for if He has not saved you, He is not your Savior! though He be the Saviour of others. If Christ has not saved you, you are lost, and if cut off in this state, you will be lost forever—you will never enter heaven: and your keenest anguish and heaviest condemnation will be that you have rejected the message of mercy now proclaimed to all, and refusing to receive Christ as YOUR Savior, you have refused salvation.

ML-12/19/1920

Lost in the Snow

MANY have perished in the deep snow when no one was near to help, and how terrible to be in perfect health, and have death staring one in the face, and no way of escape from it. Then is the time one turns to God, if never before. It may be there is only the desire to be delivered out of the temporal difficulty, but when all hope is gone, nearly every case, they cry to God.

What a shame it is that any should wait till the last moment to have the question of their soul’s salvation settled, and expect that God should accept them. On the other hand, God is wonderfully gracious, and He has recorded the case of the thief on the cross; in his last moments he turned to the Lord, and the Lord accepted him. Such is the grace of God.

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

The Scripture says, “THE LORD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Peter 3:9

If one is lost eternally, it is his own fault, for God has provided the Savior for man, and what a blessed thing it is to be always ready to go, for we know not what moment we may be called. If we put it off to the last moment, our life here on earth would be a wasted one, and we would have failed to have responded to the love He had shown in giving His life for us on Calvary.

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

ML-12/26/1920

The Unsafe Rock

FAR from here in a beautiful country, there are very high mountains; they are so high, that the tops are so wrapped up in the clouds that they are lost to the eye, and they are covered with snow, even when it is quite warm down below.

On the slopes of these mountains are many precipices, that is to say, very deep places between steep rocks. If one tried to climb to the top and slipped, then one would fall hundreds of feet, and be dashed to pieces at the bottom.

Just place two books of the same size standing right up on the table, separated a little from each other, then you can understand how two rocks stood close to each other with a terrible empty space between. If you stood on the top of one rock, you could not pass over to the other without a bridge.

At the place now, which I am going to tell you about, there was such a precipice between two rocks. There was no bridge across it, over which people could pass. One day, however, a large piece of rock broke off, and in falling, remained wedged between the two steep sides. It made a natural bridge and was immediately made use of.

On one side of the mountain there was a little hut in which a little girl of six years old lived with her father. One day, as Nellie—so the child was called—was going around everywhere picking wild flowers and climbing up the slope of the mountain, she heard the neighbors say that the bridge was no longer safe, that the violent storm that had raged the night before, had shaken it badly.

Little Nellie hurried home, and when her father returned, she said to him: “Don’t cross over the rock any more, father; they say that it is no longer safe, and will fall if any one tries to cross.”

“Nonsense, foolishness!” the father answered, “the bridge is safe enough, I must cross it this evening, Nellie! I don’t listen to the chatter of people.”

“O, father, don’t do it” said little Nellie, “it may fall, and you would be killed.”

“I tell you, that I must cross by it this evening,” he said decidedly, “it’s all right, don’t be afraid.”

His little daughter was silent for a few minutes, thinking; then she said: “Father, I wish you would let me go with you this evening when you go out. May I?”

Nellie was her father’s darling, and he loved to have her with him; so he said: “Yes, you may, if you like, although it’s rather late for such a little girl.”

After supper they went out together, and she walked beside him. After a while, she said in a timid way: “Father, if you were to die tonight, where would you go?”

“I really don’t know,” he answered, rather surprised that she should ask him such a question.

“Yes, but, father, if you died to night, would you go to heaven?”

“Yes, I think so,” he said, to set her mind at rest.

“I know that I shall go there when I die,” she said, “the Bible says, that the Lord Jesus died for my sins; that He has forgiven them, so I can go and live with Him forever.”

They walked on a little farther, and soon the dangerous rock was in sight.

“Will you promise me one thing, father? I want you to stand still a few minutes here, and let me walk on a little farther. Will you?”

“Yes, Nellie, just as you like,” he said, while he waited to see what she would do.

She walked on a bit, till she came to the great rock. It was hanging there still, looking very dangerous; but her little heart was filled with a deep self-sacrificing love, and she placed first one little foot, and then the other, on the bridge. The rock shook, turned over, and fell with a tremendous crash down into the deep precipice. Little Nellie was dragged down with it; but at the same moment her soul was safely with the Lord Jesus, whom she loved. She trusted in Him, and knew that He had died for her on the cross, and would take her up immediately to be forever with Himself. Happy, brave little Nellie! When she heard her father say that he must go over the bridge and when he declared that he did not know what would become of him if he were to die, she thought she would ask him to remain a little behind, while she went on to try the rock to see if it was safe. She died willingly instead of her father. She gave her life for his.

I think that during the walk she prayed for her father that the Lord would touch his heart. We do not know what passed in that young heart.

What would you think of her father, if I were to say that he just looked down and saw her little body lying at the bot-tom of the ravine, then walked home and forgot all about it? You would say that he was an ungrateful, hard-hearted man. And vet some children that I know of, are worse. One, there is, who left the glorious, blessed home of His Father, to come down on this poor, sinful world. One who loved children so much, that He took them in His arms and blessed them, and finally took on Himself the punishment that they deserved, and underwent a much more terrible death than that of little Nellie. He bore sin in His own body on the tree, destroyed it forever, arose from the dead, returned to His Father in heaven, and now invites all children to come to Him. He tells them in His Word, that His precious blood can wash them from all their sins, and that, although they have wicked hearts, and do not deserve to be in heaven, He will forgive them and take them to Himself, if they believe in Him. And yet many have heard the beautiful story of Jesus’ love, but have never truly, from the bottom of their hearts, thanked Him for it.

In the Bible He is spoken of as the Rock. The rock that I have told you about, was unsafe; but Jesus, the Rock of Ages, cannot be moved. If your little feet stand on that Rock, all the storms of life cannot move you from it.

I think that Nellie’s father screamed, when he saw her tender little body dragged down in the depths, and that he must have thought how much she must have loved him. Here below he can never see her again, but he will see her there above, where there is no parting and no more sin, if he has been washed in the blood of Jesus.

Nellie died for one who loved her. Jesus died for us, when we did not love Him. He died for His enemies. Can you still turn away when He is inviting you with so much love to come to Him? Today, while you are reading this paper, Jesus knocks at the door of your heart. Will you open to Him? If you do so, He will make His dwelling there, and never, never forsake you. “He will lead you by His council, and afterward take you up into glory.” If you will not let Him in, but turn from Him, then when it is too late, you will call to Him to open to you, but then His ear that is now open, will be closed to you. He will not then recognize you as one of His lambs, nor will He lead you safely to His flock. So come to Him now; confess your sins, and believe simply what God says, that the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

“Christ died for our sins.” 1 Cor. 15:3.

ML-12/26/1920

The Little Mexican Boy

LITTLE boy of about eight years old, the son of a poor Indian, whose father feared the Lord, and who lived near Folisca in Mexico, was one day in the street of a village, when a procession passed by. Every one knelt down and bared their heads, except the little boy who remained standing immovable.

“Kneel down child!” shouted a man who was near him.

“I won’t do it,” answered the child.

“Kneel, I tell you, don’t you see that God is passing by?” continued the man.

“I won’t kneel;” answered the child again, “that is not God; it is only an idol,” the little hero said. “My God is not made of wood; He is a Spirit, and He tells us that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

The procession passed by, and the man came to the boy, and said “Who taught you such things?”

“God’s Word,” said he.

“Well, I would like to read that,” said the man.

“I will give you a book,” said the boy. “Come here next week and I’ll bring it with me.”

The following week the boy took with him some gospels that an Englishman had left at his father’s house some time before. Several men were there punctually. Each of them took a gospel; and they had a long talk with the little boy, with the result that they came regularly from that time, to the meetings at his father’s house.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” Exo. 20:4, 5.

“The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24.

ML-12/26/1920

The Lord Jesus

Jesus was born in Bethlehem,

The land of Judah small;

Now lives eternally to save

Poor sinners from the fall.

He walked this sin-cursed earth of ours

For three and thirty years;

With great rejoicing at His birth,

But at His death few tears.

He burst asunder death’s strong bars,

He was the Son of God;

Now whosoever will may rest

As sheltered by His blood.

He rose in triumph from the tomb

To His bright Home above,

Now whosoever will may come

And prove His boundless love.

As risen from among the dead,

He lives for us on high;

We’ll praise Him while we’re here on earth,

And also in the sky.

ML-12/26/1920

Messages of God's Love: 1920

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for November.

Bible Questions for January.

He Will Cleanse Him.: Part 1

Nursed on the Lap of the Godly.

Gypsies.

He Will Cleanse Him.: Part 2

The Gold Hunter.

A Little Girl's Mistake.

Lost.

Nellie's Dream.

A Strange Inscription.

"May I Be Sure?"

Five Stepping Stones.

Jack's Testimony.

An Answered Prayer.

The Little Housekeeper.

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

Bible Questions for February.

One of Satan's Suggestions.

The Nurse's Story.

Truth's Echo.

A Norwegian Boy.

Cut off.

The Power of the Word of God.

Gone in a Moment.

Come and Drink.

The Seven Little Shepherds.

George.

Why Daisy Loved Jesus.

A Note of Praise.

Gone! Gone!

Little Freddy.

Be Thankful.

A Little Child.

The Young Watchmaker

"Escape for Thy Life."

How Burrie Found the Savior

Dear Little Bobby

Jesus, Our Friend

Answers to Bible Questions for January

Bible Questions for March

The Daring Robber Converted.

Spanish Peasants

"I Beheld the Lamb of God"

The Song of a Happy Christian.

Watching

Little Wong's Victory

Danger

A Parable

I Want to Be a Sinner

Why Jesus Came.

Feeding Time.

May and Fanny

True Riches

"I Do Not Love God"

Christ Loved Poor Sinners, and He Loves Them Still

Little Cecil, and His Bible

The Sailor Boy

Whosoever Will!

Answers to Bible Questions for February

Bible Questions for April

The Three Boy Kings of Judah

A Serious Question

"Those Who Enter There, Must Have Clean Feet"

Three Steps

Christ Is Coming

Peace

The Three Boy-Kings of Judah

Charlie's Ward

Faith

A Poor Widow

As a Little Child

The Shepherd

The Three Boy-Kings of Judah

Bread for Nothing.

Jesus Dying on the Tree

"O! What Shall I Do?"

The Lord Is Looking Down on Me