Messages of God's Love: 1923

THE year 1922 is past and gone, and the birthday of 1923 has come. Thoughts of misspent moments during the past year may come to our memory—things we wish we had not done or said, and things which we knew we should have done. we neglected to do, Let these failures of last year cause us to depend on the Lord for strength to do those things which are pleasing to Him. Let us use every spare moment to read the Word of God. We give to all, of our young readers who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, this threefold motto for the new year:

Be watchful; be prayerful;. be brave.

First, keep good watch over yourself. A good soldier will have his garments, his weapons, and the inside of his knapsack all ready at every moment for the colonel’s eve. Keep a good watch over yourself in every day’s duties. Nothing is too small to be done as unto the Lord.

Next, be much in prayer. ‘Do not let two hours of the day pass without some word of prayer to God. In school-time, in play-time or while at work, you can lift up your heart and talk to God, and seek and find the strength from Him that you need for the moment. If you pray only night and morning (which I trust you surely do), you will forget to speak to the Lord about many things as to which you need His strength.

Lastly, be brave. How brave boys are in their games! How little they mind it when they get hurt! O, be brave, dear Christian boys, for Christ! Do not be ashamed of Him, dear boys and girls who love Jesus. Do not be ashamed of your Saviour, the One who has done so much for you. Do not fear to confess His name.

“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also, before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32, 33.

Messages of God’s Love 1/7/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 5:14-19

These verses show us the holiness of God, for He could not allow even a sin of ignorance to pass without atonement, to be made for it. A sin of ignorance is some wrong thing done without knowing it was wrong, in connection with the things of God.

Atonement means to cover. God cannot look upon sin, and God must have it covered, and as the wages of sin is death, and we are unable to meet the claims of God and rise triumphant out of it, God, has provided His Son who alone was able to lay down His life for us and take it again.

These types point on to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, and they being types could not take away the sin but Christ having come, has atoned for sin and met all the claims of God, so He said on the cross, “It is finished.” Therefore to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ the word is,

“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” Heb. 10:17, 18.

Christ having died and risen has entered into the holiest, into the presence of God in all the value of His blood.

“His precious blood has spoken there

Before and on the throne:

And His own wounds in heaven declare

The atoning work is done.

`Tis finished!’—here our souls have rest,

His work can never fail:

By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest,

We pass within the wail.”

Messages of God’s Love 1/7/1923

Lovest Thou Me?

John 21:15.

We should all feel as if our Lord were asking us the same question that He asked Peter,

“Lovest thou Me more than these”? —these earthly friends, these earthly blessings? We should often ask ourselves, “Do I love my Saviour?”

Dear children, if He were now asking each of you, “Lovest thou Me?” what would be your answer?

In our picture this week, we have a brother and sister, who I am sure love each other very dearly. Where love reigns in a home, how happy it is, and it pleases the Lord, too.

This dear little boy, not only loves in word, but in actions too. He is dividing his orange with his little sister. He does not wish to eat it alone, but desires his sister to share it with him. All this is beautiful!

But there is One above all others, One who has done more for us than father, mother, brother, or sister ever could do.

They never died for us, they never gave themselves to suffer and die for the sake of our souls being saved. Even if they were willing to do this, it could do us no good.

Only Jesus, the Son of God, can save sinners, and no love was ever so patient, so unwearied as His, and He loves us “to the end.”

Yes, the love of your own dear father of you own kind mother, your brother or sister, is not as great, as tender, as patient, as the love of your dear Saviour. O! will you not love Him in return?

“ WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” 1 John 4:19.

Happy are they who can say, with Peter,

“Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” John 21:17.

O, my dear young believers, you and I have cause to be grieved and ashamed that we love our Lord, and Saviour so little. We confess our coldness and unbelief, and pray the Lord to deepen our love for Himself, and brighten the hope of His soon coming, in our hearts.

One there is above all others —

O how He loves!

His is love beyond a brother’s —

O how He loves!

Earthly friends may fail or leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve us,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us —

O how He loves!

Messages of God’s Love 1/7/1923

The First Lie

THEODORE G. V. H. member of the council of war. and first major of K., a man, who in his time had made a name for himself by his excellent writings, and who died at K. on the 23rd of April 1796, relates in his memoirs, how in his early childhood his conscience had been awakened, and, how, when six years old, without knowing much about God, he began to pray.

He tells candidly, how he had been led to tell his first lie, and what occurred to him’ then.

May all the children who read this, long and pray for such a tender and faithful conscience, as the six-year-old Theodore had.

One Sunday afternoon, he and his sisters were allowed to call on some friends of their parents. The children were invited to take tea and cookies. The merry Theodore, with an excitable character, talked a great deal, and in that “much speaking” an untruth slipped out. Immediately his conscience whispered,

That is a sin! what you said there, is not true! You must take that back!

But pride and false shame kept his lips closed.

The little merriment fled now; and when he came home, he became so uneasy and anxious, that he could not bear to be a moment alone. But still he could not get himself to confess to his parents why he was so restless. As he could not eat, and seemed to be feverish, they put him to bed. His conscience urged him to bring his trouble to God. But he feared to approach God, without first confessing his sin. And so he lay down, without praying, but he was in the habit of praying.

However in bed he could not rest or sleep. He turned from one side to the other, and felt as if he lay on thorns. At last he took courage, and calling his mother, begged her with tears to take him to her friend’s house, so that he might confess his sin, ask forgiveness, and also be desired to confess it all to God.

Thousands of fathers and mothers would have said to their children, under the same circumstances; “O, well, is that all?” Or: “To-morrow you can go and say that it just slipped out,” or some such answer. But no, Mrs. V. H. did not do so. She quickly dressed Theodore, at the same time she was full of joy and thanks that the Spirit of God had given her boy such a tender and God-fearing conscience, and he was immediately taken to their friend’s house.

There too, they did not make light of the matter, as if it was such a little thing to make a fuss about; but very seriously they listened to what the little fellow had to say, and admonished him to be all his life strictly truthful.

No sooner had Theodore confessed the lie, than he felt peaceful and calm, and the feverishness left him. Quite gaily he went home, and asked for something to eat. Before he was taken to bed again, he confessed it also to God, and then slept peacefully till morning.

May all the children who read this, have tender consciences. May God grant it!

“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.” Prov. 12:22.

“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Psa. 120:2.

Messages of God’s Love 1/7/1923

Come, Now!

Shall Jesus suffer death for me,

That I might never die,

And I not long His face to see,

Nor to His bosom fly?

Shall Jesus call and wait for me,

His arms extended wide,

And I refuse His own to be,

Nor in His bosom hide?

Shall Jesus open wide the gate,

And bid me enter in,

And I despise His love so great,

And perish in my sin?

No. to the Lord I’ll go to-day,

Take refuge in His love;

I’ll cling to Him while here I stay;

Then find a home above.

Messages of God’s Love 1/7/1923

The Guarded House

BEHOLD, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psa. 121:4.

It was a time of war, and it was expected that whenever a short peace, or truce, had come to an end, parties of cruel soldiers would take possession of their homes and property. The people of the little town were specially afraid for the night of Jan. 5th, when the truce was to end.

Beyond the town, close to the main . road, on the way side where the soldiers would enter. was a solitary house, larger and better than the poor cottages near it.

A godly old woman lived there, who knew, and trusted in the Lord. She was frequently in prayer, that God would raise up a wall around them, so as to protect them from the enemy. Her daughter, who was a widow, and one grandson lived with her.

“Grandmother,” said the boy, on the morning of the 5th, “what do you mean by praying that the Lord would build a wall around our house. Can you be so foolish as to believe that He will do such an impossibility?”

“My son,” she replied, “I did not intend exactly what I said, but only desired that the Lord would defend us, and our town by any means. But you know, dear, nothing is impossible with Him. And if He wills, could He not do even this very tiling?

The night came—a terrible night, such a storm of wind and snow. Soon those in the solitary house, knew by the trampling of horses, and sounds of shooting and shouting, that the enemy was nearing the unhappy town. There was much terror in many homes, but the heart of the dear “Grandmother” was calm and peaceful.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” Isa. 26:3.

No one even knocked at the door. When daylight appeared, they soon discovered the secret of their escape: The wind had drifted an immense mass of snow between them and the road, so that those passing by could not come near the dwelling.

“My son,” said the old “Grandmother,” “do you not see now how easy it was for the Lord to raise a wall around us?”

Surely none of those in “The Guarded House”, would ever forget that night, and I am sure they thanked the Lord for so graciously preserving them.

How comforting for God’s true children to know that He can never slumber nor sleep, and is ever watchful over His own.

He will keep you, dear children, in your little trials, if you bring them to Jesus in prayer.

“HE THAT KEEPETH THEE WILL NOT SLUMBER.” Psa. 121:3.

Messages of God’s Love 1/14/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 6

In this chapter we begin with a trespass against the Lord in one lying to his neighbor in connection with that which had been delivered to him to keep, or anything taken away in violence, or in deceiving his neighbor; or lying about what he had found.

What a terrible thing it is to lie about anything; to tell what is not true,

We can see that people have not changed one bit, for ‘this was written about 3500 years ago and people are just the same today as then, and the terrible thing is that some do not think anything, of it, but we see how God hates sin of any kind and cannot allow it in His presence. yet He loves His creatures, and He has done everything necessary for them, so that they may come into His ‘presence and be accepted there. He has now given His Son to die for us, and thus bear the punishment for our sins, so that our sins may be blotted out. God has said,

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isa. 33:25.

What a God to love us like that! He is too righteous to pass .over our sins, and He is too holy to allow them in His presence. In order to maintain these characters, and to show His love for us, He gave the dearest object of His heart in our stead, rather than have us bear what we deserved.

Another lesson in this portion we must mention, and that is, we must make amends for the harm we have done. We always reap in this life what we sow.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.

If therefore we know that the Lord Jesus has borne the result of our sins for eternity, we must remember we reap the result in this life of what we do that is wrong.

The Lord Jesus said, “The Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:29.

Messages of God’s Love 1/14/1923

Escape for Thy Life

ABOUT a hundred years ago, the pleasant village of Goldau lay on the slope of the Rigi, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountains. The blue lake reflected in its quiet waters the lovely landscape; and the high peak of the Rossberg lifted up its head above the peaceful village, as if to protect it from every storm. No thought of danger ever entered the minds of the simple villagers. as they went about their various occupations.

One fine summer’s day, a stranger passed through Goldau, and went up to the top of the mountain. The same evening, on his return, a cry of alarm went through the village. The stranger, who was a very learned man, a general and no coward trying to frighten them, was the one who foretold the threatening danger.

The Rossberg, that they had always looked on as their powerful protector from the terrific storms that raged in the mountains, the same Rossberg, said he, would some day prove to be their worst enemy. He said that notwithstanding its apparent stability and strength, the peak consisted only of loose stones, with very light soil under them, sooner or later, from heavy rains it must give way, and fall into the valley, the whole mass crushing and burying all beneath it.

Terror filled the hearts of the inhabitants; the most hardened were pale; the women wrung their hands in anguish, and when the night came, in every hut one could hear moans and cries of distress. But morning’ dawned, and the glorious sun appeared, lighting up the giant peaks with rosy tints. The Rossberg, that had looked so threatening the night before, now looked tenderly and gently down on Goldau. The stranger had left, and the warning voice that had disturbed their rest, was heard no more.

“Ah!” said someone, mocking. “An old wife’s tale! Our mountain, that has stood since the beginning of the world, will certainly remain till the end of it. How foolish of us to take the General’s words so seriously.”

Others climbed to the top of the mountain, to convince themselves if there was any reason for alarm. They came back full of wisdom, doubtfully shaking their heads, but without taking any steps to escape the threatened danger.

For several consecutive days the excitement continued; the most timid urged that they should quit the place, while there was time to escape the catastrophe. But winter followed harvest, without anything particular occurring; then the spring came, and at last their terror was forgotten.

Years passed by, and still the Rossberg stood immovable. Some of the people who had been foremost in the panic, had passed away. Children, who had clung to their mother’s skirts weeping, had grown up to be strong men, ready with a mocking smile to relate the night-mare of their childhood. Twenty years had passed over their heads, since the stranger had roused up Goldau with his warning, and still things had gone on just as usual. There ‘is no mention of a single person leaving the fatal spot. The inhabitants said:

“There is peace, and no danger,” while they little thought, that the unusually heavy rains of that very month of August should bring on the catastrophe from which there was no escape.

With a terrific report, like long suppressed thunder, which caused the surrounding mountains to shake to their very foundations, and made the earth tremble, the colossal peak of the Rossberg fell, burying the unfortunate Goldau and two neighboring hamlets, and quite covering up the lovely lake that for so long a time had peacefully nestled at its base. So sudden was the blow, that not a single house escaped. More than a thousand souls were in a moment rushed into eternity.

Dear reader! in reading this terrible account, what thoughts arise in your mind as to the behavior of the people of Goldau? I can imagine that I hear you condemning their folly and carelessness, when they were warned of the danger hanging over them, and yet not fleeing from the place. Perhaps you say, that as they had rejected all warning, they deserved their fate, which had been long postponed.

But wait before you judge hastily. Listen! Are you not doing the same thing? Have you not been warned of a more fearful judgment, that, when it falls on you, will cast both soul and body into hell?

In these last days of grace, has no warning voice sounded in your ears, urging you to flee from the coming wrath? How shall you escape, if you neglect so great salvation?

Much worse than the terrible landslide, will be the day of the “wrath of the Lamb” for those who have rejected His grace. In that day, they who now turn a deaf and unwilling ear to the offers of redemption, in their terror will call on the mountains to fall on them—seeking the fate of Goldau, in the vain hope of hiding themselves from the face of Him, who comes “to tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Have you too, the same spirit of carelessness that possessed the Swiss mountaineers, saying:

“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Pet. 3:4.

O, beware! You dwell in slippy places; you live in a false security, blinded by the god of this world. Let this word of warning rouse you to a knowledge of the danger in which you are. Flee to Jesus, while it is still the day of grace.

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.

Messages of God’s Love 1/14/1923

I'm a Sinner

THE gospel of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ had been clearly set forth by God’s messenger, and now inquiry was made as to the absence of little Nellie P., a most regular attendant.

Sickness was found to be the cause of the vacant seat in the room that night, and Nellie had sent a request for God’s servant to please come and see her tomorrow.

Seated by Nellie’s bed the following day, the gospel story was told over again: Nellie paid strict attention, and tears were in her eyes, as the speaker, stopping, looked towards her.

“I see it,” sobbed the child. “I’m a sinner, and born in sin. 0, what shall I do to be saved?”

“Nellie, listen to God’s word,” said her friend, “and believing, you shall be saved.”

Passages were read from Acts 16:25- 31; Isaiah 53:5, 6, and other portions. And now tears were chased away from Nellie’s eyes, and replaced by smiles.

“O, thank you,” she said, “I see it now. I am a sinner in myself, but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me in God’s sight from all sins. A sinner,” she continued, “but received by God, for Jesus died for me, and now for His sake, I may enter in.”

Greatly rejoiced and encouraged was her friend, and often in after years told the story for the encouragement of weary workers in God’s vineyard, showing them the faithfulness of His word in Isaiah 55:10, 11.

Dear young readers, do you, like little. Nellie, know the preciousness of those words,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ Acts 16:3i.

“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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5, 6.

Messages of God’s Love 1/14/1923

A Saviour for the Perishing

A SEA captain related in B, some time ago, a thrilling incident in his own experience:

I was sailing, by the Island of Cuba, when the cry ran through the ship,

“Man overboard.”

I instantly seized a rope, and threw it over the side of the ship, crying out to the man to grasp it as for his life. The sailor caught the rope, just as the ship was passing him. I immediately took another rope, and ‘making a slip noose with it, attached it to the other, and slid it down to the struggling sailor, directed him to pass it over his shoulders and under his arms. He obeyed, and was rescued. but he had grasped that rope with such firmness,—with such a death grip,—that it took some time before his hold relaxed; with such eagerness, indeed, he had clutched the object that was to save him, that the strands of the rope became imbedded in the flesh of his hands.

Dear reader, has not God let down from heaven a scarlet line to every sin_ner on the earth? Is not every strand a needed word from Him? and ought we not to lay hold of it as for our lives? Has He not provided a Saviour for you and me? Yes, dear children, the scarlet line may be used as a picture of Jesus’ own precious blood, and God is this moment inviting you to grasp it for yourself. Poor unsaved soul. you are in the same position as this drowning sailor, but he was obedient to the captain’s word, and was saved.

“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.

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

Messages of God’s Love 1/21/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 6:8-7:38

This section is occupied with the law of the various offerings mentioned previously. Christ’s personal holiness is particularly brought out in the sin offering. thus bringing before us a perfect picture of Christ as the competent One to be the sacrifice for sin. It is good to see the essential holiness of Christ as displayed at the cross of Calvary.

All the detail is full of meaning, but we cannot enter into it in this little paper, though we trust the hints we are giving may be used to cause the earnest reader to search into its depths, and there find Christ as the subject.

We would now draw attention to verses 26 and 27.in chapter 7.

In these days many do not think anything about eating blood, but, remember, dear children, God has strictly forbidden everybody to do so, and that not as a ceremonial law for His people Israel only, but back in Noah’s time, when he came out of the ark, God forbade the eating of blood, because it is the life. (Look at Gen. ‘9:4).

Messages of God’s Love 1/21/1923

A Happy Change

EMMA was a wild, little girl, a half savage. From early morn till late in the evening, she ran about the streets with dirty, ragged clothes, unwashed face and hands, and uncombed hair. The only person who took any care of her, was her old grandmother, who lived with her in a miserable attic. Except the latter, she had no friends or relatives; and as, in the time when Emma was young. school attendance was not much insisted on, she grew up like a little heathen. She cared for nobody, until one Sunday morning, she was accosted by a well-dressed kindly man, who invited her to go with him to Sunday-school.

It pleased her hugely to be spoken to by such a great personage, and to be Specially invited to go with him. So she went with him at once. The Sunday school amazed her. She loved music, and the way the children sang, impressed her deeply. She also noticed to her shame. that children much younger than she. could read fluently. She ardently desired to learn to read, and the kind man who held the ‘Sunday-school, took great pains with her. She made surprisingly rapid progress, and considering her lack of education, and mental development, she was soon able to read some verses aloud.

At first she preferred the Old Testament to the New, because, as she expressed it, the former “was more thrilling, and had so much fighting in it.” The story of Samson and the foxes ( Judges 15), pleased her particularly. “That was a good joke,” she said.

It was long before she learned to understand the meek and lowly spirit of the Lord Jesus. Emma liked Him, because He went around teaching the poor, giving them bread and fishes when they were hungry; but she could not understand why He taught His disciples not to quarrel with one another. The words of the Lord

“Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also;” she thought very strange. Once when it was spoken about in the Sunday-school, she called out suddenly: “That can’t be the real meaning, Mr. B.?”

“Certainly, Emma,” was the answer, “we must take the words just as they stand.”

“But,” answered the little girl, “if anyone struck me on the right cheek, I would try to give it back doubly.”

However after several months had passed, there was a sudden change in the child. The love of the Lord Jesus, who came down from the heavenly glory to save His enemies, overpowered her heart. At the same time she saw her own sinful and lost condition. Several Sundays she sat quiet and self-absorbed on the bench, and, contrary to her usual custom, listened silently to what was said.

One Sunday she came into the schoolroom with a joyous face, one could plainly see that something unusual had happened. When the lesson was over, and all the children had gone, she came to her old friend and said:

“Mr. B. tell me, please, what I must do, The Lord Jesus always went around doing good, and He has done me so much good, that I would gladly do something for Him. But I have nothing. and I don’t know anybody that I could help.”

“To do good doesn’t always mean giving,” answered Mr. B. “It is certainly good to give what one can to those who need it; but there are other ways of doing good. Begin with the one nearest to you —your old grandmother. Try to please her in every way, and lighten for her the burden of her age. I am convinced that when you return to your attic, you will find many things you can change and improve. When you have tried what you can do there, you will find opportunities for helping elsewhere. But begin at home.”

When, sometime after this, Mr. B. visited the grandmother, he saw at the first glance that the little girl had followed his advice. The floor was scrubbed, the window shining and clean, and a fresh bouquet of wild flowers on the table which Emma had gathered, and for lack of something better, she had an old medicine bottle for a vase. The few kitchen utensils were scoured and were shining with cleanliness. She was sitting on a little stool next to her grandmother, and when Mr. B. entered, she was busy reading aloud a chapter out of the Bible that they had given to her at the Sunday-school. “Well, Mrs. R.,” said Mr. B. after he had seated himself. “you look so happy what has happened?”

“I don’t know.” replied the old woman, “what has come over this little girl. Formerly it was not possible to keep her indoors for one hour in the day, and now she is at home all the time. The last few clays she has dusted and polished to beat the band, and she was not at rest till she bought me some flowers.”

“They cost nothing, grandma,” said Emma, “I gathered them myself.” “But why did you never bring flowers before?”

“Because,” stammered Emma, “they would have been so shocked in our little room, that they would have directly withered away. But now everything is clean and fresh; and I love flowers.”

Mr. B. conversed for quite a time with grandma. She was past 80, but did not yet know the Lord- Jesus. Much that he said, she listened to, without contradicting, as she saw the sudden change in Emma, but many times he visited her before the hard heart was broken, and she experienced for herself the saving power of Jesus.

No one was happier then than Emma. The child was quite excited with joy. While formerly she only thought of herself, she seemed to live’ for others now. As soon as her grandmother found peace through the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work of redemption, she went to the neighbors to tell them about her Saviour, but they laughed at her, mocked and made fun of her in every way. Only one old widow listened to the simple words with which Emma told the story of God’s love, and the Lord opened her heart, so that she too received the glad tidings of the message of God’s grace. The widow said.

“She told me of Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, in such a simple, but winning way, that I was surprised at it, and her words were not in vain. I know now that , the Lord has borne my sins, and taken them away forever.”

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 1/21/1923

An Answered Prayer

A LITTLE girl, who attended Sunday school regularly, had a very ungodly father. He cared nothing for the things of God, which his little daughter, although very young, had learned to prize. She had put her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One day her father was taken very ill, and gradually became worse, and it was thought he would soon die. When she heard of this, she waited her opportunity and crept into her father’s bedroom, taking her younger sister with her. She herself was only six years old.

Her father lay very quiet with his eyes closed, so she said to her sister,

“Father is asleep, let us kneel down and ask God to save him, for we know he is not fit to die.”

They did so. But their father was not asleep, as they supposed. He heard his little girl’s simple language, and it touched his heart to hear her pray for him in her childish manner. It was the means used of God for the blessing of his soul.

He did not die then; and after his recovery he attended the meetings where his little daughter had learned to love the Lord. He was thankful to God for his child’s prayer.

I would like to ask you, dear young reader, Do you love the Lord? Have you put your trust in Him? He is worthy of your young heart. How many young children have been used of God for the blessing of parents and others.

But you may have a dear father and mother who love the Lord, and are only waiting for the time when they can rejoice over you. But not only are they waiting, but that is what God is waiting for!

God would rejoice, and Jesus would rejoice, if you were to put your trust in Jesus, the One who died for you, and know that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

You may then, in all simplicity, seek to be used of God for the blessing of others. You can then pray for those who cannot pray for themselves, and God would hear your prayer. He listens to the simplest believer, no matter how young. It is simplicity He desires, and is pleased to answer.

“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15.

Messages of God’s Love 1/21/1923

Be At Rest

Art thou longing? Jesus calls thee

To His wounded side;

“Come to Me,” saith He, and ever

Safe abide.

Seeking Jesus? Jesus seeks thee—

Wants thee as thou art;

He is knocking, ever knocking

At thy heart.

If thou let Him, He will save thee

Make thee all His own;

Guide thee, keep thee, take thee, surely

To His throne.

Wilt thou still refuse the offer?

Wilt thou say Him nay?

Wilt thou let Him, grieved, rejected,

Go away?

Dost thou, feel thy life is weary?,

Is thy soul distrest?

Take His offer, wait no longer;

Be at rest!

Messages of God’s Love 1/21/1923

Baby's Bath

BABY does not like it a bit. Perhaps the soap water went into his eyes and made them smart, or, perhaps he wants to splash as he likes, and mother’s hand is restraining him, or, maybe he wants to play with sister and is impatient. But he has been playing in the dirt outside, and has become quite grimy and black, and he must be washed and dressed in clean clothes. Then he can sit on the floor, and play with sister and brother and Caesar. He will feel better, I know, and’ won’t get sister’s white stockings and clean apron dirty.

Sin has defiled men and women, boys and girls, and made their hearts black and impure. God’s word tells us,

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

So before they can. enter heaven, or be able to stand in God’s presence and live (for all will have to face Him some day), they have to be washed, not with soap and water, but With the precious blood of Christ.

So children, who are yet in your sins, do not rest until you have prayed,

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”. Psa. 51:7. Else you will be sorry, O! how sorry! for ever and ever.

“THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET,. THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” Isaiah 1:18.

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 6:8-23

We shall now go back over the portion we said so little about last week. We come to the “laws”, or rules about the offerings; they are mostly about the priests eating what was offered. But as we have seen before, the “burnt offering”, which told of the Lord Jesus devoting Himself to die, was wholly burned; no part was left for the priest’s food. Only God can really appreciate what it meant for Him. The fire on the altar was, however, to be kept burning all through the long dark night until the morning; it was to be always burning, and must never be put out. The priest who took the ashes off the altar, had to put on linen clothes when he did so, and even when the ashes were carried away, they were to be put in a “clean place,” outside the camp.

These rules remind us, who are God’s children, that this time in which we are living, is called in God’s Word, the night. (John 9:4, 5; 1 Thess. 5:4-8; Rom. 13 41, 12, besides other scriptures). All through this long night, from the cross of Christ until His coming again, while the unsaved world is “asleep”, God has before Him the one sacrifice of His Son.

The “meat offering” again comes second; we have noticed that it tells of the holy human nature of the Lord Jesus. Except the memorial of it, which was burned on the altar, this formed part of the priests’ food.

All true Christians are priests, and so if you and I belong to Jesus, we ought to be enjoying God’s Word. Do you, my reader, love to read the four Gospels— Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,—with their deeply interesting chapters about the Lord?

If you are not a Christian,. I am quite sure that you cannot enjoy reading the Bible, but if you are one, I hope you are learning more and more about the Lord Jesus, through reading it constantly. It is in that way the Christian’s food; the Lord is its theme.

The priests could not eat the meat offering . with “leaven”, but with unleavened bread. You will remember that leaven in the Bible is always a type of sin. Christians should be careful what they allow in their lives. Besides, the priests could eat this food only in the holy place of the tabernacle.. We cannot go on with the Lord, and the world together.

Verses 19-23 again present the Lord Jesus, offering Himself wholly to God.

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

The Names of Three Places

LITTLE children do not like long words, but I want you to try and remember, three names of places, because of something very important that happened at each of them. The first one is Bethlehem. I think you must have heard of a baby being born there, and how some shepherds were told about it, when they were taking care of their sheep one night in the field.

An angel came to them and told them on that day a Saviour was born in Bethlehem, who, he said, was “Christ the Lord.” It gave such joy in heaven that thousands of the angels praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” I am sure the sound of those beautiful words’ was never forgotten by the poor shepherds.; indeed, they could not help telling everyone what they had seen and heard.

The name of the next place is Calvary, which we do not read of till thirty-three years after. Before passing to it, a hymn was sung, very different from the praise of which we have just spoken; for the hearts of those who sang it were very sorrowful; the dear Saviour who was born in Bethlehem was going to win salvation, by giving His life a ransom for many.

What a dark night that was, and what heavy hearts the disciples had, for He had told them He must leave them! The Lord Jesus was More sad than any of us can ever be, for He was going to die,’ to put away sin by His death on the cross.

The third place you will easily remember, it is Heaven, where Jesus is now. God raised Him from the dead, and took Him back to His beautiful home. We do not know the wondrous joy that filled that happy home when the beloved Son returned again. But O, He bears in His hands the print of the nails, and bears in His side the mark of the spear with which they pierced Him while down here in this sinful world.

Dear children, the Lord Jesus is still inviting poor sinners to receive Him, by the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent down from heaven.

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

I must tell you one thing more about this beloved Son. He is coming again to punish all those who refuse His offers of mercy and forgiveness. ‘Do not you then be one of them. Come now—come as you are, receive His message, and follow Him home when He calls you.

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

The Lost Monkey

IMAGINE my surprise as I stepped out into my back yard this morning on seeing a monkey frisking in the cherry tree, running on the telephone wire, and enjoying himself generally.

Just then a dog came trotting past, and upon seeing the monkey, made for it, barking loudly. Though it was out of reach of the dog, the little creature was greatly frightened, and whined piteously. I drove the dog away, and concluded that he had escaped from, his comfortable home in the park, which proved to be the case. His keeper had offered quite a reward for his return.

As I looked at the fragile little creature, I thought his good time would be short-lived, for if he managed to elude the dogs to whom he was a natural prey, he would soon perish from exposure, for a monkey cannot endure the cold.

What lesson may we learn from this unusual incident, dear boys and girls? The little creature was lost, and his life was in danger, but despite this fact, he was, for the time, enjoying himself greatly.

Is not this like very many in the human family, including boys and girls? Your life may flow on very brightly and cheerfully, and you may be enjoying yourself very much, and all the time you may be a stranger to the Lord Jesus, the One who alone can give you lasting pleasure, for time and eternity.

It is very natural to seek happiness in the things of this world, but the joy and happiness that wisdom would lead us to seek, is that which will endure, not only for a few fleeting moments, but forever.

Unless there is a change, which the Bible’ calls conversion, you cannot spend eternity in that bright sphere of which Jesus is the light.

“Whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:15.

We know the conditions upon which this eternal life is bestowed, and they are so simple that they may be understood by all. “

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” 1 John 5:1.

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

These passages are easily understood, and God desires that we should accept them in simple faith. There is nothing more pleasing to Him than that we should just believe what He says.

Many would seek to make the terms of salvation difficult by introducing their own works, and wish to offer something to God in part payment, but this is displeasing to Him, and a great dishonor to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has fully accomplished the work of redemption for us.

God bestows eternal life only as a free gift. Our part is to accept it from His hand, with thanksgiving.

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

Are Your Names Written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

O HOW I would like to write a book,” exclaimed Harry S. as he laid one down that he had been reading; “not one either, hut many; to see my name on the title page, and on the cover. Yes, that would be! something worth living for.”

Harry was a fine boy of fourteen, with talents and energies above the usual average. His older brother, Jack, a different character, looked up to him on this, as on every other occasion, with admiring approval.

“I am sure you will write clever books, Harry, and I hope to read them. I should like very much to be a good author, but I do not expect’ to be one, but 0! I would desire to live so as not to be soon forgotten; to be like Mr. F., or like Mr. L.— to know that long years after we were gone, we would still be loved, and admired, and remembered’ in many lands. How delightful!”

How many dear boys and girls, like Harry and Jack, are reaching out for a name and position in this world, which is only for time, and then all is forgotten. But how precious, dear ones, to know that your names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, never to be erased, but will remain there for eternity.

“The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” Psa. 112:6.

“I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” Isa. 56:5. This gives peace and joy to the soul.

The Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross, and finished the work which God gave Him to do, that you and I might have a home with Him for ever and ever.

Will you, dear children, rest now upon Christ’s finished work? He took your place in death, and now is waiting to receive you, as His own dear lamb. Come, and then your name will be among those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Thousands of souls in heaven will be,

Through the blood,

Praising the Lamb, who on the tree

Shed His blood;

All white and pure, all glorious fair;

They praise the Lamb, whose joy they share.

O! happy throng; Is your name there

Through His blood?

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

O Why, Dear Children?

O why, Clear children. why refuse

The offered grace of heaven?

Think you ‘twould cause you grief or pain

To have your sins forgiven?

Ah, no! your joy would then begin,

For, safe on Jesus’ breast,

Storms may arise, and tempests blow,

They could not mar your rest.

Then “Come,” a heavenly Father calls,

Jesus repeats the cry;

And happy angels waiting stand

To see the lost one nigh.

The threatening storm hangs o’er your head!

O come, while yet you may;

Still open stands the hiding-place!

Enter within to-day!

Messages of God’s Love 1/28/1923

Bible Questions for February

Answers to Bible Questions for December

1. “What! know ye not,” etc. 1 Cor. 6:19.

2. “Whether therefore,” etc. “ 10:31.

3. “That, according as it,” etc. “ 1:31.

4. “Watch ye, stand fast,” etc. “ 16:13.

5. “And if Christ be not,”. etc. “ 15:17,

6. “For as often as ye eat,” etc. “ 11:26.

7. “What is my reward then?” etc. “ 9:18.

Bible Questions for February

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

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “His own right hand.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Who loved me.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Use of edifying.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Riches in glory.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Not of yourselves.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Do it heartily.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “All the children.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/4/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 6:24-7:38

The Lord Jesus, when dying on the cross, was both the burnt offering, and the sin offering; and so in the place where the burnt offering was killed, the sin and trespass offerings had to be killed also, to show to faith that there was but one true offering to God for atonement for sin.

Twice the sin offering, and twice the trespass offering here are called “most holy”. In the third verse of the 22nd Psalm, we read,

“But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” This Psalm was written to tell us the thoughts of the Lord when afterwards He was the real sin offering. It is because’ God is holy that sin must be punished, but in our chapters in Leviticus, the offering is called “most holy”. It is the Lord Jesus, when looked upon as the sin, or trespass offering. He ever was holy, and never more so than when charged with the sins of His people on the cross.

The Lord Jesus, being both the sin offering, and the person to whom the priest of verse 26 answers, made our sin His own; this is shown in the priest’s eating the sin offering. The Lord 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.

Where is He now? “If any man sin, (any believer), we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” 1 John 2:1.

Verse 29 of Leviticus 6, and verse 6 of the 7th chapter tell us in the type, that Christians should carry the burden of one another’s sins. We who belong to the Lord do not feel enough the mistakes and other things that should not be in our fellow believers.

The peace offering here follows the sin offering. In the third chapter it was before it, but now the order is different, because we could not give thanks to God, (the peace offering might be called the thanksgiving offering), until we knew that our sins had been taken away by the dying of Jesus. This giving of thanks here includes unleavened cakes, and wafers mingled and anointed with oil, to picture the holy human nature of the Lord. Yet the 13th verse adds, “Leavened bread,” because the believer’s thanksgiving falls short of the perfection of Jesus,

The food of the peace offering had to be eaten the same day, though in some cases it might be eaten on the second day. Having to do with God at first hand, in prayer and in reading and meditating on His Word, is necessary every day. Every day, the young Christian, and the old one as well, should begin the day with getting into the presence of God; communion depends on this.

A Christian cannot go on in ways displeasing to the Lord, and present the peace, or thanksgiving offering. (Verses 20, 21).

The “wave breast”, and the “heave shoulder,” emblems of the love and mighty power of God, belonged to the priests.

Messages of God’s Love 2/4/1923

My Mother's Bible

WHEN I had left school, and reached an age that it was advisable for me to leave the parental home, and seek to make my way in the world, my mother placed in my trunk her own Bible, and wrote on the fly-leaf:

“Read every morning and evening a portion out of this book, my child, and God will bless it to you!” The year after this she died.

Twenty-five years later I was stopping at a hotel in a small place. It was a busy time, and when one evening a traveler came, the hotel was so full that they put him in my room. As it was very late, we did not converse very long. I excused myself, and took my mother’s old Bible, and read a chapter. Then I ,lay down to rest, but left my Bible lying on the table. When I woke up in the morning my room-mate had left.

Many years later, I was at a Bible reading in New York, where there were a great number of strangers present. As usual a preacher spoke a few preliminary words as introduction. What he said, amounted to this, that every word spoken or written, has a bad, or a good influence in view of eternity. After several others had spoken, a man stood up and asked if it was permitted for him to relate some of his own experiences. When they assented, he related the following:

“Many years ago, when still a traveling man, I was once obliged to share a room with another traveling-man, who before retiring to rest, read a portion of the Scriptures, which he said his dying mother had requested him to do. As I was not sleepy, and driven by curiosity to learn the name of the owner, I took up his Bible and found on the fly-leaf the mother’s request that he should read it night and morning. I had not read the Bible for many years, but when I kept turning over the leaves, and found many passages underlined, I kept reading on with ever increasing interest, until I found that the night was past, and it was time for me to leave. From that time I began to read the Bible, and now I am, thank God a member of the Church of God, and rejoice in the unspeakable grace that has become my portion; and this all is the result of a few words written by a mother to her son. I have never seen the man again, and don’t even know his name.”

When he had finished, I stood up and said:

“I am the fellow-traveler, and I thank God, that we are now going the same road.”

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, 0 Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psa. 19:14.

Messages of God’s Love 2/4/1923

JesusSays, "I am The Way"

A LITTLE boy was passing along a street one day, with a book under his arm, when a gentleman, coming up to him, said, “My boy, can you tell me the way to the W. railway station?”

“Yes,-sir,” cheerfully replied the boy and I can tell you the way to heaven, too.” The gentleman looked surprised.

“Well, my boy, I should like to know both ways.”

“Straight before you, sir, no turning, will bring You right to the station,” (and looking up to the gentleman’s face with a. happy smile), “Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life;’ and that’s the way to heaven, sir.”

Did that little boy know what you do not know? Dear anxious soul, are you trying some way of your own in order to be saved? Now, what’s the use? Jesus says, “I am the way.” Do you believe that Jesus, and He alone, is the Way to the Father? Yes, you say, I do. Why then, do you not go to Him? Do you think you would not be made welcome? Then why did God send His Son into the world at all? Was it not that He might open a way for poor sinners to come to God?

Yes, dear friend, Jesus did open the way, through His death on Calvary’s cross. And now, let me tell you, that you may go right to God, the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and find a welcome; yes, more than a welcome.

Think of the Father’s grace to the prodigal. Such is God’s heart, dear anxious one, towards you. “I am the way.” The salvation of God.

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

Messages of God’s Love 2/4/1923

Valuable Instruction

OUR picture this week, dear children, carries our thoughts back to Old Testament times. The Jewish father is giving instruction to his son. Great is the spirit with which the father imparts; and still greater, the enthusiasm with which the son receives the lesson, drinking it up as water.

Most of you, no doubt, have often read that beautiful, and instructive chapter— Exodus 12. It is redemption’s story.

They were to take a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, “A lamb for an house.” It was to be a perfect lamb, “without blemish,” “and the whole assembly of the congregation of, Israel shall kill it in the evening, and they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts, and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” Judgment was coming, and it was obedience to God’s word, which delivered them from it. The sprinkled blood was for God’s eye, and He said,

“When. I see the blood, I will pass over you.” This was called “The Passover.”

They were never to forget this sacrifice, and were to impart its meaning to the children. “And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.” And the people bowed the head and worshiped.

We like to look at our picture, and think of the dear old father telling his little son all about this service, according to God’s word.

Many of you have dear Godly parents, whose joy it is to tell you often of “The Passover” which speaks of Christ’s death.

Is it a sweet story to you, dear children? I trust it is, for only on the ground of His finished work on the cross, can you stand before a holy God. We get in the first chapter of John’s gospel,

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

The perfect, holy, spotless Lamb, the One in whom God found all His delight, He is the blessed. One who met our need, He became our substitute, His blood was shed for you and me.

The Israelites of old could not see the blood. It was sprinkled on the outside, and they were on the inside of the house. The blood was for God’s eye. They rested upon His word,

“WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD,’ I WILL PASS OVER YOU.” Exodus 12:13.

You cannot see the blood, dear ones, nor can I, but God sees it, and knows every sheltered soul, and His word tells us there is no judgment to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross.

Precious, precious blood of Jesus,

Ever offered free!

O believe it! O receive it!

“Tis for thee.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/4/1923

The Cricket

CRR... Crr... Cricket! Why don’t you sing? You were noisy enough before we caught you. Such a time we had, too, with your jumping from side by side, but we got you at last, and now you must sing for us. Cricket is in no mood for singing. He remains perfectly still, except when he jumps against the bars of the cage to elude the stick his tormentor pokes at him.

Where is the joy of freedom that was the poor creature’s a while ago? It is gone; the cricket is a frightened prisoner, and unless allowed to go free, will soon die.

Poor thing, it was not its fault, and probably, Bambino has no idea that he is cruel to one of God’s creatures, but sister Margueritta, I do believe, is going to prevail upon him to open the door of the cage to let it get away. We hope so, anyway, don’t we?

While looking at this picture, I was reminded of other little prisoners, just as helpless, just as sure to die, unless freed by a powerful friend from a relentless enemy. How many know of whom I am speaking?

Yes, little boys and girls, as well as big ones, I mean. They may not know they are captives of Satan and sin. They may even like their bondage; they may enjoy doing the things which Satan whispers to them to do, but their end will be death, eternal death, unless the Lord Jesus becomes their Saviour and frees them.

How can He do that? I’ll tell you. He has done the work already, and the door of the cage, as it were, is open to them.

Do you remember what Jesus said on the cross? “It is finished.” What was it He was talking about? He had gained the victory over Satan. He had received from God all the punishment due to you and me for our sins. Now Satan has no more claims upon you and me, if we turn to Christ, and accept Him as our Saviour. All there is for us to do, is to come to the open arms of Jesus, and accept Him as our Saviour, for He says,

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

“OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS,’ THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, AND OUR FATHER.” Gal. 1:4.

Messages of God’s Love 2/11/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 8:1-17

We have had seven chapters about the offerings, and now we come to those who presented the offerings, and acted for the people in the tabernacle.

All the people were gathered together at the door, and Moses began by telling them that what was about to be done was what God had commanded. It was not anything Moses, or any other man had planned. It is good for us to have God’s Word to trust and believe for everything. “Thus saith the Lord.”

First Aaron and his sons are washed with water; Aaron. is a type of the Lord Jesus, but he is only a type, and so he needed to be made clean and pure, just as any other sinner. Of course, washing with water does not make any one’s heart clean; it was only a type, or picture of it.

The Lord Jesus, far from needing cleansing, cleanses—makes pure in God’s sight. (Titus 3:5, 6).
“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

The sons of Aaron are a type of the people of God, those who are saved.

Aaron next, alone, was clothed with all the garments of the high priest, of which we have read in Exodus 39. The Lord Jesus comes first, in type as in reality. As a hymn says,

“Long before Adam’s fall

Crowned me in sin’s dark thrall,

Saviour, and Lord of all—

Thou wert for me.”

The high priest’s clothes tell us of the One who could alone present to God an offering for sin that He could accept, and having gone back to His home in the glory, the Lord is there for us, and He bids us come near in our hearts to Him. (Hebrews 10:5-25).

Next, the tabernacle, and all in it, are anointed with the anointing oil,—a picture of the Holy Spirit’s power in, first, laying claim to the whole universe for the Lord Jesus; and second, in the coming day of the Lord making the claim good. (Col. 1:20). The altar telling us of the foundation of all our blessing, the atoning death of the. Lord, God’s greatest work, was sprinkled with the oil seven times (divine perfection), and anointed, with all its parts; and the laver, with its base, also.

The work of cleansing us in our hearts from the stains of sin, belongs to the Holy Spirit’s power, too.

We have read nothing so far, except in verse 6, of Aaron’s sons. They were washed with water, but now with their being clothed (Luke 15:22), a sin offering was needed, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the bullock before it was killed, and its blood was put on the horns of the altar, and poured out at its foot. Aaron, really, of course, needed the shedding of blood for the remission, or passing over of his sins, and the sin offering should have been offered first in the ceremonies, only that Aaron is a type of the Lord Jesus who needed no blood shed, in one way, (that is, on account of sin, for He had none). Yet, in another way the Lord Jesus needed the shedding of His blood to take the place He has now in Manhood in heaven. (Luke 12:50; Hebrews 13:20; and 9:12).

Messages of God’s Love 2/11/1923

The Cabled Messages

IT was at Brooklyn, years ago, that an infidel’s conversion caused joy on earth and in heaven.

He was a fine-looking man, as we speak, but he was but a sinner before God and needed a Saviour as much as any one ‘else, and now his need had made itself felt by him. When the preacher asked him if he was willing to receive Christ as his Saviour, he bowed his head in his hands, and with great earnestness, while his whole frame shook with deepest feeling, replied:

“Jesus will not receive me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have been an infidel so many years, a follower of Charles Bradlaugh, and for the last eight years have not ceased to speak in private and public against Christ. I have traveled nearly all over the world, and have spoken everywhere against Him and all those who professed to be Christians. Now I fear He will not forgive me for what I have done.”

“Do you want Him to forgive you?” I asked.

“Well, sir,” he said, “I do not know what is the matter with me, or why I am here tonight. Some power that I do not understand has been working upon me for the last two days, and I am in a despondent state of mind.”

I lifted my heart in prayer that I might make no mistake in dealing with this man. I waited for a moment, and then said:

“My dear friend, what you need tonight is Christ; He will dispel your gloom and sorrow.”

“But,” he exclaimed, arousing himself from what seemed a deep reverie, “I have fought against Him all my life, and thought I was right, too.”

“Did you have peace in your heart when you were preaching against Christ?”

He looked up at me. “No, I was a coward,” he confessed. “I remember, while coming home from a long journey on the sea, we were one night driven by the storm near the rocks, and when I thought we were sure to go to the bottom of the sea, I got down on my knees and prayed to God to save us. The storm died, and with it went my prayers. For as soon as I thought we were safe, like a coward I went back to my old ways, and denied that there was a God.”

“Well,” I said, “let that go. What brought you here to-night?”

“I do not know,” he replied. “I have not been in church for eight years; I have not spoken to a Christian during that time, as I have lived entirely among infidels and sceptics. But about a year ago I received a letter from my poor old mother, away over in Dundee, Scotland. She asked me to make her one promise, that when Mr. and Mr. came back I would go to hear them, if they came to the place where I was. I answered her that I would. When you came here I thought I would have to keep my word to my mother, so I went two nights in succession. Since that time I have had no rest. Yesterday and to-day I have had to close up my office. I am a civil engineer. I have been walking the streets all day, thinking, thinking. Not being acquainted with any Christians to whom I could speak, I thought I would go once more. And now here I am, talking, to you.”

“My dear friend,” I said, “it is an answer to your mother’s prayer. She may be praying for her wandering boy this very night. Now, do not delay any longer. Yield to Christ and He will receive you.”

He bowed his head, while his trembling form told how deeply his heart was moved. After a hard struggle he took my hand and said:

“By the grace of God I take Jesus Christ as my Saviour now!”

After a word of prayer I asked, him if he would not write at once, and tell his mother all about it, and he promised that he would. A few evenings later I met him at the door. As he came up to shake hands and bid me “Good-bye,” I asked him if he had written to his mother.

“O, yes,” said he, “but not until I had first sent her a cable dispatch.”

“What did you say in the dispatch?” I asked.

“Well, I just said, ‘I’ve found Jesus,’ and signed my name to it.”

“Thank the Lord,” said I.

“Yes,” he exclaimed, “that is just what my dear mother cabled back to me, ‘Bless the Lord; O my soul.”

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

Messages of God’s Love 2/11/1923

Are You Ready?

WHEN I was riding in a train, at one time, a man sat by my side. Presently he told me that one of his mates was standing on a scaffold, only about ten feet from the ground, when he met with an accident, fell to the ground, and was killed.

I thought; what a little thing sometimes, leads to grave results. This man had been accustomed all his life to go up and down some very long ladders, to stand on the tops of houses, and other high places, and yet, one day, when not thinking that he was so soon going to be called away to meet God, and while such a little distance from the ground, his foot caught in something, and the next minute his lifeless body was taken up, and carried home to his wife.

Little boys must not think that because they are not sailors who go to sea, therefore they are in no danger, but must always remember that death may be very near to them, and they should be always ready to go.

Let them be like a little girl, whose father was away from home for many weeks. At last a letter came to say he would call one day in a hurry to take his little girl to go to live where he was, and that she must be quite ready.

He did not say what day he would call, but she was to be always ready, till he came. So day by day, dear Annie was expecting her father, and often she looked out of the window to see if he was coming.

At last, he did come. Annie was quite ready, and off she went, so pleased that she had not been tired of watching and waiting.

We must be like Annie—quite ready if Jesus calls us by death, or comes Himself to get us. Dear reader, are you ready?

“While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were READY went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matt. 25:10.

Messages of God’s Love 2/11/1923

Twas Love, Pure Love!

O, why did Jesus leave His home

Above the bright blue sky,

And all the joys and transports there

To come on earth to die?

‘Twas love, pure love, which brought Him from

Above the bright blue sky;

‘Twas love, pure love, which made Him come,

To suffer, bleed, and die.

And now He’s gone, and lives again

Above the bright blue sky;

And all who taste His saving grace,

Shall live with Him on high.

O, blessed home of endless rest!

Sweet home of peace and joy!

How loud will be the song of praise

Above the bright blue sky

Messages of God’s Love 2/11/1923

The Wood Gatherers: or a Lesson from the Trees

IN our picture this week, dear ones, we may learn many lessons from the trees, and these simple wood gatherers. We. no doubt, all know that in creation the Lord God made to grow out of the ground, every tree that is pleasant to the sight. In Scripture we find many trees spoken of—from the stately cedar tree, down to the humble hyssop.

These dear wood gatherers appear to be happy in their work, gathering together the fallen twigs and branches from the large trees, and carrying them to their little cottage in the distance, so that they may have a nice, cozy fire. We trust their hearts are thankful to God, for the provision He has made for them.

Notice, children, the wood gatherers are obliged to take a very low position, in order to get what is required. So you. too, in order to obtain salvation, must take the lowest position, that of a lost sinner, owning your nothingness.

We have many trees in our picture. which speak loudly to us. Solomon spoke of all things, “from the cedar trees that are in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall.” The lofty cedar tree speaks to us of pride and strength; while the hyssop speaks of weakness and nothingness. The pride and the strength, the weakest of nature— the best and the worst—are all stained with the guilt of the blood of Him who is its Creator.

The trees, high and lifted up, nobles and kings, gave Him; a cross. They nailed Him to a tree. Young people too often forget that judgment is some day to fall on living boys and girls upon the earth, and that they cannot stand before these judgments of God, any more than trees can stand before the rush of fire, and what is the voice in’ all this for you, unsaved one?

“Escape for your life.”

There is no shelter for you behind the trees, for God sees you even now, just where you are, as one of those who joined in the casting out, and slaying of His Son. You “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” But, thanks be to God, “His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:19.

High and mighty, rich and poor, weak and needy, must come under the shelter of the blood of the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Are you prepared, dear reader, to take this low place before God, and shelter yourself, as a lost soul, under cover of that precious blood, and apply it to your own heart?

If you shelter beneath it, you are safe for eternity, and, through grace, you can thank God, “Who hath delivered you from the power of darkness, and hath translated you into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Col. 1:13.

“IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL.” Lev. 17:11.

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

O, Won't You Be a Christian?

O won’t you be a Christian, while you’re young?

Don’t think it will be better

To delay it until later,

But remember your Creator while you’re young.

O won’t you love the Saviour, while you’re young?

For you He left His glory,

And embraced a cross so gory,

Won’t you heed the wondrous story while you’re young?

Remember, death may find you, while you’re young:

For friends are often weeping

And the stars their watch are keeping.

O’er the grassy graves, where sleeping lie the young.

O, walk the path to glory, while you’re young;

And Jesus will befriend you,

And froth danger will defend you,

And a peace divine will send you, while you’re young.

Then won’t you be a Christian, while you’re young?

Why from the future borrow,

When, ere comes another morrow,

You may weep in endless sorrow, while you’re young?

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 8:18-36

The burnt offering follows the sin offering here, because seen from our side—our need was such that a Substitute must die for our sins, before we could see that God was glorified in that death.

Still more, another ram must die to show that the blood of Jesus was to be shed to bring His people close to Him in their minds and ways—what they should think, and say, and do, and where they should go,—all should be in obedience to the Lord, all their lives set apart—to be devoted to Him.

His was obedience unto death. (Phil. 2:8). Should we who belong to Him be willing to give Him only a little part of our lives,—only an hour a week shall we say?

Putting the blood on Aaron’s ear, his hand and his foot, was to make him as a type like the Lord, as we said about his being washed with water. The 24th verse tells us what we ought to be in all things.

All these verses (25-29), speak of the Lord Jesus in different ways, or aspects, as we have seen Him before in connection with the earlier types. They tell of Him, as the One whose energies and inner being (verse 25), and whose human nature (verse 26), were all for God (verses 27,. 28, 29), though His people, by faith, might have their part in the enjoyment of them (verses 27, 29, 31).

Now, at last, Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood that was upon the altar, and sprinkled them upon Aaron, and his garments; and upon his sons and their garments. This could not have been done earlier in the ceremony, because the shedding of blood was needed for the sons of Aaron who are a type of the believing sinners. The oil (type of the Holy Spirit) could not be applied to anyone but Jesus until His blood was shed, but once He had gone through death, and was raised to the Father’s right hand, He could, and He did, send forth the Holy Spirit, who unites all true Christians into one body in the Lord. Being set apart to God by the precious blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, what should not all who are saved, be in their lives!

Dear young believer, do you realize what it should mean to you?

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

The Little Italian Christian

MANY boys and girls, think, and often say, “When I am grown to be a Man, or a woman, I will be a Christian.”

How very few, who refuse to become Christians when young, expecting to do so later, ever become Christians at all.

Many think it will be so much easier when they are older, that they will have no temptation to do wrong. But this is not so. You will find the temptation all the stronger, when you are older.

It is good to become Christians when young. The Bible says,

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”

If we just stop and think what the Lord has done for us, we will give Him the best part of our life. And when we become old, and look back over our life, how thankful we shall be that we had not waited to give Him our lives!

Many young people are ashamed to stand out boldly and confess Christ. But listen to the boldness and stanchness of a little Italian girl who loved her Saviour dearly.

One day she was standing by her neatly fixed fruit-stand, and while waiting for customers, was reading her Bible. An infidel came by, and said scoffingly,

“What is that you are reading?”

“That, sir,” she said, “is the Word of God.”

The infidel said, “How do you know it is the Word of God?”

The Christian girl said, “Sir, how do you know that is the sun?” pointing to the ball of fire in the sky.

The infidel, thinking she was only glad to change the subject, said: “Because I feel its rays, and it warms me.”

“Just so,” said the little Italian girl; “I know that this Book is the Word of God, because it warms my heart, and fills me with His love.”

The infidel went away baffled, but the girl was glad for a chance to witness for her Lord.

Was not this a good testimony for a young disciple of Christ? We never need to fear what we shall say to sinners when questioned, if we trust the Lord. The Bible says, if we open our mouth He will fill it; and give us what we shall answer every man.

The Bible also says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psa. 31:8.

When you once get a glimpse of Jesus, and know His peace, joy and contentment, and all that you may have in Him, the trifling things of this earth will seem but nothing; and you will see the folly of sin. The sin you at one time loved, you will hate.

Come, accept the Lord while you are young; and while mercy’s door is open, and while we are still living in the day of grace.

“To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” Heb. 3:15.

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

A School Clock and Its Lessons A Gospel Address to Young People

I AM going to speak to you tonight from the school clock on the wall. You all see it, and know the hours on its face, don’t you?

There are “twelve hours in the day” ( John 11:9), and from each of their numbers I will state a great Bible truth, which this clock dial will help you to remember.

“There is One God.” (1 Tim. 2:5). All others are idols. Is your God?

There are Two roads leading to two destinies (Matt. 7:13, 14). On which are you now traveling?

There are Three Persons in the Godhead ( 1 John 5:7); Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Can you say God is my Father; Christ is my Saviour; the Holy Spirit my Guide?

There are Four great gifts given by God to sinners, all proclaimed in the gospel: His Son ( John 3:16); Eternal life (Rom. 6:23); Salvation (Eph. 2:8); Righteousness (Rom. 5:17). Have you received them?

Five wounds were inflicted on the suffering Saviour, when He hung on the cross, dying for the ungodly. His hands, His feet, and His side were pierced (Psa. 22:16; John 19:34). Was He wounded for your transgressions?

Six things doth the Lord hate (Prov. 6:16-18). See if you have any, or all of them in your life?

Seven demons were cast out of Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). What a mercy!

Eight souls were saved in the ark (1 Peter 3:20). They are a type of all in Christ. Are you in Him?

Nine lepers were cleansed by the Lord who never returned to thank Him (Luke:11-17). It is one thing to be cleansed from sin; another to confess Christ before men, and become consecrated to His service.

Ten virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom (Matt. 25:1), but only five went in to the marriage feast. Five of them had no oil; they were but empty professors.

Eleven disciples of the Lord were real, called “the eleven” (Luke 24:9, 33); the other one was a hypocrite. See that you are not like Judas!

Twelve gates of pearl are the way of entrance to the holy city (Rev. 21:21); but nothing enters there to defile; only those who are made clean in the blood of the Lamb. Have you been cleansed by His blood?

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

JesusDied Upon the Tree

Jesus died upon the tree,

That from sin we might be free,

And for ever happy be—

Happy in His love.

He has paid the debt we owe;

If with trusting hearts we go,

He will wash us white as snow,

In His blood.

Lord, we bring our hearts to Thee,

Dying love is all our plea,

Thine for ever we would be—

Jesus, ever Thine.

Jesus smiles and bids us come;

In His loving arms there’s room,

And He’ll bear us safely home—

Home above.

When we reach that shining shore,

All our sufferings will be o’er;

Then we’ll sigh and weep no more

In that land of love;

But in robes of spotless white,

And with crowns of glory bright,

We shall range the fields of light,

Evermore.

Messages of God’s Love 2/18/1923

Chased by Wolves

IN the steppes or vast sterile plains of Northern Russia and Siberia, there is no more fearful sound heard than that of the wolves in winter time. Famished, they go in packs looking and smelling everywhere for prey. Woe to the traveler, or any living thing that falls into their power; he is devoured in a short time, and nothing is left of him but the bones. The horses scent them from afar, and do not need to feel the sting of the whip on their backs to make them gallop with all their might away from danger. Should some of the wolves get close to the sleighs, and the travelers succeed in killing one or more of the pack, the others will immediately fall upon the wounded and devour them. In this way they are arrested for awhile, and perhaps the travelers gain enough time to reach some village or town where the wolves will not dare pursue. We hope it was the case with our two men and their beautiful horses.

If you were in such danger, children, would you stop and play by the way? Would you really not care if any one told you those terrible enemies were near? Would you say, “I don’t believe it, because I don’t see them yet”? No, of course you would not; instead, you would flee fast, fast toward safety, with a prayer to God to save you.

Have you fled to the Saviour for safety from your powerful and mighty enemy, the ‘Devil, who, like a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour? Have you, in your heart, come to the Lord Jesus, and said,

“O Lord, I am a sinful, lost child, and cannot save myself; I come to Thee, who hast died for sinners, and I believe that Thou wilt save me, for Thou hast said, `Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out’ “?

Then will you be safe from your great enemy, safe in the arms of Jesus, for time and eternity.

“DELIVER ME, O LORD, FROM MINE ENEMIES: I FLEE UNTO THEE TO HIDE ME.” PSALM 143:9.

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 9

A week went by after the events of the 8th chapter, and on the eighth day (a type of the Millennium, or one thousand years of the Lord’s reign on this earth (Rev. 20:4), which has not yet begun (2 Thess. 1:7), all that this chapter tells about, happened.

Both for Aaron and the children of Israel, there were sin offerings and burnt offerings; for the Israelites also there was a peace offering and a meat (or food) offering. We can understand why, not Aaron, but the others could present a peace or thanksgiving offering. It was (in type) the people giving thanks to God for Jesus.

The sin offering and the burnt offering are at the foundation of your salvation. for they tell of the Lord Jesus making atonement. The meat offering told of His devotedness all through His life; His perfect, sinless, human nature. We have talked of these before this, just recently.

In chapter 8, verse 5, and in this chapter 9, verse 6, notice that Moses could say, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded.” It was not what some one. or somebody of the people decided what would be the best thing to do, but what God said. He had told them, through Moses, all that they were to do, and left nothing for them to decide. This is God’s way, and it ought to be good enough for God’s children to follow what He has said. But today, so many are going on with what they think is best, or what they like, in a religious way, instead of abiding in God’s way, following what His Word tells, and nothing more.

The answer to Moses’ and Aaron’s obedience, was assured in the 4th, and 6th verses, and was given in the 23rd verse, “The glory of the Lord appeared.”

In the New Testament, we may find a similar word, “

Where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:20.

It is the Lord Jesus who speaks these words, and many of God’s dear children have felt the fulfillment of them many times when gathered by the Holy Spirit’s power unto the Lord’s name.

O, my dear reader, young or old, do be satisfied with nothing less than full obedience to the written Word of God, and you will realize, by faith, the presence of the Lord.

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

How Is It With You?

A MAN once said to his friend, “I want you to write and tell all my relatives how happy I am. I cannot write myself, but I am learning, so that I may send them word with my own hands, and tell them how happy Jesus makes all those who put their trust in Him.”

His eye brightened with pleasure, and his beaming face looked as if he knew and felt what it was to love Jesus.

Would you not, dear children, like to be as happy as we are? You surely would be so, if you would only receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Saviour.

A poor man, as some would say, once said, he would rather have a hard crust with Jesus, than a rich feast without Him.

Can you say the same, dear reader? Are you always happy? What is it that makes you happy?

I know how you often feel, and I sympathize with you. You rise in the morning, and eat your early meal, go to your work; perhaps at mid-day you return home for dinner, and again you proceed with your work; and at night you lie down wearily to rest, glad that another day’s toil is over, and here your thoughts end.

You are much like a machine, only working to live, and having no higher motive for living, than to pass away the time allotted to you.

You seek no blessing on your occupation, food, or friends; you ask no guidance on your steps, because you do not see your need of such a Guide. You express no thanks for the rest you enjoy, or the health you possess, for you do not recognize God as the giver of all these blessings. Yet you can easily thank an earthly friend for a kindness shown, and manifest love and gratitude to him. Then why not acknowledge God’s kindness, and thank Him?

Do you never think, “These working days must end sometime. There will be a last day to my occupation on earth,—a day when I shall no longer call any man my master, and when I shall no longer be a servant. When shall this be? What shall I do then? My master dies, and shall not I? What will become of me then?”

Is there one heaven for the master, and another for the servant? O, no, my friend, there is a heaven, and there is a hell; there is a God, and there is a devil; there is everlasting life, and there is everlasting judgment; a life of happiness, and a life of misery.

To which are you hastening? You are fast. going to one or the other.

WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

A Boy Among The Bears

The little boy I want to tell you about lived in a very large city where, besides parks and flower gardens, they have a Zoological Garden. One day Harry was promised that he should go with his nurse to see the animals. Such a treat as that did not often fall to his lot, so no doubt he looked forward to it with no small amount of expectation and pleasure. I cannot tell you all he saw there, from the chattering monkeys to the huge hippopotamus, but, if you could have been close behind him without being seen, you would have been very much amused at all the funny remarks he made about the different animals, not to mention the host of questions to which his kind nurse did her best to reply.

But of all he saw none pleased him more than the bears’ pit. It was very amusing to see the bears one after another climb up a pole to reach a bun or biscuit fastened on to a stick. Here, however, Harry met with a misfortune. He asked nurse to lift him up to see over the railings, and while she was looking another way, he leaned too far over and fell right down among the bears. Poor Harry was not much hurt with the fall, but he was in terrible danger. The people screamed and ran about, not knowing what to do; but God preserved the helpless little boy, for the two bears, instead of hurting him in the least, seemed so startled and surprised to see him there, that they walked away to the further side.

Why Harry boy, what will you do,

Alone among the bears?

Take courage, child, and fear them not:

There’s One above who cares.

‘Twas He who closed the lions’ mouths

In ‘Daniel’s day of old;

Remember this, and let us all

In danger now be bold.

Just think for a moment of Harry as he lay at the bottom of the pit. What did he need? Did they call out to him to be a good boy and behave himself? No. Was he told to do the best he could to get out? No. It would have been folly to talk to him like that; he could do nothing; he was quite helpless. But I am thankful to say that Harry knew his own weakness, so that when one of the keepers came running with a ladder, he did not refuse to be saved entirely by another. The strong man went down into the place where Harry was. He did not stand at the top, and tell the poor boy to walk up the ladder, but he went down himself and lifted him out. Only just in time too, for the bears had recovered from their fright, and seemed ready to spring on Harry.

How like Jesus this is! He came down to the very place where we were, dead in trespasses and sins. Not to tell us to do the best we can to save ourselves; nor to tell us to make ourselves good; but He came to do all for us; to die that we might never die.

Will you, dear reader, trust your soul’s salvation to Jesus, just as Harry trusted the keeper when he was quite helpless, and rest alone in the work that Jesus has done? He says, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” Isa. 45:22.

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

Little Nellie

LITTLE Nellie was a little girl in my class at the Sunday school at H.... , a bright happy child about nine years of age, with such pretty little ways that one could not help loving her.

One Sunday afternoon when I had been telling the children of the love of Jesus in coming right down from His Father in heaven, to die that we might live, and how He lives again and leads to Himself all who put their trust in Him, she suddenly asked me, “Where is Jesus now?”

What would you say if you were asked where Jesus is, where is He now?

If you get your Bibles and turn to Mark 16:19 you will read,

“So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them (His disciples,) He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

Then turn to Acts 1:11 and you will know where Jesus is, and where He is soon coming from.

When I had told little Nellie what you have just read, it pleased her very much, and about three weeks afterwards, she said,

“I should so like to be with Jesus, because He loved me and gave Himself for me.”

There are many little girls like Nellie, we are happy to say, but there are many too, who cannot say what she said, who are not happy when we speak to them about Jesus, because they know how grieved He is at their naughty ways; they don’t like to think that soon Be is coming again, to take all who are His, all who love Him, and know their sins are washed away by His precious blood to be forever with Him, they are afraid they would be left behind.

O, dear boy or girl, if these are your thoughts, do come to Jesus now. He is bidding you come to Himself now, for only those who come now Will go with Him, then. You may come at once by faith to Him, and know Him as your own precious loving Saviour, then you will learn to love Him, to wait for Him to come, and be able to say as little Nellie did,

“I should so like to be with Jesus, because He loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

Search the Scriptures

Now, O Lord, we ask Thy blessing,

On the words which we have read:

Precious words! on which Thy children

Have by Thee been often fed—

Feed us, likewise, For we have to Jesus fled.

Should a heart before Thee. Father,

Know not Thee, or Thy kind love,

O, attract that heart to Jesus,

Never more from Him to rove— .

Gracious Father,

Let us all Thy goodness prove.

Messages of God’s Love 2/25/1923

Bible Questions for March

Answers to Bible Questions for January

1. “Wherefore come out,” etc. 2 Cor 6:17.

2. “Every man according,” etc. “ 9:7.

3. “And He said unto me,” etc. “ 12:9.

4. “In whom the god of this,” etc. “ 4:4.

5. “For ye know the grace,” etc. “ 8:9.

6. “Finally, brethren,” etc. “ 13:11.

7. “For we must all appear,” etc. “ 5:10.

Bible Questions for March

The Answers are to be found in 1 Thess. to end of Hebrews.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Wait.” “Raised.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Have a good conscience.”

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

4. Write in full the verse containing the words,, “Zealous of good works.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Crowned with glory.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Live godly.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Help in time of need.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/4/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 10

Have you thought of what a book this Bible is? It tells not only of a holy God, who must punish sin, but of His love to sinners. It tells of how much He has done for His creatures to make them happy, and happy in His presence, and tells of those creatures of His, ourselves, who so often displease Him, and so ready to do that which is a dishonor to Him.

He gave the lovely garden of Eden, and Eve listened to Satan’s life. Adam followed in her sin. This was early in Genesis.

God let Himself be known to Moses on the mountain top, and the people were making a golden calf at the base of the mountain, and calling it their god. This was in Exodus. And now what? No sooner had God shown His glory (end of chapter 9), and fire came out from His presence, and burnt up the sacrifice lying on the altar. than Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. bring on themselves the quick and unsparing judgment of God by offering strange fire. They knew what had been ordered by Him, and they chose to do something else, and God would not allow it in those young men, so near to Him in their place as priests.

Mishael and Elzaphan carried the dead bodies outside of the camp, and Aaron and his two living sons were told that they must not give in to their grief as others would. It was too serious a thing that had happened; it was open sin, and God had to punish it. The whole camp. though, should mourn over it as the judgment of God on sin in their midst.

The priests were not to go outside of the tabernacle now (verse 7), nor could they be allowed to drink wine or strong drink, which were not suitable for the presence of God. They must act soberly there, neither excited by wine nor giving way to grief, and they must know what was holy, and what was clean.

Another error on men’s part is recorded in verses 16-18, where the two living sons of Aaron were blamed. Failure was now complete, but these two were permitted to live.

Messages of God’s Love 3/4/1923

What Is Believing?

A DEAR little fellow was reading in the. Gospel of John. third chapter, and when he came to the 15th verse, he couldn’t make it out at all. He thought he understood the verse before, which says,

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up”:; but when he came to the next verse, and read on till he came to the big word “believeth”, he stopped, and said to himself,

“I must ask papa what ‘believeth. means. I am sure he can tell me, for I know he loves the Lord Jesus, and knows a great deal about Him.”

Soon the little boy’s father came home.

“Please, papa, will you tell me what `believeth’ means? It is in John, third chapter, fifteenth verse;” and quickly the little hands turned over the pages of the large type Bible, and when the verse was found, little Henry put the Bible down on his father’s knees, and looked up’ in his father’s face, as much as to say, “Now, papa.”

“Will my dear little boy turn to the Book of numbers, 21St chapter, 8th and 9th verses, and he will find the word `believeth’ explained.”

Henry read the verses, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

“Now,” said his father, “we will read the verse in John, taking out the word, `believeth, and putting in, instead, the word `looketh’. ‘Whosoever looketh on Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.”

“But, papa,” said Henry, “the people bitten by the fiery serpents, could look upon the brazen serpent lifted up upon the pole, but we cannot look upon Jesus for He is in heaven.”

“Yes, my boy, we can look upon Jesus, although He is in heavenly glory. Read the first three words in the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, and second verse, ‘Looking unto Jesus’, only we do ‘not look with our eyes. Do you not remember Henry, when I was away from home, that you said to mamma, more than once, ‘O, I just see papa. “?

“O yes, I remember very well. I was thinking so much about you, and longing to see you, and sometimes it seemed you were quite close to me, and then I said to mamma, ‘O, I just see papa.’ “

“But. Henry, you did not see me with your eyes, for I was in L”

“No, no, papa, but then I saw you with my mind, for I could not help thinking, and thinking about you, because I loved you so.”

“That’s it my child: if you believe on Jesus, you think upon Him, you look upon Him, just as you thought upon me with your mind. Jesus died on the cross, was lifted up, like the serpent in the wilderness, for any poor sinner to look upon, and all who look shall be saved.”

My dear children, do not get troubled about “What is believing?” Had the bitten Israelites looked upon their wounds, and cried ever so much, would that have saved them? No! So the Bible says, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22.

“There is life in a look at the crucified One,

There is life at this moment for thee;

Then look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved,

Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/4/1923

Her Precious Bible

THERE was in France, an old lady who was blind. She was a Christian, and her One book was the Bible, which had been printed in raised letters for the blind. This she could read with the ends of her fingers. Did you ever see a blind person read in this way? It is a slower way than with the eyes, and is likely to be hindered sometimes, as was the case with this lady.

She was poor, and had to work hard with her fingers to earn her living. Thus her finger’ ends became hard, the skin getting so thick that she could not feel the letters. At first she would pare off the thick skin that had formed on her fingers. But it grew all the thicker. So it seemed as if she must give up this great joy of reading the Word of God.

After failing to feel the letters one day, with a sorrowing heart, she took up her Bible to bid it good-bye. With the words,

“I must bid you good-bye, my dear Bible,” she put it to her lips and kissed it fervently.

To her great joy, she very clearly felt upon her lips, the shape of the raised letters, so that she could read, in that way! Her precious Bible, as if answering her kiss, gave her some word of love, and from that time she read the Scriptures with her lips, really kissing it. She could surely say they were sweeter than honey to her taste.

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

Messages of God’s Love 3/4/1923

The Book of Books

ANOTHER year is gone, and as we look back over the three hundred and sixty-five days, we may ask ourselves, “Now, how much of that time has been spent over God’s precious Word?”

Many young people today, are storing their minds with light literature, getting nothing for their souls—feeding, as it were, upon husks.

“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES; FOR IN THEM YE THINK YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY OF ME.” JOHN 5:39.

The Bible, The Book of Books, The Unchangeable Book, is that which God tells us is settled forever in heaven.

O! that our young friends might know more of its contents. It tells of a Saviour’s love for those who are lost; shows a poor sinner the way to heaven. It points to Christ in glory, and is beseeching you to believe on that Blessed One, and be saved.

A person may live to be very old; may be surrounded with books by various authors. He may gain much head knowledge; his mind absorbed in that which is only for time, but what about eternity? Is this not a sad, sad picture of the natural heart?

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:14.

Make the Book of Books, your book, dear children. Read it slowly, and prayerfully.

“The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psa. 119:130.

How important to have our hearts and minds well stored from His blessed Book. Of Timothy it was said,

“From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

The Bible tells us Jesus came

From glory bright and fair—

God’s perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb—

His mercy to declare.

The Bible tells us Jesus died

A sacrifice for sin;

The gates of heaven to open wide,

That we may enter in.

The Bible tells us Jesus rose,

And left the silent grave;

Triumphant over all His foes,—

The mighty One to save.

The Bible tells us Jesus lives

Again upon the throne:

The blessed proof the Father gives

That mercy’s work is done.

The Bible tells us all may come,

And drink at mercy’s stream;

That Jesus soon will share His home

With all who trust in Him.

Messages of God’s Love 3/4/1923

The Last Voyage

THE river Ganges in India, is regarded by the idolatrous natives as sacred. On its muddy banks all along the way may be seen numbers of people bathing, with the thought that it will benefit their souls. Mothers used to throw their babes to the crocodiles that abound in the water, thinking to pacify their gods. The British laws forbid this practice now, but it went on for years.

The sick and dying are hurried to the water’s brink by their relatives or friends, so that they may plunge in the holy water, and atone for their sins. It is not unusual to see dead bodies floating on the water, carried down the stream, while vultures and other carrion birds hover over them. The dying man in the boat will be thrown into the water, and fare the same fate.

These poor ignorant people know, dimly perhaps, that they are sinful and that they should prepare themselves, in some way or other, for the life after this. Their minds are darkened for they know not God, neither His holiness, nor His love. They seek to DO something that will dispose God in their favor. What can they do? What can anyone do to escape the wrath of a holy, righteous God whom they have sinned against?

The Bible tells us that the GOOD THINGS we do, are as filthy rags in His sight; they come from bad hearts that can produce nothing but sin. But if God is righteous, and cannot look upon sin, He also is love. How fully He proved what love there is in His heart, when, to save sinners from the just punishment of their evil deeds, He sent His own, His well-loved Son, the Lord Jesus to die in their stead.

The poor Hindoos are beginning to hear of Jesus through the Christian missionaries who have gone to tell them of salvation, full and free, to everyone who puts his or her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and many have taken Him as their Saviour.

“WHAT SHALL I RENDER UNTO THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS TOWARD ME? I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SALVATION, AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.” PSA. 116:12,13.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 11:1-8

God took such an interest in these people who had promised to obey Him in everything, that He decided for them the food they should eat. Unquestionably, it was the best suited to them, the healthiest food, but there was a deeper reason than that.

In the creatures (verses 3-8) we can see that God was thinking of this, that His children must not only lead blameless lives—that which is seen by others—but the heart and conscience, the inner life which we do not see in one another, must be suitable to God. Inwardly and outwardly, seen by God, and seen by man, our lives, if we are saved, must be right.

With regard to these animals, two things were necessary to make them clean. “Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that shall ye eat.” (Verse 3).

All other animals that were not like this, that the people were not to eat. A cow was called a clean animal, because the hoof of its foot has a division in it, which enables it to walk firmly on the ground; and because it chews the cud—that is, chews its food a second time. When a cow gets a good breakfast, it calmly lies down to chew the cud, as it is called.

And what is it for us to “chew the cud”? We should read the Word of God, carefully and prayerfully, meditate upon it—feed our souls upon it, and, as it were, digest it. Thus it will have its effect upon our hearts and consciences, by the Spirit of God, and we shall manifest in our ways and walk that which is pleasing to the Lord.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate_ day and night.” Psa. 1:1, 2.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

A Look for Salvation

Some friends and myself were having some happy children’s meetings on the beach, and we were telling the boys and girls of a Saviour who has died for our sins, and has risen again: of the One who is able to save all who trust in Him: of Him who has done all the work which was needed to put away our guilt: of Him who now lives in heaven, and who can save us from all our sins, and give us power to live for Himself. We sought to show them, that all this is received by faith, faith which looks away from self to Christ, and which relies on Him alone.

One afternoon we had a simple illustration of this.

A fellow-worker and myself were walking along the parade, when we noticed a poor little boy in the sea at the foot of the sea-wall. He had slipped into the water, which was dashing against the stones, and he was unable to save himself. I shall never forget his look at us as we came near. He was drowning and was hopeless. The waves washed him to and fro, but even when near the wall, he could not get up its slippery surface. He looked with such earliest, longing eyes. He wanted us to save him from drowning.

He did not call out, perhaps, he was too far gone for that. No! he simply looked, he looked to us to save him. Without a moment’s delay we answered his look. My friend held one end of an umbrella, and I, holding on to the other end, crept down the seaweed-covered slope until I could reach the boy, and pull him up out of the waves.

He did—what? He looked.

We did—what? We saved.

He was past all hope of self-salvation, and looked right away to others who might be able to save him.

Have you done this yet, dear children, with regard to your soul’s salvation? You are a sinner, perishing. You are unable to put away your sins. You are unable to save yourself. You are unable to make yourself fit for God’s presence, or fit for heaven. You are unable to break the power of Satan who holds you as his slave. What can you do? You can look to One who is able to save you. He it is who calls us, saying,

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22.

What am Ito do? “Look.” To whom am I to look? To Christ in heaven, who once died upon the cross.

What am I to look for? Salvation from judgment.

Who may look to Him? “All the ends of the earth.” (Everyone).

Has He power to save me? “I am God,” He says, and all power is His.

Is there any other saviour to look to? “There is none else.” If you miss salvation through Christ, you will miss it altogether.

When should I look to Him? Now, for only “now” is really yours.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

Lessons in a Hospital

DID you ever visit a hospital, my dear friends? It might be well for you to go, at least, once, for there are many valuable lessons to be learned there—lessons of thankfulness, when you see so many sick around you, for the measure of health and strength you enjoy. Also, lessons of compassion and sympathy, and prayer for the afflicted.

If you are still unsaved—lessons of how nice it would be for you to accept Jesus as your Saviour, and be prepared for eternity in the time of youth and health— lessons of how terrible a death bed is to those who have never confessed Christ.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

Daddy! Daddy! My Daddy!

MOST of my dear young readers have often heard and read the , Parable of the Prodigal Son as spoken by our Lord Jesus in the 15th chapter of Luke, verses 11-24.

The other day while passing through one of the largest offices in Detroit, this precious parable was brought to my mind in a most simple, yet striking manner. The clicking of the many typewriters, and adding machines was going on as usual. Salesmen, buyers, clerks and customers were engaged. in conversation of varying intensity. Yet, to one accustomed to a scene like this day after day, there was nothing to attract attention, as each one was intent only upon business which he had on hand. But suddenly the scene is changed. A shrill cry rings out, piercing above every thing else, and commanding the instant attention of every one.

“Daddy! Daddy!” the cry rang out. Glancing towards the sound, we saw a little boy of some 3 or 4 years of age, who evidently had wandered from his father, attracted by a display of children. automobiles, wagons, etc.; it was a display more than enough to delight the heart of any boy, but having been satisfied with these pretty, and attractive objects, all at once it began to dawn upon his little mind that he was alone, alone in the midst of all these pleasure-giving toys! Yes, for no longer does he wander from car to car; no longer does he gaze with pleasure upon the different colors, makes, etc.. for they no longer satisfy him. And as he realizes this fact, the cry rings out.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Only this time he was’ more insistent, for the little fellow could not see his father, who on hearing the first cry, had commenced to move towards his son. who was hidden by a column. There were many kindly hearts arrested in the midst of their business, who could have liked to pick up and comfort the little one, but they could not: the cry was not for them. ‘Tis a child crying for its father. But look, now he realizes, indeed that he is lost—he has lost his daddy. Again he runs and cries,

“Daddy! Daddy! My Daddy.”

Now his father runs to him, and before the little one knows it, he is caught up, and as he sinks in those strong arms, he sobs out. “Daddy.”

What perfect rest and contentment there was in that sob. There was nothing of pleasure now for him in the surroundings, for he is resting in the arms of his father.

So, you, too, my dear young reader, are lost. You are not too young to feel your need of a Saviour.

The Prodigal Son, of Luke 15, had wandered away from his father. 0, he had such a good time; he had something to spend, and he spent all he had. Then he was in need, which awakened thoughts of home and father, which only served to increase his felt need.

‘Twas the same old story of love, love drawing the son’s heart back to his father. Now he starts out, but his father sees him a great way off, and before he reaches home, he is in his father’s arms, and before he realizes it, he has received the kiss, is clothed, shoes upon his feet, and the ring upon his hand.

Do any of my readers feel their need of the kiss, clothing, shoes, and the ring—clothing suitable for eternity? Then turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Pet. 2:24.

Yes, every hindrance has been removed, the Father is just waiting for you to come, now. O, He is not only waiting, but He is watching, for “He saw him a great way off.” (Verse 20). The moment you turn to Him, you will find Him right by your side to welcome you into His loving arms.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

The Crown of Glory

I WAS walking one day with a little girl whom I knew to be a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who, both by her good and holy life, as well as by the words of her lips, gave clear evidence that she had been “born again;” and, by way of trying where her thoughts really dwelt, I said to her “Would von not look nice if a crown were placed on your brow?”

Well, many young people would like to be. Kings or Queens and have many servants beneath them, and many strong soldiers around them, and never know what it is to be poor and friendless.

Now, the little girl to whom I spoke was poor. Her parents had only enough to keep them from day to day, and had to work hard for their bread. And what do you think she said to me?

“Ah! yes, if I had the crown of glory” She thought she would look nice if that crown sparkled on her brow! And truly she would! But she had no desire of having an earthly crown. She loved Jesus, and she knew that Jesus wore no crown on earth but one of thorns, and she did not wish to be unlike Him.

Earthly glory is not the portion of those who follow Jesus. He was crucified, and His cross is to them the mould of their ways. She felt this, and her hop-es were set on heavenly glory alone. She shall not be disappointed.

Messages of God’s Love 3/11/1923

The Gleaners

IN our country, where God has provided such abundance, and variety of foods, we know very little of gleaners. Our great wheat fields are mown in summer time, the wheat tied in great bundles; then it is thrashed right in the fields, and taken to the granaries. The many ears left on the ground are eaten by the fowls or go to waste. But not so in eastern countries which are thickly inhabited. When the wheat has been cut and gathered in, the poor send their children, or go themselves, to pick up every ear of wheat they can find left behind. It will be carefully rubbed between the hands, the grain used for food during the winter months, and the straw to fill their mattresses for their beds.

We read in God’s Word that He forbade His people, the Israelites, when they should come into their land, to go after the reapers in the fields to gather what might have been left behind, but on the contrary, they were to leave for the poor the corners of the fields; also in the vineyards, they were not to gather all the grapes, but leave some for those who had none. God had given them the land, and all its riches, and He wanted His people to remember it, and to provide for those who had less. So should we, for whom God has done so much. Everything we receive is from His loving hand, and He wants us to show our appreciation by sharing with others.

“GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.” 2 Cor. 9:7.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Two Transgressors

When the Lord was crucified,

Two transgressors with Him died!

One, with vile, blaspheming tongue,

Scoffed at Jesus as He hung,

But the other, touched by, grace.

Saw the danger of his case;

Faith received to own the Lord.

Whom the scribes and priests abhorred.

“Lord”, he cried, “remember, me,

When Thy kingdom here shall be!”

“Today with Me,” the Lord replies.

“Thou shalt be in paradise.”

This was wondrous grace, indeed,

Grace vouchsafed. in time of need;

Blest are they who Jesus prove;

For His heart is full of love.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 11:9-47

Next come the creatures of the sea, the rivers, and the lakes (verses 9-12). They must have both fins and scales, if to be eaten as food. Here. two other principals are told of—the power to go on through what stands in the way of the Christian—the world— and to resist the world. to keep it out of his life.

Verses 13-23 name the birds and flying creeping things that could not, or could be, eaten. Those that ate flesh, or ate anything and everything, were forbidden. In verses 29-31, 41 and 42, are the creeping things that could not be eaten. In all these details we can see the wisdom and goodness of God; that which was good for food He permitted; that which was not, He rejected.

Then we learn from verses 24-28 that what was unfit for food, was not even to be touched—the Christian must not even associate with those whose lives are not pleasing to God. Death did not even alter the case, so earnestly would God impress upon His people, that they must be clean of everything that had to do with sin. There were two exceptions (verses 36, 37), both of .which tell us, in type, of the Holy Spirit; He could not be overcome 1w evil as we may.

If these children of Israel who were God’s people. were so carefully taught about their ways, their food, their lives. how much should not we, my reader, if we are really God’s children, through faith in Christ. take all this to heart, and seek strength from Him to make our lives pleasing to Him.

“Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.” Psa. 25:4.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Are You Forgiven?

THERE are many positive words which Jesus, the Son of God spoke when on earth. which give rest to any who are troubled about their sins and where they are going to spend their eternity.

When Jesus was here on earth, everyone who had a need and came to Him. had it met. Simple faith in Him drew from Him His pardoning power.

He is still the same, still as able to pardon, and He loves to do so. In order to let people know this, He has sent the Holy Spirit down to this earth to tell them how willing and able He is to forgive sins and clear them from all judgment.

I wonder whether my young reader is quite sure he, or she, is forgiven? If not, do you believe you are sinful, that you are not “good,” according to the scripture in Romans 3:10? Then, do you believe that Jesus can pardon all those sins that trouble you? Well, there are three beautiful assuring texts which Jesus Himself spoke while on earth, and which thousands have rested their souls upon for blessing.

1. “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.

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

3. “I give unto My sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28.

Now, if you believe you are sinful, and that Jesus can pardon you, believe also His words, and you will have the joy that nothing else can give. As you learn of His love to you, you will love Him more, and tell others of what He has done for you.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Whiter Than Snow

CAN you tell me of anything that is whiter than snow?” inquired one who was addressing a Sunday school class.

“The soul that has been washed in the blood of Jesus,” was the very satisfactory answer given by a little girl.

Never did little lips speak a truer word than that, and happy the little heart that realizes its full meaning. God’s word is the authority for such a statement, and He says,

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

David felt he needed such a washing as that, and he says to God,

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

The apostle John tells us the “Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

All believers in the Lord Jesus can sing, “Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Rev. 1:5.

The redeemed are said to be in heaven, because they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 8:14). And there they sing a new song to the Lamb, “Thou art worthy, for Thou vast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.” Rev. 5:9.

Little reader, is your soul “whiter than snow?” Are your robes washed, and “made white in the blood of the Lamb?” and are you looking forward to the singing of that “new song?” If not, what will become of you?

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

God's Care for Little Children

GOD cares for all things that He has made. He feeds the birds and takes care of them. How much more then will He take care of children, and especially of little children, who can take no care of themselves.

I want to tell you about a little child that was lost, , and when no one knew where it was, God took care of it, and caused it to be fed by a dog.

It happened in this way. A shepherd went one day on his rounds to look after his sheep, and on this occasion he had taken his little child with him, which he used to do sometimes when it was fine.

Now in one part he had to climb up a dangerous place, and he thought it best to leave his little child at the bottom. He told it to be sure not to move until he returned.

But before the shepherd could get back again to his child, a thick mist fell upon the hills and hid everything from view. In getting back, too, he lost his way and could not find his child. He searched and called, but there was no answer; after spending a good deal of time in this way. the poor man had to go home without his little one.

The next morning the shepherd and some of his neighbors went to the hills and made careful search after the lost one; but though they looked about until it was dark, the little child could not be found. and again the distressed father had to go home without it.

But on reaching home he was told that his dog—whom we will call Trusty, and who had also been missing—had returned home, but on receiving a slice of cake, he had at once started off again as fast as he could.

The next day search was again made for the child, in the hope of finding it— dead, if not alive; but again they had to return at night without any tidings of the lost child.

On reaching home the shepherd was told that the dog had been home again, and on receiving his cake had again started off as fast as he could run.

The shepherd determined to wait at home the next day to see if his dog came again. Sure enough Trusty came, and started off again with his cake, followed now by the shepherd. The dog ran along, and his master after him, until Trusty went down a dangerous place and disappeared.

The shepherd followed with care, and was delighted to find his child, safe and sound, in a cave, eating some of the cake that Trusty had brought. How the child got to the cave was never discovered; but the faithful Trusty had brought it food every day, and, as is supposed, curled himself round it at night to keep it warm.

Thus God took care of this little child who was only about three years old, and by means of this good dog kept it from starving until it was found by its father.

This world is full of dangers, and any reader of this may be some day in as great a danger as this little child. If so, look up to God and ask Him to take care of you. He takes care of the sparrows, and a little child is better than a sparrow. Remember that GOD CARES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.

“I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 18:10.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Do You Love Jesus?

O you love Jesus?” I said to a dear little girl, five years of age.

“O yes!” she replied brightly.

“What makes you love Him?”

“‘Cos He loved me, and died for me on the cross.”

What a sweet, yet simple answer! I wonder how many of my little readers really loves Jesus. Have you come to Him to receive pardon? If not, O come to Him now, for He is waiting to receive you; do not put it off any longer, or think that you will be a Christian when you grow older, for the Lord Jesus may come to-day; or if He tarry, you may be called to die. Think of it now, dear little reader, before it be too late; take God at His word, and accept Christ as your own Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

JesusCalls to You

Jesus calls to you, dear 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—

“For My love to ruined sinners

To this wretched world I came,

Here I died to make atonement,

Justice now no more can claim.

“Children now in Me believing

Everlasting life receive:

Come, in faith, to Me for pardon—

I have died that thou may’st live.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/18/1923

Return of the Fishing Fleet

GREAT joy was given on the morning after a storm, when a fishing fleet was safely landed on a Holland shore, and a mother received her dear boy safe and sound from, his first trip to sea. He too was glad to be once more in his mother’s embrace, and to find all the dear friends so interested in him, and welcoming him home.

What a contrast it would have been, had the boats been lost at sea. Every heart would have been filled with sorrow for the loss of their loved ones.

God it is who has planted this affection in the human heart, and one rejoices to see it.

We can also understand what fear filled the hearts of those who were at sea; they could not tell what moment they would be landed into eternity. Death was right before them.

Have you thought, dear reader, that we do not know what a day will bring forth; just another step, as it were, and we will be in eternity, and in a condition where no change can take place. 0, dear reader, young or old, are you ready to go? Are you saved? If you do not have Christ as your Saviour, you will be lost forever. Do not wait till you are in seeming danger of death. This moment is your opportunity; the next moment may be too late.

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

Messages of God’s Love 3/25/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 12

This chapter is one for us to think seriously about, though it has only eight verses. It shows us that we are born sinners; not, as some would have us believe, that we only become sinners through being in bad company.

Here we learn that the little, helpless, new born babies need the shedding of blood, for it is true of them, as of us older ones, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Heb. 9:22.

Sweet and innocent looking little things, but they ate sinners, because their parents are sinners by nature, and so it has always been since Adam and Eve went out of the garden of Eden, and their first baby, Cain, was born.

If you have believed God’s message about His Son, you are “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19. The question is, Have you believed God’s message.

Another lesson in this chapter is that God does not forget the past, for, as it seems, the reason why the mother was not to come into the holy place of the tabernacle for 80 days when a girl baby was born, (yet she was shut out only 40 days, if it was a boy baby) is, that Eve was the first to sin. (1 Tim, 2:14).

Satan would have us think that what happened a long time ago, doesn’t matter, but in Eccles. 3:15 we read,

“God requireth that which is past.” Yes, He does! Have you ever thought of this seriously?

When the parents of the new baby were too poor to bring the lamb required, (verse 6) they might bring to the priest. for a burnt offering, a turtle-dove, or young pigeon. (Luke 2:22,24).

It was into a poor man’s home that the Lord Jesus was born, when He came down into this world to go through it as a man, and die for our sins. I am glad He did, are you?

Messages of God’s Love 3/25/1923

Behold, Now is the Accepted Time

ONE Sunday evening a young man called on a preacher of the Gospel and began with the words: “I have come in answer to the invitation, you generally give to your listeners at the close of your addresses, to visit you, if anyone wishes to hear more about such matters.”

“I am very pleased to meet you,” was the friendly answer. “Please he seated.”

“I really don’t know,” continued the young man, “what to say to you. The one thought in my mind that has driven me to you is, that I have neglected religion long enough. I have therefore decided to put it off no longer.”

“A good resolution,” answered the preacher, “for God’s Word says: ‘Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation!’ “

“I don’t think, that this text is suitable to me; because——-.”

“It is just suitable to your case.”

“I wanted to say,” interrupted the young man, “that I am not yet advanced enough to have this text applied to me.”

“But you told me that you had decided not to put it off any longer; so I answered: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ .”

“Certainly, but I must not set about it in too great haste.”

“You just must hasten, my friend! The angels commanded Lot to hasten, and as quickly as possible to flee from Sodom; and as judgment once broke loose over Sodom, so will God’s judgment fall on this world someday. Therefore God commands all men to repent, and you are one of those to whom this command applies.”

“But I don’t think that I am in a proper condition to become a Christian.”

“You think then,” continued the preacher, “that disobeying God’s Word will bring you into a better condition?”

“Well, not exactly, but I am not deeply enough convinced of my sins. I know that I’m a sinner, and that I ought to be otherwise, and I really am quite decided to turn to God.”

“Now then, do it! ‘Behold, now is the accepted time.’ “

“But my heart is still so hard and indifferent. I feel even a dislike to God, such as I have never felt before.”

“Repent then, and confess to God the indifference and enmity of your heart, and do it today!”

The youth looked thoughtfully before him for a moment, then said:

“I would willingly go to God, but I am not yet prepared for it.”

“Are you then more prepared today than you were last Sunday?”

“No, I am not an inch further, I even think that I am much less prepared than I was at the moment I decided to become a Christian.”

“In any case you have not come nearer to God,” replied the preacher; “and the reason is, that you do not believe that now is the accepted time.”

“I do believe it, for the Bible says it; but I do not feel my sins deeply enough,” answered the youth with a sigh.

“Then is it not yet the accepted time?”

“I have not faith enough.”

“Then it is not yet the day of salvation?”

“But I—I—I am not yet enough prepared.”

“Then God has made a mistake, for He said: ‘Now is the accepted time.’ “

The young man jumped up, and cried out anxiously: “What must I do then?”

“Acknowledge your sins to God, and believe on the Saviour that He has sent to save such as you—an enemy, hateful, and careless sinner, and don’t wait any longer. Come to Him, to-day! To-day is the day of salvation; today is God’s time, not to-morrow. You told me that you had decided not to put it off any longer, and you doubtless believed that you were in earnest. However, your whole conduct proves that you will not come to Jesus to-day, but you will wait for a more convenient season. But let me warn you, dear friend! a more convenient season never comes; now is the accepted time.”

“It is cruel of you to drive me into a corner like this.”

“If you were lying on a sick-bed,” replied the preacher, “and if you were near death, you would not speak so. On the contrary, you would hear, with joy, that God’s Word says: ‘Behold, now is the accepted time.’ If God demanded a time of preparation; say, a week, or a month, you would have reason to be alarmed. It is grace, undeserved grace, when He says to you: ‘Behold, now, is the day of salvation.’ For you know not, if you will be alive to-morrow.” For a long time the young man stared straight before him. At last he said with a troubled voice:

“Will you pray with me?”

The preacher granted this request with joy, and when the young man took leave of him, he repeated very earnestly:

“Behold, now is the accepted time.”

A week passed. Sunday evening the young man knocked again at the preacher’s door, and entered; but his face wore quite another expression. With a friendly smile he took the preacher’s hand, and said:

“Now, I am, happy. I believe in Christ and am reconciled to God. Last Sunday I was dissatisfied with you. I though it cruel of you to keep hammering me always with the same text. But what a good thing that you did so! Through God’s grace, it has been the means of saving me. I could not forget that text. It went everywhere with me. Wherever I went or stood, I heard in my ears: ‘Now is the accepted time!’ It went on so for three days. I tried to forget the words, and to think of something else, but it was impossible. I took the Bible in my hand; but wherever I read. that wonderful text seemed to cover the rest in large letters. I didn’t know what to do. Finally I began to ask myself why it was that these words troubled me so. And what was the conclusions that I came to? I discovered that I was unwilling to be saved by the Lord Jesus. I had thought that my decision not to put it off any longer, was serious; but God taught me otherwise. I desired, just as you said, to wait for a more convenient season. I desired to enjoy the world a little longer. I did not want to separate from my worldly acquaintances; on the other hand I wished to do something, to pray more, to read more in the Word of God, in a word, to become religious; but I did not want to go to the Lord Jesus as a lost sinner. 0, God be praised that He did not abandon me! His light entered my soul, and I hastened to Jesus with all my sins, with my enmity and indifference, and—I found rest and peace. I had not wanted grace; but how glad I was when I found that God’s grace to me, the rebel sinner, had done everything! To Him be praise and thanksgiving for ever and ever!”

My young friends, how is it with you? I know that many of you have often uttered the wish to be converted. But to this day it has remained only a wish. Is that not a proof that you did not want to come to the Lord Jesus yet, that you were not really in earnest? O, think what it means, with seeing eyes and hearing ears, to reject God’s salvation! How terrible the end must be, if you continue like this! O, do as this young man did, and flee to the Lord Jesus! Let this little paper remind you, that an eternal salvation is prepared for you; that God’s heart full of love is waiting for you, and that Jesus, the good Shepherd, seeks you, to take you as one of His lambs, home to the Father’s house. Let it remind you, that now is the accepted time. That now is the day of salvation. For some years you have heard of the love of the Lord Jesus, but have you used your time in laying up treasure in heaven?

O, be warned! Death is prowling in your foot-steps, and — the Lord is at hand! He will soon come to take His own to Himself, to the Father’s house above. Who knows if another number of this little paper will ever be printed!

O, may God in His grace, use this message to the salvation of your precious soul!

Messages of God’s Love 3/25/1923

The Love of a Mother

A GENTLEMAN, when visiting in a hospital, sat down beside the bed of a little girl. Wishing to gain her confidence, he said,

“My child, do you love your mother?” With a very serious look, she replied,

“Yes, I do indeed.”

“But why do you answer so gravely; what is it that you are thinking about, my dear?” Then the little girl replied with great earnestness,

“Because, I can never love my mother, anything as she loves me.”

The dear child loved her mother because her mother first loved her, and that fond mother’s love was as a circle in which the child’s love dwelt.

Dear young readers, we can never love Jesus as He loves us. His is perfect and everlasting love. He died to save us; He lives to bless us. Can you say of Him, what the little girl said of her mother? “Yes, I love Him, indeed; but I can never love Him in any way as He loves me.”

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John. 4:19.

Messages of God’s Love 3/25/1923

Bible Questions for April

Answers to Bible Questions for February

1. “Which He wrought in,” etc. Eph. 1:20.

2. “I am crucified,” etc. Gal. 2:20.

3. “Let no corrupt,” etc. Eph. 4:29.

4. “But my God shall,” etc. Phil. 4:19.

5. “For by grace are ye,” etc. Eph. 2:8.

6. “And whatsoever ye do,” etc. Col. 3:23.

7. “For we are all the,” etc. Gal. 3:26.

Bible Questions for April

The Answers are to be found in James, to end of Jude

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Them that do evil.”

2. Write in full the terse containing the words, “It knew Him not.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Exceeding joy.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Body without the spirit.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The pleasures of sin.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Receive him not.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Deliver the godly.”‘

Messages of God’s Love 4/1/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 13

This chapter is all about the dreadful disease called leprosy. Some folks, of late years, think they have found a cure for it, but it doesn’t seem as though they were very sure about it. It was the worst sickness that anyone could have in “those hot Eastern countries, and no one ever was cured by the doctors they had, nor do I think that anyone who really had a bad case of leprosy, ever has been cured by any doctor.

So we can understand why God chose leprosy when He wanted to tell us how bad a disease sin is; how hateful to Him, and to those who know what it is, and have been freed from it, and how incurable, except we go to the Great Physician.

Sin is something that is “deeper than the skin” (verse 3), and though the poor man who had the disease might not think he had it; or might try to believe that it was not really leprosy, he was not the judge; he had to be brought before the priest (who represented God), and the priest would say whether the man was a leper or not. If he was not sure, the man was shut up for a week, or even for two weeks until it was plain to the priest what the disease was.

If God had left it to us to decide whether we were sinners or not, most of us would have decided that we were not very bad sinners, but God, has not left the matter for us to decide. His sentence is, “All have sinned.” Rom. 3:23.

If you will open your Bibles at Isaiah, first chapter, and read it through, you will see in verses 5 and 6 how He speaks about sinners as He sees them.

The many details in this chapter let us know too, that nothing that looked like leprosy, however small it might be at the first, was passed by. Nothing that looks like sin in a Christian does God pass by; and if we belong to the Lord, we ought to he very careful about our own ways, and who we keep company with. The first Psalm begins with,

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of shiners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

Verses 12 and 13 seem different, but are really not. If leprosy covered all the skin, from head to foot, wherever the priest looked, it meant that the disease was all out—it was not working any more. So it is, when a sinner has owned to God all that has been at work in him—sin against God—he is ,forgiven. Has my reader been forgiven? (Luke 7:47, 48, 50).

Messages of God’s Love 4/1/1923

Deliverance from the Paw of the Lion

HAVE you ever thought; dear children, that you are living in the last clays? “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, un- thankful, unholy; lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3:1-4. Do we not see all this in the world today? And this element, we are sorry to say, is creeping in among the children of Christian parents.

Beware, dear boys and girls! All these marks of the closing days, are of Satan. In Eph. 2:2, God tells us, he is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” And in 1 Peter 5:8, we get the same person, “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

He is an enemy of boys and girls, leading them on little by little, hindering them from listening to God’s Word, and telling them there is plenty of time to think about eternal things, but, my dear friends, resist the devil, turn away from him, do not listen to him. His desire is to have you under his power now, and to have you in hell with him for eternity. A wild and careless young man enlisted as a soldier. After a time he was ordered off to Africa with his regiment, and while there, had the following strange experience:

One afternoon, as a few of the soldiers were going through a forest. W. got separated from his companions, and could not succeed in his efforts to find them. On and on he wandered, vainly trying to get out of the forest, but every step seemed to entangle him more and more in its mazes.

At last, the day began to wear away, and the shadows crept on the scene. Poor W. was getting very tired and hungry, and he wished himself safely among his comrades at the camp. But still he toiled on, hoping against hope, that he might escape from his dangerous position. Until, at length, the dark night came on, and with it the cries of wild beasts seeking their prey. Soon the soldier was quite exhausted, and feeling unable to walk any farther, crept into a cave, and laid down to rest.

Poor W. did not sleep peacefully in his strange bed-room. No, he had no sleep that night, for before long he was startled by a roar, and soon afterwards another and another. Looking out of the entrance of the cave, he saw by the moonlight an immense lion coming towards him, and then the truth flashed into his mind that he was resting in a lion’s bed-room. He pretended to be asleep, as this was the only chance of the wild beast sparing him. So he laid perfectly still, with his eyes closed, and presently, with a terrific roar, the lion bounded in. W. felt his hot breath upon his face, and as the lion licked him, he , feared it was preparatory to tearing him to pieces.

Then W. cried to God in real earnest, and begged that he might be delivered from the power of the lion, and promised that if his life was spared, he would become a Christian, return to his home-land, and preach the gospel. God heard the cry of the poor soldier, and shut the lion’s mouth. He quietly laid down by the side of the man, having probably eaten a heavy supper, and soon went off to sleep. But before doing so, he put his paw on W’s. chest, and gripped his shoulder with his claws.

O, what a time of suspense and agony this was for the soldier. And he did plead with all his heart to God, that he might get away from the powerful beast. At last, when the lion appeared to be sleeping very soundly; W. managed to extricate one arm, and gently unlock the claws from their grip, his heart beating very fast. Would the movement wake the monster? But, no! his strange bed-fellow did not wake, so he slowly tried to move the heavy paw from his chest, and, at last, laid it down on the ground. The next thing was to creep out of the cave without making the slightest noise, and this God enabled him to do, and then to make his escape. God used this terrible adventure to show W. that he was a lost sinner, and under the power of the roaring lion, the devil, a more terrible monster, by far, than the sleeping lion in the cave.

He returned to his home-land, told his experience to a few Christians, asked them to pray to God that he might have his sins forgiven. You may imagine what joy this gave his Christian friends, and what earnest prayers followed. A few gathered round him, and told him, the old, old story of the Saviour’s love: that He came from heaven to seek and to save the lost: that He went to the cross, suffered, bled, and died, that he might have all his sins washed away in Jesus’ precious blood.

By faith, dear W. accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and could ,say from his heart,

“THESON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” Gal. 2:20 ‘

Dear, unsaved children, you, too, are under the power of the lion, the devil. Flee from him; look unto the crucified One, and be saved.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

“The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

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

Messages of God’s Love 4/1/1923

Too Late

I WAS standing one day watching the passengers going on board a steamer; some came early, some late. At last the signal whistle sounded, the bridge was taken in, and off the steamer started. Just as she moved away, a gentleman ran up, panting for breath. He could nearly touch the steamer with his outstretched hand, but he was too late, though only by a minute!

So it is with many today; they mean to. be Christians someday, and yet they put off accepting Christ as their Saviour, until they , are lost. “Almost persuaded,” but lost. As the Spanish proverb has it, they live on the road of By and By, which leads to the town of Never.

Dear children, God says,

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. He tells you that you are an object of His love, as expressed in that beautiful verse, John 3:16. Come to Jesus, and have that rest which He alone can give. (Matt. 11:28).

Do not put off your salvation till it is too late, till the door of mercy shall be shut. If you do, then God will have to say to you,

“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 council, and would none of My reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” Prov. 1:24-26.

Beloved children, we hope better things of you, and that you will not neglect this great salvation, but will receive the gift of God, which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Messages of God’s Love 4/1/1923

Children Dear Have Precious Souls

Children dear, have precious souls,

Souls for which the Saviour died—

Souls for which the Prince of Life

Was on Calvary crucified.

How it tells the matchless love

Of the blessed Son of God,

Thus to come from heaven to bear

All our sin’s tremendous load.

Had He not upon the cross

Borne the wrath that sin deserved,

Never had our happy ears

That sweet word “salvation” heard,

Now we hear the joyful sound

Of salvation, full and free;

Faith in Jesus makes it ours,

Now and through eternity.

Messages of God’s Love 4/1/1923

At Play

LAURA and Bessie, as I will call two little friends of mine, love to play at housekeeping, and to get long skirts on, and their mother’s aprons, and evidently think it would be so good to be grown up, and have living babies on their lap, instead of dolls.

It is a peculiar thing, that all through this life, there is a tendency to think that if we were only in other circumstances, how much better it would be than the ones in which we are at present.

The Lord desires for those who know Him as their Lord and Saviour, to be content with such things as they have, and seek, in all things, to live for Him, and be to His praise and glory.

To complain about our circumstances, is worse still, for when we do, we forget that the Lord is ordering all our steps, for the Scripture says,

“As for God, His way is perfect.” Psa. 18:30.

He is over all things, and permits even our failures, because He sees He can use them to teach us what He wants us to learn, and then He has blessing for us at the end.

May each of you who know the Lord Jesus your Saviour, learn what it is to walk in the Lord’s path, and you will be pleasing to Him, and you will not be discontented, or complain about your circumstances. Now I want you to learn this verse,

“BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE.” Heb. 13:5

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 14:1-8

The 13th chapter told how the priest could decide if a sick person had leprosy, and if he had, what should be done with him—he must be shut out of the camp, his clothes should be torn, and his head bare; with a covering on his upper lip, he was to cry, “Unclean, unclean.”

Not a word is said about a cure for the disease, but the 14th chapter goes right on to tell about a man who had been cured. As we have said, leprosy is a type, or picture, of sin, and there is no cure for sin, except through God’s power. The priest must go outside of the camp of Israel to meet the leper. Did not Jesus come from heaven to meet us, and do everything for us sinners?

We will think of this leper who has been healed; then as a sinner who has been converted. Sin is not any more the thing that he lives In. As Rom. 6:11 puts it, he is to reckon himself to be “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” But that is not the end of the story—it is only its beginning.

Two birds, alive and clean, and cedar wood and scarlet and hyssop are brought. Let us see what is done with them. The priest commands that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. It is that old, old story in God’s Word about the shedding of blood, for this is a type of Jesus, God’s Lamb. The “earthen vessel” tells of the Lord Jesus being really man. and the “running water” is to show that His death was connected, as was His life, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

But the other bird, is alive; what shall be done with it? There was a type needed of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and the living bird is a type of that. It was to be set free, but first it must be dipped in the blood of the dead bird, to link together the living and the dead, as Jesus who was dead, and lives again.

But together with the living bird, the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop are all dipped in the blood. What does that mean? Perhaps a glance at 1 Kings 4:33 will help. The cedar was the tallest and grandest of trees; and the hyssop was almost a common weed. These and the scarlet are to tell us, when dipped in the blood of the dead bird, of what this world is to be to a Christian—all changed for him by Jesus’ death. Everything is stained, so to speak, with the blood of the rejected Jesus, for the world will not have Him.

Now the man has to be sprinkled seven times with the blood; the priest can say that he is clean, and the living bird is let loose. Do you see that all that is done is connected with the blood?

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleaneth us from all sin,” and the believer is “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.” The cured leper, and the saved sinner, do nothing to help themselves; God (or the priest who here takes the place of God in the type) does everything. Next, the man washes his clothes, shaves off all his hair and washes himself in water. He has been pronounced clean already, on the authority of God’s Word, and now he can do something for himself; he changes his ways, he gives up bad companions, we will say. He makes a clean, new start, as he goes now into the camp; he is taken in as one who has to do with God.

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

The Bible Tests You

A TOURIST, with an open guide-book in his hand, was passing through the famous Uffizi Gallery of Art at Florence. Turning from his contemplation of the celebrated pictures to the curator, he asked:

“Are these your masterpieces? I certainly do not see much in them myself.”

“Sir,” replied the curator, “these pictures are not on their trial; it is the visitors who are on their trial”

Are there not many who regard the holy Scriptures in much the same way in which this ignorant tourist viewed the celebrated paintings at Florence? They have eyes, but they do not discern the beauties that lie sparkling like gems upon the- sacred pages. They have ears, but they do not hear the voice that calls to them in tones of sweetness in the gospel story. They have hearts, but they remain strangely unmoved by the wonders of redeeming love therein set forth.

In a word, they do not see much in the Bible. They assume, perhaps, a critical attitude with’ regard to it, and speak of it as they would of any other book. In doing so they only expose their own blindness. They can take account of natural things, but the things of God are only to be discerned of those who are themselves born of Him.

How do you stand, reader, with regard to these matters?

The Bible speaks of sin. Do you say that you don’t see that it is such a terrible thing? Or do you realize something of its heinousness, its awfulness, its hatefulness in the sight of God? The Bible speaks of judgment. Do you shrug your shoulders in shallow unbelief? Or do you accept what the Word of God declares as to its absolute necessity, if God is to maintain His holiness and show His intolerance of sin?

The Bible speaks of your need and danger. Do you treat its warning words with-indifference? Or have you acknowledged your need; the danger to which your sins have exposed you; the impossibility of your freeing yourself from the position you are in; the certainty of your being overtaken, sooner or later, by death, with judgment following hard upon its heels?

The Bible speaks of a saviour. Do you pass Him by with cold neglect? Do you slight His loving call? Or have you discovered your need of Him, and fled to Him for refuge? Can you speak of Him as your own personal Saviour?

The Bible speaks of Christ’s precious blood, the only thing that can wash away the stains of sin. Do you treat the story with scornful disdain? Do you refuse to admit that only by this means you can be fitted for God’s presence? Or have you found in that precious blood, shed to make atonement for our sins, a title to glory, a passport to heaven, a righteous foundation for the pardon which is offered to you in His name?

How great the folly of those who do not see much in the Bible, or in the story of salvation that it tells, or in the Saviour of whom it testifies.

How great the wisdom of those who lay to heart the lessons that it teaches, and who believe the glad tidings that it proclaims.

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

Every Little Tangle

A PARABLE states that there was a great king who employed his people to weave for him. The silk and woof and patterns were all given by the king, and he looked for diligent working people. He was very indulgent, and told them that when any difficulty arose, to send to him, and he would help them, and never to fear troubling him.

Among many men and women, busy at their looms, was one little child. Often alone at her work, cheerfully and patiently she labored. One day when the men and women were distressed at the sight of their failures—the silks were tangled, and the weaving unlike the pattern—they gathered round the child and said. “Tell us how it is that you are so happy in your work: we are always in difficulties.” “Then why do you not send to the king?” said the little weaver; “he told us we might do so.”

“So we do. night and morning.”

“Ah!” said the child, “but I send as often as I have a little tangle.”

Dear children, do you tell Jesus about “every little tangle”? When things go wrong at school, do you tell Jesus? When you make mistakes and feel real cross about them, do you tell Him. and ask Him to help you? Like the king in this story, He wants us to “never fear troubling Him.” We cannot go to Him too often.

The longer we wait to tell Jesus, the more difficult it is to please Him. The burdens keep piling up. and we are soon bowed down with the weight of them, but if we just go to Him, all is easy. He carries us and our burdens, too.

“He shall gather the lambs in His arm and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11. Let us just take the lamb’s place, owning our weakness and helplessness, and He will give us the lamb’s blessing, to be “gathered” and “carried.” There is no better place than this, in “His bosom.” very, very close to Himself.

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

The Little Cup and the Gold Locket

“I DID not get angry,” said a little girl one day, “because I fixed my eyes on the Lord Jesus; He kept me!” What had happened then, to make her angry? I will tell you.

This little girl, twelve years old, and her ten-year-old sister, Helen, had to take care of their little brother, as their mother was dead. Besides that, there was much to do in the household, so that it was only by turns that they could go to school.

The older sister had received in remembrance of her dear mother, a little cup and a gold locket, both of which she kept most carefully. One day, when it was her turn to go to school, Helen gave the cup and locket to her little brother to play with! And when Marie came home, what did she see? Both the beloved articles thrown on the floor; the cup was broken, and the locket ruined!

“Little Brother did that,” said Helen. excusing herself.

Speechless with sorrow and grief, Marie stood there, the blood rushing to her head from indignation, but the Lord worked in her heart, and brought the remembrance of Himself before her. He calmed her. and so she said nothing.

“He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16:32.

“Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32.

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

Jesus Is the Children's Friend

Jesus is the children’s Friend,

Loving, faithful to the end;

Richest gifts from Him descend—

Joy and peace.

Once from heaven to earth He came,

Suffered death, contempt, and blame.

Died upon a cross of shame,

Crowned with thorns.

‘Twas our sinful souls to save

Thus His precious blood He gave!

Ransomed now from sin’s dark grave,

We may sing.

May we love Thee more and more,

Serve Thee truly evermore,

Till Thy mercy we adore

In heaven above.

Messages of God’s Love 4/8/1923

Crowned Prince Frederick Entering Jerusalem

MANY years ago, a train of camels, carrying Europeans, were marching peacefully into Jerusalem. They were dressed somewhat like the. natives of that country, but below the white flowing robes, they had their usual clothing. You may wonder why they did this; they found that the natives were more kindly to them, and seemed to feel more at home with them, than if they had only their European clothing on. This reminds us of how the Lord Jesus did. He had divine glory, and was dwelling with God in eternity, and was equal with God, yet He came down here, and became like one of us; only in this was He different, He had no sin.

He was the lowliest of men, and even the vilest of sinners were attracted to Him, and they found that He had power to forgive sins. Those who did not know that He was God as well as man, had to say, no man ever spoke like He did. He healed the sick, fed the poor with bread, and raised the dead. In all these things, which showed His power over the effects of sin, He thus proved Himself to be a divine person. He also proved that He had power over creation, for He stopped the wind and the waves.

He went to the cross, and there He again proved that He was divine, for He had power to lay His life down, and power to take it again; therefore He was the only one competent to stand in our place, and be our Substitute. We had forfeited our lives by sin, therefore death was our portion, but it would have held us forever in separation from God, which is the second death, but the Lord Jesus, when separated from God, was finally heard, and after being laid away in the tomb, He rose from the dead.

What a wonderful thing it was that He, a divine person, should have come among us! What lowliness! And how wonderful that He should die and rise again for us! What love!

“WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” I Peter 2:24.

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 14:1-8—Continued

The man who was a leper, but is one no more—healed and cleansed—is inside the place where God is named. If we look at him as a sinner who has confessed his case to God, we can say, Here is one who has been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. Surely he ought to be happy, whether we think of this man as a cleansed leper, or a confessed and forgiven sinner! But he can be happier, and while God’s children are going to be happy in eternity beyond any one’s present understanding, He has a way to make them more and more happy here, before even they go to be with Him in His eternal home.

First, let us think again about the sixth verse. Have you noticed that the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop, after they were dipped in the blood, are never spoken of again? I think that is God’s way of telling those who love Him, and seek to please Him, that the world has been changed for them by the Lord’s death, so that they should not love its ways any more. We saw last time that these things were brought in to give us a picture in our minds of the world in its pride and its nature.

Then I think God means us to learn from the “seventh day” of verse 9, that the man in God’s purposes has been thinking of what has been done for him, and the more he thinks about his new place near to God, (because he is no longer outside, in misery, without hope, but cleansed and inside the enclosure that separated the people whom God had chosen from the world around) the more he sees that what comes out from the old bad heart, is not fit for one who belongs to Him, so he cuts off very carefully his hair, even his eyebrows, so careful is he to put away everything that, in a symbol or type, might be called the fruit of the old, bad tree, the believer’s old nature, the one he had before he was born again. ( John 3). And again he washes himself and his clothes. If he understood what it all meant, he would be saying to himself,

“All my old ways and the company I used to keep that are not suitable now, for I belong to God, I am done with, and with God’s help I shall live for Him. I lived long enough in my old life.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

Little Children, Follow Me

Childhood’s. years are passing o’er us,

Youthful days will soon be gone;

Cares and sorrows lie before us,

Hidden dangers, snares unknown.

O, may He, who, meek and lowly,

Trod Himself this vale of woe,

Make us His, and make us holy,

Guard and guide us where we go.

Hark, it is the Saviour calling,

“Little children, follow Me!”

Jesus, keep our feet from falling

Teach us all to follow Thee.

Soon we part—it may be never,

Never here to meet again;

O, to meet in heaven for ever,

And the crown of life to gain!

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

Take this Book; Keep It and Read It

SOME time ago there was a God-fearing widow, on whom through the death of her husband, rested the whole care of a large family, consisting of seven daughters and one son. She tried to bring up her children in the fear of God. Her efforts were richly rewarded as far as the girls were concerned. They learned very early to bow their knees to Jesus, and to rejoice in His love for sinners. Her son, on the contrary, returned his mother’s tender care with ingratitude, and became a veritable cross to her. He mixed with worldly people, and indulged in all sorts of useless and injurious pleasures, so that he was unfitted for any occupation, and finally was obliged to go to sea.

When he parted from his mother, she gave him a New Testament, in which on the fly-leaf his name, and her’s were written, at the same time imploring him earnestly and tenderly to keep the book and read it for her sake.

He was carried far away on the waves of the fathomless deep, and years passed without the poor mother receiving any tidings of her son.

Now and then she visited the Capitol, and inquired about his ship, in the hope of hearing something about him, On one of these occasions she met a sea-captain, to whom she addressed her usual question. He informed her that he knew the ship, but that it had been wrecked. He also remembered a youth whose name was “Carl”; and he added, perhaps too abruptly and thoughtlessly, that he was such a low-down, lawless fellow, it was better for all such to lie at the bottom of the sea. Struck to the inmost parts of her soul, the unfortunate mother left the office, longing to be in retirement where she could give vent to her grief.

“I shall go down to the grave,” she cried wringing her hands, “sorrowing over my poor boy!”

She went to live at one of the seaport towns on the North coast. After several years had passed, one day a half-naked sailor knocked at her door asking for help. The sight of a sailor interested her, and aroused feelings in her, which one can better imagine than describe. She listened to him. He had been through many dangers; had been shipwrecked more than once; but he said he never felt so miserable and forsaken as he did some years before, when he and another young man, the only ones saved from the whole crew, were cast on a deserted island, “where,” said he, “after seven days and nights I closed his eyes. Poor boy! I shall never forget him.” And the tears rolled down his sunburnt cheeks.

“Day and night he read in a little book, that he said his mother had given him, and the only thing that he saved. It was his inseparable companion; he spoke often of his mother’s book, and finally he made it a present to me, with many thanks for my few services. ‘There Joe,’ said he, ‘take this book, keep it, and read it. ‘ May God bless you; that is all that I possess.’ Then he pressed my hand, and passed away in peace.”

The sailor then took out of his ragged coat, a little book, very much worn and soiled, and with the words, “Here is the book!” held it out to her. The widow took it in her trembling hands. There she saw, in her own handwriting on the first page, her son’s name and her own. She stared at it, she read, she wept, she rejoiced, she seemed to hear a voice calling to her: “Behold, your son lives!” In the midst of her emotion she cried out: “Lord! now let +Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.”

“Will you give me that book, dear boy?” said the mother, longing to have the precious relic of her son’s in her possession.

“No, no!” was the reply, “not for all the money in the world. He gave it to me with his dying hand. I have learned the value of it, and will keep it as long as I live.”

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

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

The Good Little Girl

“But I am a good girl!” The speaker was a deformed child, with whom I had been speaking about her soul. I pointed out to her the goodness that God required. Still she kept on saying, “But I am a good girl!”

“But, tell me, dear child, for what kind of people did Jesus die?” “For sinners,” was her hasty answer. “Are you not a sinner?” “O, no, I am good.” “But Jesus did not come to save good people.”

“My father says that I am good, and I am, too,” she said, while the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I will not dispute your father’s words, as to your goodness toward him. You may be a very loving and obedient daughter, and friendly towards everybody, but still not .good for God, who is holy. Jesus said,

`I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ “

“I don’t believe you,” she cried out. “I believe what my father says.”

“I don’t want you to trust my word, but the Word of God, and see what is written there.” Opening my Bible, I pointed with my finger at the words:

“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Rom. 3:12. I asked her to read it aloud. “

I can’t read,” , she said crossly, “but father can.”

“Will you ask your father to read for you this chapter? I suppose you have a Bible?”

“No, we have no Bible,” but she said that if they had one, she knew her father would read it for her.

I gave her a New Testament, and invited her to come back again. Not long after this she came; on her childish, thin face there lay a pleased expression.

“Why, you look so bright and happy today, my dear, what is the reason for it?”

“O, I am saved,” she said with a happy smile.

“How did that happen?”

“Well, father read that chapter to me, and then I began to understand what a sinner I was. I told this to the Lord Jesus, and asked Him to forgive me. I came to Him as a poor sinner, and He saved me with His own precious blood.”

I questioned her for some time, fearing that what she said did not come from her heart. She then told me that what I had told her about sin, had made her very unhappy.

“I had always thought that I was good,” she added, “and people said to me that if I was good, I would go to heaven, but you showed me that even a foolish thought was sin in God’s sight. I began to think of my many bad thoughts, and the wrong things that I had done. Then I was afraid, and prayed.”

“If the Lord Jesus were to come tonight, to take up all those who are ready for Him, would He take you, too?” I asked in all earnestness.

She was silent for a moment, then looking up, said calmly, “I am! sure He would take me too.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because I came to Him, and He means what He says in His Word,

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

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

Will You be Among the Number?

When the Saviour, at His coming

Shall His own in glory bring;

Will you be among the number?

Will you too, His praises sing?

Ere the day of Jesus’ coming,

Seek His pardon free to know;

Be your stains of sin as scarlet,

He will wash you white as snow.

Messages of God’s Love 4/15/1923

Strayed and Lost

YOUNG Harry and his little brother have apparently wandered off into some enclosure, and the twilight has come before Harry was aware of it. Suddenly he realizes, in his truancy, that it is time to be at home. As for the little brother, he is badly frightened at the appearance of the shadow on’ the wall, and gives way to a fit of crying. Harry too, is frightened.

When children do wrong things, even a shadow may frighten them.

Now, dear children, is not this a sad picture of the naughty heart? Boys and girls often disobey mother and father. straying away from home, too, and perhaps go on to something worse, often bringing sorrow and grief to their dear parents’ heart. Always remember that portion of God’s Word,

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother.” Eph. 6:1, 2.

I am going to tell you of a little boy who was lost in a coal pit. One Friday morning, Willie went to work as usual along with his father, but on reaching the mouth of the pit, he found that he had forgotten his lamp, and while he ran home for it, his father and the other colliers went down to work.

Thus when Willie returned and descended, he found himself quite alone, so he hastened as fast as lie could to reach his own part of the mine, but some way of other, he never knew how, his little lamp went out, and left him in total darkness. At first he did not feel very much afraid, but groped along, expecting every moment to see a light, or hear voices and footsteps, but, strange to say, the silence seemed to grow deeper and deeper, and at last he knew that he must have turned aside into one of the old works of the mine.

Night came on at last, and the dull sound of hammers ceased, so he knew the work was over for the day, and that now indeed, there was no chance of his being found.

This was on Friday night, and as the pit was always closed both on Saturday and Sunday, Willie thought with terror of the two days of darkness, solitude, and starvation that were before him. At first he hoped that he might be missed, and sought for, but no one ever came to seek him.

All these days, he wandered up and down, uttering bitter cries that no one could hear, but his wanderings had at last, brought him upon the right path, so that on Monday morning, when the men began to descend, he heard their voices, saw their lights, and knew that help had come at last.

Poor child, he was taken up in a truly lamentable plight—nearly dead with cold, fatigue and hunger, and had so lost count of time, that he imagined that he had been shut up in his gloomy prison for eight days, instead of three.

Now, my dear .children, why have. I told you about little Harry and Willie? Because I wish you to pause and think of those two little words, “Strayed”, and “Lost”. There are many children in these days who have been taught their lost and ruined state by nature, but, alas! there are many who have often read from God’s Word that sad verse,

“ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY.” ISA. 53:6

and never think of it as really describing themselves. There are many children far away from home, although they know it not.

You would think it dreadful to be lost, like poor Willie, for three days in a dark and dreary pit! But think how terrible to spend a life-time wandering about this world, seeking its pleasures and vanity, and at its close, to find that you have been led far from heaven, and brought you to the “blackness of darkness forever.”

O! be wise in time, and remember that you need a Saviour. You can say with the Psalmist.

“I have gone astray like a lost sheep.” Psa. 119:176. But what precious words are these,

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

The Saviour is calling;

His language is “Come”;

His rich grace is bringing

The wanderers home.

His heart is delighting .

The lost ones to bless;

His love is inviting

The weary to rest.

Messages of God’s Love 4/22/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 14:9-32

The “eighth day” finishes everything: it is a new beginning; the first clay of a new week; the dawn of a new life, practically. The man brings to the priest to be offered, those sacrifices and offerings which we have been talking about in connection with the earlier chapters of Leviticus. Every one of the offerings are here, except the peace or thank offering. The first one we read of here is the trespass offering, because he has been a trespasser against God: He brings first that which calls to mind what he had been.

We have talked about these interesting sacrifices before, though we might well go over them again.

Then like the priests in chapter 8: 4 , 30, the man is now set apart to God in thought, and act, and way, by the putting of the blood of the trespass offering on his right ear, thumb, and great toe; and after that, the oil which stands, in these types, for the Holy Spirit. The remainder of this oil is poured on his head—he is to be led by the Spirit of God, as well as sealed by the Spirit.

Verses 21 to 32, show again how God thinks of the poor, but in the answer to this in our lives, it is not poor people that are meant, but those whose thoughts of the Lord are not as worthy of Him as they should be, and that takes in you and me, dear young Christian.

Though we do not think of Him as we ought, yet we are not to be discouraged, but to give Him the best we have, and if we do, we shall find our hearts growing warmer in love towards Him.

Now as we say “good bye” to the cleansed leper, or as we should prefer to say, the saved man, we can think of him in all that we have read, with everything to make him happy for ever, if he believed all that God had said—if he knew what those shadows and types stood for.

Once he was an outcast, now in the family of God; once wretched and miserable, now cleansed; once apart from God, now set apart to God, and all as the direct result of the dying of Jesus on the cross. He has seen the Lord in the trespass offering, the sin offering, the burnt offering and the meat offering, telling of Him as offered for the sinner’s sins, and as devoted in death, as in life here below.

Is this all true of my dear young reader?

What a wonderful book the Bible is!

Messages of God’s Love 4/22/1923

O, It Doesn't Matter!

“ELLA, Ella, are you going out in your best hat; it’s just going to rain!” These words were called out by a nurse to a little girl, who was hurrying down the stairs, and who, jumping the last two or three steps, landed at the front door.

“O, it doesn’t matter; I can’t stay any longer!” answered Ella, then shutting the door behind her, she walked swiftly on.

It was a dark, cold morning in the fall, so Ella took her fur-lined gloves, but didn’t give herself time to put them on. The consequence was, that she lost one on her way. She noticed it, but it was too late to go back and look for it; however she comforted herself with the thought;

“It doesn’t matter! Mother will buy me another pair.”

She arrived at school barely in time, as the scholars were all standing in file, ready to enter. The lessons lasted till noon, and then she could go home for dinner; but Ella remained, as usual with her little friends. They talked and played together for quite a time, not thinking how late it was getting. When she reached home she hurried to the dining room, but saw to her surprise that the table was not laid for dinner, as it usually was at that hour.

“Mother! Mother!” she cried out, running into Mrs. Martin’s room. “Anna hasn’t set the table yet; I will be too late for school if dinner isn’t ready at once!”

“O, it doesn’t matter,” answered her mother carelessly,, without looking up from her sewing. Ella was astonished beyond measure. She wasn’t used to her mother treating her with such indifference. Seeing that her mother continued sewing without speaking, she went to the nursery. There she saw the nurse sitting at ease in a rocking-chair, while her two little sisters, golden-haired twins, were busy painting with red paint everything within their reach; Ella’s paint-box was open in front of them.

“Don’t you see what Mina and Emma are doing there?” cried out Ella.

“It doesn’t matter!” answered the nurse, without changing her comfortable position.

“But mother will be very angry,” continued Ella, astonished at the nurse’s seeming indifference.

“It doesn’t matter,” she coolly answered.

Ella did not feel at ease; those words so often uttered by herself, didn’t please her at all now. She went slowly downstairs again, wishing for her dinner, but seeing no preparations for it. At last she went to the housekeeper, and told her that she would certainly be too late for school, if she did not get her dinner at once. To her great annoyance, she only got the same reply;

“It doesn’t matter!”

Then she decided to sav nothing more, and waited in vain for something to appear on the table. Half-past-one struck; there was nothing remaining for her to do but to eat some bread and go to school.

At four o’clock Ella returned; it was very cold, and on her way home, she thought of the cheerful fire in the hearth, and the hot cup of coffee, that was awaiting her at home. How great was her surprise to find neither the one nor the other. The maid said her mother had gone out, and that she herself had had no time to look after the fire or the coffee; “but”, she added, “it doesn’t matter!”

“It matters a great deal!” answered Ella spitefully; “I don’t know what is the matter with you all!” and with these words she hastened away. Soon after, she heard her mother coming, and ran to meet her.

“What is the trouble?” asked Mrs. Martin, seeing that her little daughter looked anything, but cheerful.

“I don’t know, mother!” said the little girl weeping, “everything goes wrong today, and nobody seems to care about me!”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it?” Her mother asked laughing.

“I should think it does matter, mother! I have had no dinner, no coffee; and when I asked Emma to mend my stockings, she said it was no matter if they had holes in them. O, mother, everyone is so unkind and selfish to me to-day!”

“My dear child,” her mother went on, drawing her to her lovingly, “you are old enough to understand the lesson I wished to teach you. I have noticed that my dear little girl lives on, without a thought for others; she walks after her own devices (Jeremiah 18:12). That saddens me, my darling. How would it be if the Lord should ask you: ‘Ella, what have you done with your time; have you lived for Me, or for yourself?’ Can you answer Him with: ‘O, it doesn’t matter?’ “

“No, no, O, mother, what a terrible thought!” Ella cried out.

“Then, don’t you know, my child, that a terrible eternity is awaiting, you, if you must answer: ‘I have done as I pleased, without asking Thee;’ and that there is no salvation for you, if you are not cleansed by the blood of the Lord Jesus? Think of this, if you do not live for the Lord, then you live for Satan, the greatest enemy of Him who shed His precious blood to save you.”

I am happy to say that Ella took her mother’s words to heart, and came to the knowledge of her lost condition. Mrs. Martin knelt down with her little daughter, to ask the Lord Jesus to make her His own. I can say that the Lord answered that prayer the same evening.

Dear readers! have you, too, asked the Lord to wash you from your sins in His own blood? Or, are you saying, “O, it doesn’t matter.” If you are lost forever, you will not say, “O, it doesn’t matter.”

“So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from the just; and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 13:49, 50.

Art thou waiting till the morrow?

Thou may’st never see its light:

Come at once! accept His mercy;

He is waiting—come to-night.

Messages of God’s Love 4/22/1923

Good Tidings

We have in our picture a little group of Russian Peasants, who have toiled part of the day in search of mushrooms, and now as they are weary; they are taking a rest.

The young girl, whose animated ex_pression, and backward gesture of the hand, makes her the point of interest in the picture, has just returned from a part of the forest unvisited by the others. She bears the good tidings of a spot where there is a wonderful abundance of tender mushrooms, which she had discovered. How eagerly they listen, drinking in the good news she has brought to them.

O! that their ears and hearts were open to the gospel of God’s grace. 0! that Christians were interested in the message which God has sent to them,—”Good tidings of great joy.” Listen, dear ones,

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11.

A little girl, in reading this verse, exclaimed, “O, mamma, what a pretty verse. What sweet words, ‘Good tidings of great joy!’

“ ‘Yes, dear Ellen, and see what comes after—`for all people.’ Does not that mean that it should be glad tidings for us to hear of Jesus, as well as for the shepherds? You know what good news means. It was good news to you and Harry, when nurse told you that little Johnnie was born, and that you should have a baby brother to play with, but this should always be the best news for us that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. We should never tire of hearing and speaking about Him.”

I once read of a gentleman who had traveled a great deal, who was about to visit a very far away country,—New Zealand. It was not long before he went, that the poor people there had first heard of Jesus, and those who believed, loved Him very much. When the gentleman landed, he was met by a missionary, whom he knew. He saw an old man go up to the missionary, and point to him, and ask some questions, His friend said,

“This old chief is asking me if you know the ‘Glad Tidings’?” He did know, and loved the Lord, but he was very much struck by the question.

You see, dear children, the good news of God’s salvation has reached far and wide, and through grace, many are able to say, “Good tidings of great joy.”

Have you felt your need of a Saviour? Have you felt weary and heart-sick, longing for peace and joy? If so, look unto Him and be saved.. He has made peace for you at the cross. Come unto Him, believe in the crucified One, and your young heart shall be full of joy, knowing your sins are washed away by His precious blood.

“THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION,THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1923

Not Yet

Not yet the Lord’s, not vet forgiven!

Alas! and is it so?

Is offered mercy still refused?

Art thou still Jesus’ foe?

Not yet the Lord’s—not yet inclined

To yield thyself to Him?

Refusing still to taste His grace,

Or drink at mercy’s stream?

Not yet—not yet—unhappy child!

O think thee of thy guilt:

To spurn His love whose precious blood

For thy poor soul was spilt.

Yet O, repent! come, even now,

Nor longer stay away;

The warning voice will soon be hushed

And closed be mercy’s day.

Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 14:33-57

Here we come to something different from what has gone before, for the verses begin with, “When ye be come into the land of Canaan.”

They were yet at Mount Sinai, and many years were to pass before the people came to the land which God had appointed for them. But God has been speaking to them, as we have been noting, of sin in the person and in his habits, looked at as leprosy.

One side has not been mentioned,—sin in the Church, in the meeting which we are connected with. The last four verses in this chapter show that it was God’s purpose to tell in these chapters (13 and 14) what should be done when leprosy was found, and what should be done when it was put away. By leprosy, as the Old Testament foreshadowed the New, we may say that in type sin, generally speaking, is meant.

If it was even thought to be in the house, the priest was to be told. Several scriptures tell us that those who profess to be Christians, and to be obedient to the Word of God, are looked at by God as a spiritual house, or dwelling place; an enclosure of which the Lord Jesus is to be the center.

I will not go with my young readers very much into details, interesting though they are, but just to say this, that the Holy Spirit has here given directions about sin of a serious kind coming in among those who profess to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, in obedience to His Word.

If sin is found among them, the guilty one or ones are to be put away (verse 40), but if it were so that the whole company was infected, the only thing that could be done would be for the godly ones from outside to “come and look, and, behold, it the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.” It would have to be set aside as a house owned of God. Sin and Holiness cannot go on together: God and allowed sin cannot be united.

This scripture shows us, that we who are really the Lord’s, we who know Him as Saviour and Lord, need to be most careful about sin. In every way, the Word of God is to be our guide, and in these days of man’s will, and Satan’s power, those who fear the Lord, must be always on the watch, lest Satan entrap us, either ourselves individually, or the meeting, for he has many devices, many traps for unwary feet.

There is a remedy, and verses 49 to 53 tell us that in the shadow-way of the Old Testament, it is always confession, and “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Praise His name for that!

Do you walk with God? Is the Lord Jesus the One you are trying to set first in your life? I trust He is. See, then, that in everything He is first, not yourself, nor friends nor relations, and you will be led on in His paths to glory.

Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1923

Teddie in the Se

LITTLE Teddie White, who lived near the sea, left his mother’s cottage one morning very soon after breakfast, and ran to the beach to play. The wind was rather high, and the clouds were passing quickly over the sky, while the waves dashed on to the beach with more noise than usual, for the sea was rough. But Teddie was used to this, and loved to see the white foam on the edge of the waves, and to feel it flying in his face, and to watch the ships on the ocean rocking to and fro in the storm.

Today, however, it was not as rough as this; but while he was playing on the beach, he saw some sailors standing together and talking on the farther end of the pier. He thought they were speaking about some vessel at sea, so he ran to listen to what they said.

They were not talking about anything that interested him, so he began to amuse himself by climbing on a seat at the end of the pier, and then upon the broad piece of stone work which was built to prevent persons from falling into the sea.

The men were so busy talking that they did not notice him, till they heard a cry and a splash. Teddie was standing upon the stone wall, when suddenly a gust of wind came, and caused him to lose his balance, and fall into the sea.

The men rushed to the side of the pier, and looking over; they saw poor little Teddie tossing on the rough waves. What was to be done? One of them did not stop a minute to think, but flung off his coat, and plunged into the water. He was a brave, kind-hearted man, who had left his little cottage home that morning full of love and thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This man was a Christian. His sins were washed away in the blood of Jesus, and he was in the habit of telling the good tidings of salvation to all those with whom he had to do.

Well, he plunged into the water after little Teddie, and in a few moments caught hold of him, and began to swim to a place nearby, where he thought he could land; but when he reached it, he found he could not do so, for the tide was high, so that he was obliged to turn and try to swim to shore. The poor man’s strength soon began to fail, for the sea was rough, and it was a long way to the beach, but still he struggled bravely on, holding little Teddie as much as possible above water.

There was no boat at hand, or it might have been put out to help him; and while two or three men went after one which lay on the beach at some distance, the swimmer’s strength soon failed. When he was near the shore he was obliged to give up his hold of Teddie, and as a great wave passed him, he pushed the little boy towards it with his remaining strength.

The child was lifted on the wave, and borne towards the shore, but his kind friend sank beneath the sea. He could swim no more, for his limbs were numb and cold, and all his strength was gone. But little Teddie, was saved for the kind people on the beach drew him out of the water, and carried him to a cottage near by, and after rubbing his body, and doing many other things for him, he began to revive.

But nothing could be done for the one who had saved the boy’s life. The poor man had no power to battle with the waves, and in a few minutes his body was cast dead upon the shore; but his soul was safe, and he had gone to be with the Saviour whom he loved and trusted. I wonder if Teddie asked who it was that saved him? I wonder if he cried when he heard that he could never thank his kind, brave friend? I should think so.

It must have made him very sad, but it is a happy thing to know that those who have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ can thank Him; that they can praise and bless a living Saviour for what He has done; for He has risen from the dead, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Who did He come to save? Sinners. As you are a sinner, you should believe that Jesus came to save you. Rest upon God’s Word, ,which says, “Whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Teddie’s brave friend gave his life for him, and Jesus gave His life for you. He gave up a glorious home above with His Father, to come down to a sinful world to save, from sin and its awful consequences, all those who will put their trust in Him. Think of His untiring love!

Before the world was made, the Lord Jesus knew that He would come and die for sinners; that He would take the place of those who deserved to die, and die instead of them, though men turned away from Him, and despised Him, and put Him to a cruel death when He came down to save them, yet Jesus loved them, and when He was on the cross, He prayed His Father to forgive them.

Can you help loving Jesus? Can you help bowing your knee and heart to Him, and owning Him as your Lord and Saviour? Do so at once, and He will pardon your sins, and He will take you to His glorious home above, for He says,

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

Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1923

Come, Now, to Jesus

Little ones the God above

Cares for, in His gracious love,

And that they might be forgiven,

He has sent His Son from heaven.

Little ones have gone astray,

And may perish any day;

Jesus, as the Shepherd kind,

Came the little ones to find.

Little ones the Saviour’s grace

Early calls to seek His face,

Puts His love within their hearts;

Then the love of sin departs.

Little ones, when He shall reign,

Joyously shall swell His train;

They shall shine in garments white,

In that happy day, so bright.

Messages of God’s Love 4/29/1923

Bible Questions for May

Answers to Bible Questions for March

1. “And to wait for His,” etc. 1 Thess. 1:10.

2. “Pray for us,” etc. Heb. 13:18.

3. “And the Lord direct,” etc. 2 Thess. 3:5.

4. “Who gave Himself,” etc. Titus 2:14.

5. “But we see Jesus,” etc. Heb. 2:9.

6. “Yea, and all that will,” etc. 2 Tim. 3:12,

7. “Let us therefore come,” etc. Heb. 4:16.

Bible Questions for May

The Answers are to be found in Revelation

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thy great power.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Just and true are Thy ways.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “A white stone.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Him that is athirst.” J

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Fall on us.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “His name is called.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Give glory to Him.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 15

What an interest God has in those who profess His name! In this chapter are such repetitions of the word “Unclean,” that one can hardly count them. It is one word from God, one more chapter to show us, if we have eyes to see and, ears to hear, that all that comes out of the “natural man”, out of the human heart, is bad.

In verse 2, the sick man is unclean. In the fourth verse, his bed, or whatever he sits on, is unclean. Further on, whoever touches the sick man, or touches anything he sat on, is unclean. There are other examples throughout the chapter, and all point to the same thing—all are “under sin; ... there is none righteous” (Rom. 3:9, 10); “for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, ‘pride. foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23,

Human nature is hopelessly bad, defiled and defiling. There is no remedy. Nothing will do but to be born again. Have you been born again, dear reader?

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

Resting on the Finished Work

“LOOK!” exclaimed a boy, who was walking with his father, “they are knocking away the props from under the bridge. What are they doing that for? Will not the bridge fall?”

“They are knocking them away,” replied his father, “that the timbers may rest more firmly upon the storm piers which are now finished.”

Thus God removes all earthly props so that our faith may rest entirely on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

Hungry and Thirsty

I AM sure the herd of goats in our picture this week, are delighted to get into the open where they can obtain pasture and water. Being closed up all night, they are ready for food, and they are hungry and thirsty, and will no doubt enjoy their breakfast.

To be hungry is to want food; to be thirsty is to want something to drink.

For the soul to be hungry and thirsty is to know the want of salvation; to feel inside the heart the need of the Lord Jesus.

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

Have you, dear children, ever had this longing to be saved? If not, I earnestly pray that the Spirit of God may create within you this hunger and thirst of soul.

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.’ “ John 7:37.

I love that little, word, C-O-M-E, Jesus is waiting in love to receive you. To-day is God’s time , to-morrow may be too late.

“LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST COME, AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.” REV. 21:17.

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

A Walk With Uncle

LET us go by the mill stream. I do like to see the fish jumping about as the stream runs from the wheel.”

“Very well, Harry; we will go that way if you wish.”

Harry was a little boy eight years old, who was fond of having a nice stroll with uncle along the country roads, or through the flower-covered meadows, and they had nice little chit-chats together.

“What a pretty place that is, uncle.” said Harry, pointing to a house that was surrounded with trees and shrubs, over whose sides the ivy, and the Virginian Creeper, and roses, and sweet pea seemed to be trying their hardest to cover.

“Yes, Harry; and I always look on that house with pleasure, for when I was a little boy I used to go there every now and then, for a dear old Christian lived there, and he liked to have some of us boys from the school to visit him, and many a little book his dear wife would give us, and in fruit time a pocket full of apples. I do believe they loved us children.

But he had a son who was a cripple, and during his illness God led him to see what a sinner he was, and what a Saviour Jesus was, and he believed what God said, and was happy, and then he wanted to be a little glow-worm for Jesus.

When he was a little better he used to come to Sunday-school, and after the lessons were over, he would speak to us, or read some good book out of which he hoped to teach us the way to heaven.

Through that dear young man I was saved. Do you think I ought to be quite sure I am saved, Harry?”

“Yes, uncle, because Jesus says, ‘I give unto My sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish.’ “ John’ 10:28.

“That’s it, my boy; and lots of other verses speak of the eternal safety of every believer in Christ.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

Names of Those Receiving Rewards for Answering Bible Questions for Term Ending May 1923.

To our many Friends:—

We are now at the end of another year for our Bible questions, and it is a real pleasure to be able to record so many names, and feel confident that many have received blessing for their souls through the reading and writing of the blessed Word of God, and our prayer is, that as we enter upon another term, those who take an interest in these Bible Questions will learn to value the blessed Word of God more and more, and that it will ever have a place in their hearts and lives.

We shall be glad to have all who have been answering these questions, continue to do so, and also to encourage others to do the same. Especially would we suggest that parents encourage their children to find the answers every month, and sooner or later, we may be sure, God will use it for the blessing of their souls, both in this life, and also in the life to come.

Please bear in mind that the full name and address should be written plainly each time, and that we should be notified of any change of address.

We hope to mail all the rewards on the first day of May, D.V., and if any should not receive theirs in a reasonable time from that date, we would suggest that word be sent to Mr. E. B. Hartt at once, so that they may be traced, and if not found, another reward will be sent.

We would also like, if any are not satisfied with their reward, and think they should have a first when they only received a second, to send word at once to the same address, and we shall do our best to give entire satisfaction.

The coming of the Lord is very near, and we may not see the end of the term upon which we are now entering, and our prayer is that not one of those to whom we write will be missing in that happy company of redeemed ones who are to spend eternity praising Him who loved and gave Himself for us.

Messages of God’s Love 5/6/1923

Children in an Orphanage Garden

THIS picture reminds me of a visit a short time ago to an Orphanage, in a town about 50 miles from, our home. It was a very pleasant snot with much ground, and a beautiful garden. It was made_ as attractive as possible for the dear little motherless and fatherless boys and girls. The grounds reached to the water’s edge, giving a very bright outlook.

The matron had invited us to visit the Home, and speak to the children, so the little ones were looking for us.

The Orphanage was about two miles from the town. As the boat passed their grounds, we heard cheers, and here the dear children were lined up near the fence, to give us a cheer of welcome. The matron met us at the wharf, and we were soon in their midst.

They were called together into the schoolroom, and a servant of the Lord spoke to them of God’s love and care for them, entreating- them to come to Jesus in their youth.

All children like to receive gifts, and these dear ones, frequently have love tokens sent to them, from those whom: they regard as friends. But the greatest gift this world has ever heard of is The Gift of God.

The Gift is “His only Begotten Son.” (John 3:16.)

The children were told, “The gift of God is eternal life.” God’s gift was given unasked and undeserved. God loved the world of sinners, and sent His Son to be their Saviour. But although God’s gift is sent to all, it is only those who receive Him, who are saved.

Can you, dear ones, say from your heart,

“THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” 2 Cor. 9:15.

All who receive the gift of God have eternal life, and the Lord Jesus says of all such,

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

Can you say, “He is mine,

He’s the love-gift of God-unto me?”

Have you heard His voice say,

“Thou are ever Mine,

For I bought thee with blood on the tree?’

Messages of God’s Love 5/13/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 16

Among the many deep lessons God has set before us in the chapters of Lev. which we have been reading, He has Tint told of the fill result of the dying of Jesus. Chapter 16 does this; it is the foundation or center of the whole book of Leviticus, on which all the rest depends. Here then it is not so much God forgiving individual sins, as it is His putting away sin, having provided a special place of nearness to Himself for the Church—those who receive the Lord Jesus into their hearts in this present day of grace, between Pentecost and the Lord’s coming to take them to His heavenly home.

The high priest and his house are covered by one offering, much greater in value than the offering for the people of Israel, and this superior sacrifice is offered first, and the blood taken on the priest’s first going behind the veil, or curtain. Let us watch him. He carries a vessel containing some of the bullock’s. blood, a censer of burning coals from the altar, and his hands full of sweet incense. He draws the veil to one side, and enters the small room set apart as the Holy of Holies, where the emblems of God’s presence are. It is the first time he has been there for a year.,

Quickly dropping the’ incense on the fire in the censer, clouds of perfumed in_cense rise to hide the mercy seat upon the ark. Then the priest takes of the blood with his finger, and sprinkles it on the mercy seat, and seven times in front of the mercy seat. This done, he quickly goes out again, for the priest of old could not stay in the Holy of Holies.

An offering is made separately for the people of Israel. Two young goats are taken; one of them is now killed (verse 15), and its blood is taken within the veil, as was the bullock’s blood. The holy, the tabernacle, and the brazen altar are purified by blood.

After all this has been done, the live goat is brought, the high priest lays both his hands on its head, and confesses over it the sins of the children of Israel (verse 21). Then the goat is sent away, in type bearing their sins to a land not inhabited.

The high priest and his house represent Christians, the heavenly people for whom Christ died. There is but one offering, one sacrificial death, “The death of the cross” for all, whether ourselves of this day, or those of an earlier, or a later time, but the prominence given to the bullock for Aaron and his family agrees with the special place of privilege and nearness to God given to believers now; while the living goat, sent away, when the high priest comes out of the tabernacle, pictures the restoration of the people of Israel at a day which will be when the Lord comes to the earth again.

Sending the live goat away, is God’s way of telling us of His putting away sin out of His presence, but we who are believers in_ the Lord Jesus do not need to wait till Israel sees and believes, but by faith now we believe and rest in the knowledge that God has put away all our sins, never to bring them up again.

“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 10:17.

The work which took the sins away, of Israel as of the Church, was all done by the Lord Jesus on the cross, 1900 years ago.

Once every year (verses 29-34) the day of atonement was repeated, on the tenth day of the seventh month.

How far at a distance from God these Israelites were, also without the knowledge of forgiveness of sins, and of an offering which has perfected for ever those who have believed!

For us, the word is, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; . . let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.” Heb. 10:19-22.

Messages of God’s Love 5/13/1923

The Deliverance of the Lord

MOST of my dear young readers know what a missionary is, don’t you? And no doubt, some of you who know the Lord Jesus as your own precious Saviour, have felt a desire to be one yourself. God may see fit to call some of you to labor for Him, so it is well for you and me to always be found in the attitude of listening for Him to tell us what to do, and where to go.

Now, while we cannot all go to heathen lands with the precious message of God’s love to lost sinners, yet, we can all be helpers together with God’s servants. You may say,

“Why, however can I be a helper with God’s missionaries? I have no money.”

Well, God knows that, and besides they are His servants, and He supplies their needs. One way you and I can help is by praying for them. Yes, dear young believer, God loves to hear that little prayer of yours, going from the heart up to that throne of grace on the behalf of others.

Most of you have heard of China. Well, right down in Yeung Kong is a dear brother, arid his sisters, with several Chinese Christians, who need your prayers, that the trials they have been passing through of late, may result in glory for our Lord and Saviour.

Canton is a walled city with four gates. One each at the North, South, East and West, and until Feb. 1St. it was defended by soldiers. Was it not a strong place to live in? Yes, but a great band of robbers were outside trying to get in, but our dear brother, and those with him, were trusting in the words of Psalm 34:7. What are they? you say. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.”

What a defense this was, more effective than ten thousand walls; and as their soldiers deserted them, the enemy got in, killed many, and burned much property. They even came into the house where our brother was, along with 150 others who had gone there for refuge, yet the angel of the Lord was round about them, and no enemy could harm them, so He delivered them.

May these few lines serve to stir you and me to use the privilege we have of bearing the Lord’s servants up at the throne of grace continually, and those of you who have not yet believed on the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, may you do so now, for tomorrow may never come for you.

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” Mark 16:15.

“The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my ‘Deliverer; my God, my Strength in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psa. 18:2.

Messages of God’s Love 5/13/1923

Do You Have Salvation?

I WAS called upon one day to go and see a lady who was anxious about her soul. When I entered her room I found her sitting at the window sewing. After putting the way of life before her as simply as I could, she said to me,

“I do believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but I am not saved.”

All at once she rose from. her seat, and commenced to look under the chairs and tables for something.

I said to her, “I see you have lost something.”

“I have lost my thimble,” replied the lady.

At once I noticed that her thimble was upon her finger, and I said,

“My good friend, your thimble is upon your finger.”

“O,” she said, “how stupid I am to go about seeking for the thing which I have.”

I said, “Well, my clear friend, that is just what you are doing with salvation. You say that you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but you are not saved; and God’s Word 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. Faith and salvation go together; and they cannot be separated so if you believe on the Lord Jesus, He says that you are “not condemned.” (John 3:18).

God, by His holy Spirit, gave the anxious one to see that she was in possession of eternal life as a believer on Him.

O, let me ask you, dear children, do you believe on the Son of God? If so, everlasting life is yours, and yours now. 0, claim it, and thank and praise Him who shed His precious blood in order to purchase it for you. The God of all grace bless you with the knowledge of salvation.

O, mercy surprising!

He saved even me!

“Thy portion forever,”

He says, “will I be.”

On His Word I am resting—

Assurance divine.

I’m “hoping” no longer,

I know He is mine.

I know He is mine; yes,

I know He is mine.

I’m hoping no longer-

I know He is mine.

Messages of God’s Love 5/13/1923

Jesus

NOW, my dear little friends, just one question for you— Is the name of Jesus dear to you? Remember that there is none other name given whereby you can be saved. It is the only name that will take us to heaven, where we shall join in that song for ever— “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Rev. 1:5.

How blessed to trust in the name of Jesus, and then when He comes—He is coming quickly—He will take us up to be with Him forever.

“Behold the Lamb of God,”

Nailed to a cross of wood,

In pain and agony, and death,

While many mocking stood.

Dear children, do you ask

Why thus He bled and died?

Why was the spotless Son of God

In shame thus crucified?

It was from love to us,

Our sins were on Him laid;

The holy, harmless, undefiled,

Our Sacrifice was made.

The sin and shame were ours,

But God’s beloved Son

Bore all the punishment instead,

For guilt thus. to atone.

Messages of God’s Love 5/13/1923

Hunting the Ring

AT recess time the girls often amuse themselves playing at “Hunting The Ring”. The girl in the center finds it very difficult to know who has the ring, so she looks as much at the faces of the girls as at their hands, for many could not help showing by their expression if they had it or not. Nevertheless some could hide it so no one could tell by their appearance whether they had the ring or not.

As a rule it is easy to tell a guilty person by the expression, yet some in that connection also can deceive, but there is One whom no one can deceive, and that is God. He can look right down into the heart, and He knows even our thoughts.

His word also searches the heart, and lays bare all that is there. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12, and now I would like to have you learn this verse,

“ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPENED UNTO THE EYES OF HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO.” HEB. 4:13.

Remember we can never hide anything from God.

Messages of God’s Love 5/20/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 17

It is good for us to notice carefully the beginnings of the chapters. In our chapter today we see that there is another message from God. Like all the others, it was given first to Moses, but it was to all the people, as well as to Aaron and his sons the priests, and the message begins,

“This is the thing which the Lord ‘lath commanded.”

There is no room left to decide for oneself, when the word is, “This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded.”

In the 16th chapter we found atonement, and what we read here is leading on from that picture of the one sacrifice of Christ, telling us more and more of God’s ways and His character, and what the ways and character of those whose sins have been put away out of God’s sight should be.

So we begin with two things in chapter 17.

First, the one true God was always to be in their thoughts, so that they would come before Him with thankful hearts, remembering that through the blood of a Substitute, they had a place of favor and blessing with Him.

Second, that life belongs to God, and the power of the atonement is in the blood of the substitute, “for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” In a word, They who knew God, were to honor God.

Do you, dear children, seek to honor God in your daily life?

Messages of God’s Love 5/20/1923

An Old Timer's Story

In the year 1875 I was in charge of a trading post, right in the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, in the Peace River County, and my only neighbors were Indians and a few half-breeds. The life was a lonely one, hut in those days I was young and strong, and enjoyed the wild, free life of the country, and many times it happened that for more than a month I saw no one, not even an Indian. In the summer time, the life was not so bad, but at times during the winter months, during the long nights, especially, I would have given ten years of my life, to have someone to speak to.

During the winter of my story, I had gone into trapping for pastime, and had good success whenever I visited my traps and “dead-falls”, or wooden traps which I had set up in the fall, before the ground froze hard enough to prevent my driving stakes into the earth. I used to frequently visit my traps and it generally took me two days or more to get round them all. had a good train of dogs and a flat sled. I used to take my blankets and provisions along with me, and sleep out wherever night overtook me.

It was at the close of a dull, cold afternoon in December, when on my way home after visiting all my traps, I came to the top of what the Indians in that part of the country called, “White Heads’ Hill” on account of an Indian named Tranquille, having had the scalp torn from his head by a grizzly bear, some years before. I saw old Tranquille many times, and the name suited his head all right, for his skull was as void of hair as the palm of my hand, and whiter.

I was now about ten miles from home, and had made up my mind to push on, and get under a roof once more, as I had been out two nights already, owing to a heavy fall of snow the night I left home. So off I started down the hill, and was going to try to get across the open country before dark, as I knew the track on the prairie would be covered up, and hard to find in the dark. Could my dogs have gone ahead themselves, it would have been all right, but I had to keep in front, and open a road for them, for as I said, there had been a heavy snow fall, and the trail was drifted level with the prairie.

I was making good time., I thought, ahead of my dogs, when all of a sudden, I heard their bells at my heels. They had kept far in the rear all day, so I was sure something was up, and, sure enough, be- fore I had gone a quarter of a mile more. I struck a fresh Indian trail.

The Indians could not have been more than two hours ahead of me, and were going in the same direction as I was, so. though my load was pretty heavy, I jumped on the sled to take a rest, and the dogs seemed full of life once more, and started off at a good speed over the well beaten trail. We had gone only a few miles, when I saw the light from a campfire, and in a few minutes more arrived at a camp of Indians, who were on their way to my post to trade.

They had a good lot of furs and skins, and their sleighs were heavily loaded, and though they wished to go to the house that day, they found their dogs so tired, they made up their minds to camp for the night. I knew those Indians very well, and they were glad to see me, and the chief man of the party asked me to stay with them all night, and travel together to the trading post in the morning.

I was tired, and so were my dogs, and it did not require much persuasion to get me to let them make us comfortable for the night, so they took the harness from my dogs, unpacked my blankets and furs from the sleigh, and stored everything safely round the camp. They had reached the place where they were camped only about an hour before I arrived, but in that time they had made things look very comfortable. It takes an Indian, brought up in the woods or bush country, to make a comfortable camp, and this camp was no exception to the rule. The Indians were in good spirits, having made a good hunt since the fall, and they had plenty of dried meat and marrow, deer tongues and beavers’ tails, and many other Indian dainties in their sleighs.

The women of the party finished cooking the supper, and all did justice to it. The dogs were not forgotten, and they had a good feed of moose meat. A big fire was made after all were finished eating, and there was nothing to do but sit and talk. Chahche and Beaver Head told me they were on their way to the post to trade, and after that, they were going to a different part of the country where there was said to be more moose than where they had been since fall, and that they should have gone before, but Chahche’s old mother had been very ill, and for some time she had been unable to walk, so he had to wait till she was better. I asked him where his old mother was, as I knew her well, but had not seen her in the camp. He told me that during the afternoon of that day, she got tired, and thought it bet_ter to rest for a while, as the walking was hard on her, so Chahche told her to camp, and he would push on to the post, get rid of his load, and return for her and his two daughters, who stayed behind with the old grandmother.

During the night it got very stormy, and in the morning a blizzard was raging, and one could see only a short distance ahead through the blinding snow. I was up in good time in the morning, and ready to start for home, but Chahche said he thought it would be better to go back at once, and bring his mother and the girls to the camp, and save time. I told him I would go with him if he thought I could help him, and as my dogs were in better condition than his, we could make better time.

The old woman and the girls (one about sixteen, and the other about twelve) had camped about noon the day before across Ermine River, which was about fifteen miles from where we then were, most of the way through thick bush. So off I started with Chahche ahead of the dogs, as they, not liking to face the storm, tried to turn back and make for the camp more than once during the first half mile. After we reached the bush, we put the dogs ahead, and the Indian and myself ran behind. We were going along nicely, when suddenly the dogs stopped still on the trail, and I could see, what I thought was a log lying across the road.

I stepped ahead of the dogs to see what was the matter, and kicking away the snow, I was horrified to see it was the body of a child. Chahche looked at it, and said with the greatest agony possible,

“My own little daughter, my own little daughter!”

What had happened, we could not say, and the only thing to do was to push on to the camp where the old woman had been left. We could do nothing for the child, as she was quite dead, and the strange part of the matter was that she had hardly any clothes on her;. nothing but a thin calico dress, and a small shawl tied about her head. Chahche could not think what had happened, for he said she had been warmly clothed when he left them the day before. We had gone perhaps only four or five miles more, when we met the eldest of the girls on the trail, in much of the same state as the dead girl in the matter of clothes. She would not have lasted much longer, as she was already badly frozen.

I at once took my axe off my sleigh, and cut down a few branches, and made a fire, and Chahche and I rubbed the frozen limbs of the girl for about two hours before we thought she was safe.

After she was able to speak, she told her father that after he had left her and her sister and grandmother the day before, the old woman, after resting a while, thought she could make a few more miles without much trouble before night. So they started off, and when crossing the Ermine River near a rapid that was only partly frozen over, and not strong, the old woman broke through the, ice, arid the girls could not get her out for half an hour or more. As they could not drag her up, they had to chop away the ice from where the woman went in. When they got the poor old body out, and started a fire, the old woman was taken with great pain, and she made up her mind she was going to die. Her clothes were, of course, soaked and frozen to her body. The poor girls were almost wild with fear that their grandmother was going to die, so they made the camp as comfortable as possible, and after taking off most of their clothes; and putting them on their grandmother, they started together after their father.

The eldest girl took sick with cold before they had gone far, so the little one pushed ahead until it was impossible for her to go further, and she too was overcome with the cold, and gave up her life for her old grandmother.

We made the older girl as comfortable as possible on my sleigh, and on we went to where the old woman was left. We found her in a pretty had state, and she could not have lasted another day had we not arrived when we did.

When she was told of the death of the little girl, I think I never saw more sincere sorrow expressed, nor do I think anyone could be more sorry than that poor old creature was.

The old grandmother had many misgivings, and said, “O I wish it had been I who had died for you.”

The dear little girl had sacrificed herself for the sake of her grandmother, and may this incident bring before us the love the Lord Jesus showed to us. He looked upon us in all our need, and then in pity came into the world for the purpose of giving up His life for us. He said, when the time came for the cross, “For this cause came I unto this hour.” There was no one else who could meet the claims of God that stood against, us, but the Lord Jesus; so He would rather give Himself for us than to have us bear it. 0 what love! He had the right to stay in the glory in His bright home where there was no sin, but He loved us so much that He willingly gave all that up, and came into this world of sin and ruin, where He knew that the people would hate Him, and finally say, “Away with Him;” yet for such He gave Himself.

This poor old woman showed her sorrow and her love. Has the love of the Lord Jesus drawn out your heart to Him? Have you praised and thanked Him for dying for you? Can you say, “He loved me, and gave Himself for me”?

Messages of God’s Love 5/20/1923

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

IN our picture this week there is much that speaks of elegance and dignity. The costumes and manners of this little group are those of the last quarter of the eighteenth century. They may have everything that this world can give,—wealth, position, fame, and their time is spent in pleasing themselves. O, what a picture of the natural heart! ‘Will all this give happiness? Will it give satisfaction? No, my dear reader. “Behold, all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.” Eccles. 1:14. This world can give nothing to the longing heart. You may aim for great things, and your expectations may he realized, but are you at rest? Ah, no, you are still reaching out for more. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and where will all these vain things end, dear reader? Where shall the ungodly, and the sinner appear? Before a Holy and a Just God, One who cannot pass over sin.

Have you chosen the world, with all its allurements, dear young reader? Listen: There is a Saviour for you, whose love was so great that He gave up His life, suffered the agony of the cross, poured out His life’s blood, to atone for your sins, and to deliver you from this present evil world. Does not such love touch your hearts? 0, my clear friends, “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE.” JOSHUA 24:15.

Messages of God’s Love 5/27/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 18

Verse 2. “I am the Lord your God.” It is almost the first word in the chapter; it is the last, too, and several other times we can find it in this chapter. He is the one, and the only one for us, our Saviour. our Protector, our Hope.

The children of Israel should not be acting in the ways of the wicked world which they had left, nor of those of the land to which they were going, but they must follow God’s Word. In keeping His commandments, they would live by them. (Verse 5.) We must not confuse the law given through Moses, with the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17), but Christians are too easily careless about their ways and thoughts and words.

Verses 24-30. Over and over again, in the verses before these, the solemn words, “thou shalt not” tell us that man is a sinner, and he can’t be trusted. Nothing is too low, too bad, for him to do. The people are warned that the judgment of God will fall upon, not only the wicked nations, but will come upon themselves too, if they should take up with the wickedness which the nations were guilty of.

We who are Christians must not treat God’s grace lightly, and do as we please, or live to please ourselves.

“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.

Messages of God’s Love 5/27/1923

She Doesn't Love Jesus

SOME children were playing together in a house one evening, when one of them said,

“Let us sing some hymns.”

They all agreed to this, but one little girl whose name was Ada. She wanted some other amusement, and wouldn’t sing. The others, not thinking it right to mind a little girl who was rather noted for always wanting to have her own way, began to sing a hymn together, but Ada remained silent.

“Ah!” said one present, who was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, “Ada doesn’t want to sing, because she doesn’t love Jesus.”

Presently, while the others were singing happily together, Ada began to cry, but supposing this was only temper, nobody heeded it until bed-time, and then, as she was still crying, they began to tell her how naughty she was for being so stubborn. At first she made no reply, but, as she did not stop, one of them said,

“What can you be crying about now?” To the surprise of all, her answer was,

“Because I don’t love Jesus.” This unexpected answer changed everything, and now instead of scolding, they told her that if she did not love Jesus, He loved her, and that, as when on earth, He took little children up in His arms and blessed them, so now He would surely receive her if she would simply trust in His love. Before she went to bed that night, Ada was able to say that she loved Jesus, because He first loved her. I hope her love to Him will increase, that she may honor and serve Him more and more.

Dear young reader, do you know Jesus as your Saviour, or is it true of you, what Ada once said,

“I don’t love Jesus”?

Messages of God’s Love 5/27/1923

The City Gate.

I EXPECT that very few of my readers have ever lived in a city with a big wall around it, and immense iron gates that are closed every evening. That is the kind of a city where we are living just now. Outside the city there are many thieves and robbers, and a soldier stands at every gate with his gun in his hand to keep out anyone who has no right to enter.

Not long ago I went for a walk one afternoon in the fields outside the wall, and I am sorry to have to tell you I stayed a little too long, for when I reached “The East Gate”, and tried to enter the city to come home, I found the gate was shut. There was a man knocking and pounding at the gate trying to get in, but it was no use. There were two women talking very fast, explaining why they had come late, and perhaps, saddest of all, there were two or three children, just crying as if their hearts would break. As I looked at the shut gate, and then at the little crowd of people outside, I could not help but think of another gate where there will be a much larger crowd, trying much more earnestly to get in, but the only answer will be, “Depart from Me, into everlasting fire.” Yes, there will be weeping and wailing then, outside that gate,—more bitter weeping than people know anything about now, for they will be shut out of heaven, with no hope of ever entering in.

When I came up to the gate, somebody said, “You ask him to open it; perhaps he will do it for you,” but the others said sadly, “No, it’s no use.” I knew that it was no use trying to get in there, and I felt so sorry for the poor people, so I said, “Let’s hurry around to the South Gate and see if we can get in there.” The people very willingly agreed. The children stopped crying, and they put forth all their strength to strive to enter in at the other gate.

What does that make you think of? Doesn’t it remind you of the words of our Lord Jesus, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate”? Perhaps you think that its very easy to be saved,—very easy to enter through the gates into that Heavenly City. I never remember the Lord Jesus telling us that. If a thing is very easy, we do not need to strive to do it, yet the Lord says, “Strive to enter in.” He says again, “They that seek Me early shall find Me.” If we have a hard job to do, perhaps we get up early to get at it, so as to be able to do it. That is how it is with getting saved. It’s terribly important, and there is nothing in the whole world that is so hard.

The Bible speaks of “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.”

That, dear children, is the power that is needed to save one of you little ones. There is nothing in your whole lives so important. Compared to that there is nothing else that matters. If you are not already saved, let me beg you to copy those people who were left outside the city gate, and put forth all your strength to “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.”

It would have been serious if we had not been able to get into the city, but nothing compared to the seriousness of your case, dear child, if you are left outside that door,—never, never to enter heaven, but to spend eternity in hell with the devil and his angels.

I am thankful to be able to tell you that we reached the South Gate in time. The soldier let us all pass, and soon we were safely at home. It was not many days after that afternoon, that again I was outside the city. This time there were many more robbers outside the city, and all the city gates but one were closed, both day and night. As I came up to this one gate, I saw that the two big doors were drawn together until there was just room for one man at a time to squeeze through. There was a big chain across the little opening of the doors, and anyone who wished to enter the city, must bow down and go under that chain. That was not all, for inside the gate there were four soldiers with their guns, and as each man entered the city he was searched to see what he was trying to bring in. The people did not like this, for nobody likes to have to bow down, nor does anyone like to be told that he must leave some of his things outside. Some, indeed, were not allowed in at all, for they had no right to enter in through the gates into the city.

This gate reminds me very much of the strait gate that the Lord Jesus tells us about. Strait means narrow, like the little slit between the doors of the city gate where I entered. Only one person can come at a time. You cannot say, “Well, I’ll be saved if my friend will.” No, if you want to be saved, you must come all by yourself, and like I had to do to enter the city, so you must do. You must bow down, and humbly before God tell Him that you are a poor lost sinner, and you want Him to save you.

Do you remember that the Lord Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved? So, when you come to that gate to enter that heavenly city, there are many things you must leave outside. Like those four soldiers who searched everyone as they tried to enter, so the eye of God searches your heart, and if you are trying to bring in some of your own good works, some of your own righteousness; indeed, if you are trying to bring anything in, if you are trying to make any bargain with God as to what you may keep, and what you must leave behind, then I am sure you will be turned back, like some were at this city gate.

But perhaps you ask, “Well, who can get in? How can I have a right to enter in through that gate into the city, and be sure of not being turned back?”

Listen, and I will tell you. In my little New Testament that I carry in my pocket, (it is the New Translation), I read in Rev. 22:14,

“Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life, and that they should go in by the gates into the city.”

There is the only right, the only title that will ever let you enter that heavenly city. If you have your robes washed in the precious blood of Christ, then you have a perfect right to the tree of life; then you may enter in by the gates into the city. If you still, are keeping the filthy rags of your own righteousness, your own goodness, then let me tell you very plainly, and very sadly, that you have no right to enter the heavenly city. Your only right is to enter the lake of fire.

Do not put off. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Do not sleep tonight till you know that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son has cleansed you from all sin.

What will you do without Him,

When He hath shut the door,

And you are left outside, for

You would not come before?

When it is no use knocking,

No use to stand and wait;

To hear those words of sorrow,

That terrible “Too Late!”

Why should you do without Him?

It is not yet too late;

The day of grace continues,

He has not shut the gate.

He calls you He calls you!

He would not have you go

Another step without Him,

Because He loves you so.

Why will you do without Him?

He calls and calls again—

“Come unto Me! O now come!”

O, shall He call in vain?

He wants to have you with Him;

Do you not want Him too?

You cannot do without Him,

And He wants even you.

Messages of God’s Love 5/27/1923

Bible Questions for June

Answers to Bible Questions for April.

1. “For the eyes of the,” etc. 1 Peter 3:12.

2. “Behold, what manner of,” etc. 1 John 3:1.

3. “Now unto Him,” etc. Jude 24.

4. “For as the body without,” etc. James 2:26.

5. “Choosing rather to,” etc. Hebrews 11:25.

6. “If there come any,” etc. 2 John 10.

7. “The Lord knoweth,” etc. 2 Peter 2:9.

Bible Questions for June

The Answers are to be found in Matthew

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Went and told.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The flesh is weak.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Exceeding great joy.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Is come to save.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Confess Me before men.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Go work today.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Love, bless, do good.”

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 19

Here we learn more of ways that are pleasing to God, and the second verse gives us a key word for the chapter, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.”

Verse 3. Notice, dear boys and girls, that the mother comes first. “Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.” God sets here first the one that naturally we are not so much afraid of, and the one whom we are apt to impose upon. He knows our hearts down to the youngest.

Verse 4. None but the true God is to have our thoughts. Perhaps you do not believe in the idols the poor heathen of China and India and some other countries have: you may laugh at them but if God does not fill your heart, you have something that Satan has given you for an idol, instead of God.

Verses 5-8. We have the sacrifice of peace or thank offerings. Unless we read God’s Word every day, and keep in prayerful nearness to Him, we, who are His children, will have only stale offerings to give of praise to God.

If we are saved, we ought to be happy in the Lord, but, remember, the Word of God every day, and constant prayer, are needed if we are to grow in the new life given to us by Him.

Verses 9-18 tell us of thought and care for the poor, and ways of conduct toward one another that would be acceptable to God. In verse 18, we have the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. None but One ever did this, and that is the Lord Jesus, as we plainly see from Luke 10:25- 37.

Even to things we might think of too small interest for God to take notice, the people are taught the meaning of “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” in this chapter. So we can truly say that we to-day, who belong to the Lord by faith in the precious blood of Jesus, have not been left to decide about our conduct in anything. All that we should be in thought, in word, and in behavior, is written down for God’s children in His Word.

Fifteen times in this chapter the words are repeated “I am the Lord,” or “I am the Lord your God.” Is He your Lord, and your God?

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

My, Instead of Our

TELLING the story of his conversion, a young man said,

“I had heard the gospel from my earliest years. I could repeat John 3:16 when I was three years old; and when asked the way of salvation as a school boy, I would reply,

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

Notwithstanding all this, I was not saved; I had not appropriated to myself the salvation of which I knew so much. There was a text on my bed-room wall, and it was this,

`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. 53:6.

Coming home one night, after hearing the Word preached, I sat down alone, and began to think. I was far from being happy, far from being at rest. I knew I lacked something, I was not at peace. Often I had heard about putting in “I” and “my”, and how some had been saved in so doing. So I read the verse on the wall.

`He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and with His stripes I am healed.’

This was simple enough. Yet, what a change it wrought! I saw it meant me, my own self, that it was for me He died, for me He suffered, that by His stripes was healed, saved, set free. I simply took it to myself, and put in my claim as one for whom Christ died.”

Dear children, this is what you must do, in order to be saved. Personal appropriation of Christ, brings immediate salvation. There are thousands who know the “plan of salvation,” who have not taken it to themselves, have not personally received the Gift, of God. May this not be so with you, my dear little friends. Accept Him now as your own dear Saviour and Lord, and joy shall be yours for time and eternity.

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

The Echo in the Woods

IT was a bright May morning, the birds warbled among the trees, and Josie and his schoolmates walked along the flowery lane leading from their country home, to the village school. A pretty bird flew out of a thick fir tree in the woods, close by the road, and two of the boys cried out at once, “A nest!”

In a few moments books were thrown down, and one or two quickly climbing the tree, were looking for the nest. After quite twenty minutes’ search, they had to descend disappointed, for no nest was there. While all this was going on, time had been passing, so that while they were still in the woods, the school bell rang. This, as they knew well, meant that they would be “late,” and “kept in,” at the close of the lessons. “Let’s stay in the woods till dinner time,” said one, “nobody will ever know.”

That arrangement found general favor, and although Josie knew well that his parents prohibited him from stealing nests in the woods, and would be very grieved if they knew that he played truant. He fell in with the plan, and was soon as much interested in the proceedings as the rest. Still he was far from easy, and while the others were up searching for nests, he listened, thinking- every passing step might be his father going to the market.

A baker’s wagon passed along the road, and the driver, probably seeing the boys robbing a nest, shouted as he passed,

“Be sure your sin will find you out!”

Whether the boys in the tree heard them or not, the strange words fell distinctly on Josie’s ear, as they echoed among the trees. How he wished he had not come there, but it was no use wishing that now. He was glad to get out of the woods, but very unhappy at the thought of appearing before his father and mother. The words which, echoed through the woods, seemed to still sound in his ear,

“Be sure your sin will find you out.”

Nothing was said at dinner time, his parents not suspecting anything wrong, but at night when Josie came to give his father and mother his evening kiss, and say “good-night”, he broke down and told the story.

Grieved as his parents were, they sought to show him how God had sent that voice to sound the warning text in his ear, that he might be awakened to the sinfulness of his ways, and be thus made to see the need of the Saviour.

Josie never forgot that day on which he played truant, nor the text which was echoed through the woods. He is now a happy Christian boy, saved and on the way to heaven.

Dear boys and girls, let the echoed words speak this day to you—”Be sure your sin will find you out.” Sin may be very sweet in its bud, but the fruit thereof will be bitterness and sorrow. Hasten to the Saviour in the days of youth; He also can remove sin’s stains, and break sin’s power, giving peace to the conscience, and rest to the heart.

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

Lambs and Sheep

HOW quiet and restful everything appears in our picture this week, dear children. The old home, the blossoming tree, the lambs and sheen. the dear little ones, and youthful mother, all present a very happy scene.

But sin has spoiled it all; marred all the beauty of creation; made little boys’ and girl’s hearts deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, and mother’s heart, too.

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

I am sure that every boy and girl will own that they have sinned, and have done many naughty things during their short life. We all have gone astray, God’s Word says so, dear children. What is the remedy for us, dear boys and girls? It is for us to know the loving Saviour’s heart, the One who left the highest glory, and came down to the lowest depths, down to the cross, suffered, bled, and died, to save all who trust Him fully.

Will you come to Him to-day, and become one of His little lambs?

We have lambs and sheep in our picture. They have no souls to save, but boys and girls have, and when they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are called the lambs and sheep of His flock, and He says,

“I am the good .Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” John 10:14.

Where is a poor little lamb safe? When it is near the shepherd, and among the flock. So Jesus’ little lambs are perfectly safe for eternity, and their desire will be to keep near to “The Good Shepherd”, and find their pleasure among the lambs and sheep of His flock.

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND.” JOHN 10:27-28.

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

Trust

Look, Johnny,” says Elsie, “the sparrows have come again because the door is open. Throw out some more crumbs. There, isn’t that one bold!” and Johnny calls it, and it hops right in at the open door. Johnny’s sister Elsie has been taught the verse,

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” Matt. 10:29.

“Yes, Johnny, I think they trust us because we are kind to them, and isn’t it wonderful that God in heaven, the great God who created us, should say in my verse that not one of those little brown sparrows falls without Him?”

Just then Daddy came home, and hearing what Johnny and Elsie had been saying, called them to him, and read these verses to them as a little lesson on trust.

“The Lord is great in power, the Lord is good. He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1.

“There is no fear in love: (God’s) perfect love casteth out fear.” 1 John 4:18.

“I will trust and not be afraid.” Isa. 12:2.

“Fear ye not ... . ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matt. 10:31.

Messages of God’s Love 6/3/1923

Help in the Time of Need

ONE sunny day, little Frank was sauntering home from school at about 4 P. M. when, as he neared his own home, he saw Eliza, the wife of one of his father’s servants, dragging along a large branch of a tree, which the wind, a few days before, had blown down.

“Let me help you, Eliza,” said the kind hearted boy; and therefore he lifted up the other end of the bough, thus lightening the burden for her.

“Thank you, Master Frank,” said the woman. “O, if you could help me to bear my burden of sins, that would be a great comfort. But here I go, dragging them about, day after day, and every day they grow heavier.”

“But Eliza,” said Frank, “my teacher says, We don’t need to carry the burden of our sins. Jesus Christ bore them all for us. If you will only believe in Him, Eliza, you will be happy.”

“Ah,” she said, “I see it now. I have been trying to bear my own sins, when the Bible says, ‘Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.”

The load was lifted, and she went home rejoicing.

Was it not nice that little Frank was able to tell Eliza about the Lord Jesus as a Saviour, and that she accepted Him at once? Why should he not, for he had put his trust in the Saviour, and had believed the love shown to him in that Christ died for his sins. The knowledge of his sins forgiven had given him joy and peace, and he wanted others to share the same happiness with him.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 20

A dreadful list of crimes is in this chapter, from which we turn, ashamed to think that anyone could be guilty of such things. But God well knew what human hearts can hold, and so, to a people that wished to be known as His, He must tell of things He would not allow; of sins that would surely bring on punishment—sure, if not always swift.

“Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel ... . he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.”

This, from verse 2, was for those who took up with the idols of the heathen nations, and sacrificed their children to the god Molech, but all through these chapters, the rule was the same—the one who sins is to be punished. But it is not so much man’s, as it is God’s punishment that we have reason to fear. In this God has not changed.

The wages of sin is still death:

Dear young reader, you were born a sinner. You have added to the sinful nature which you received at your birth, many a sin against God. Yet, blessed be God,

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Have you accepted Him?

Verses 22-26 are a summing up of God’s wishes for those who are His children. “All” His statutes, and “all” His judgments they were to “keep,” and to “do.” They were not to walk in the ways of those rebels against God who were about to come under His judgment.

Then a good land, a land of plenty, God’s land, to be the home of a people separated by Him from all around, was to be their home.

Although these verses were addressed to Israel, and spoke of the land of Canaan, we may surely take them to heart, and if we are really converted, we shall seek to please God in the same ways, looking on to a heavenly home, instead of an earthly one.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

Little Paul

IN the City of S .. lives a little boy who has been an invalid for a few years; and as his mamma had a little baby, and his grandma was living with them, she used to nurse and care for little Paul, (for this was his name,) as though he had been one of her own. So, of course, Paul dearly loved his grandma, and told her what he would have told but few.

He was now about five years of age, and as he was growing much stronger, his dear aged grandma left him for several months, to go and see one of her daughters.

Before leaving, when little Paul would ask her if she would do this or that someday, her answer would be, “Yes, if I live.” for she was very aged, and she knew that she must shortly leave her body to await the resurrection, if the Lord did not come very soon. This troubled Paul, and during his grandmother’s absence, he often asked his mother to sit down, and he would dictate to her what to write to his grandmother. He wrote nice letters, and always inquired about her health.

But soon something else than his grandmother’s health troubled him, and perhaps you will be surprised, dear little reader, when I tell you what this was. It was nothing about Grandma or anyone else; but it was about himself, about his sins, and about where he would spend that long eternity, if the Lord should come, or if he was to die. Again he wrote and told his grandma, and said,

“Often I am, so worried, because I am afraid I don’t believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This surprised her very much, for she had often heard him speak of Jesus very nicely, but, knowing the great difference between talking about Jesus, and really believing on Him from the heart, she once more told him of the love of God to poor sinners, and how He had said in the 3rd Chapter of John, the 16th verse,

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life;” and that God was willing to save him, for He said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;” and, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven;” Matt. 19:14, and “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1. John 1:7.

Well, dear little Paul thought of all this, and told his papa, who read to him many more passages of Scripture, and asked the Lord for his little son. Soon after this Paul accepted Jesus as his Saviour, and wrote to his grandma, that now his “worriness” was all gone, and he was happy, for he believed in Jesus, and was sure he was saved, for God said so.

Since then, he has had no more trouble, but has been happy in the thought of going to be with Jesus:

And now, dear little reader, what about you? Do you think perhaps that you have never clone anything very bad, and of course you will go to heaven? Little Paul had never done anything very wrong, but he knew that by nature he was a sinner, and he had had some naughty thoughts, and at times naughty actions, and as God was perfectly holy, and sin could not enter His presence, he could not go to God in his sins, and so needed a Saviour.

You too, my dear children, all need a Saviour, and you must not wait until you grow up before you think of these things, for the Lord Jesus says, “Surely, I come quickly.” O, think of having papa, main, ma, brothers and sisters, perhaps gone, and you left behind! O, no; do not delay coming to Jesus for one day.

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

In conclusion, dear young reader, do not think that because your parents are Christians perhaps, and have often prayed for you, that this will save you. 0, no; you must do as little Paul did, think of yourself, of your sins, and where you would go if you were to die tonight. Satan says, Never mind, wait a little, there is plenty of time; but God says, NOW, do not delay: Dear little ones, there are only two places, with Jesus, or away from Him forever.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:30, 31.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

The Careless Shepherd

WHILE spending a few days in the country last summer, saw an incident which I wish to bring before my readers.

Some relatives and I were returning from a walk in the cool of the evening, when we came upon a sheep lying on the roadside.

The shepherd being there, explained that, during his absence the sheep had fallen through the hedge into the ditch on the other side, breaking one of its legs by the fall. “What a careless shepherd;” you may say.

Yes! but you see he was only a man, and had no power to care for the sheep during his absence. He might love them ever so much, yet he was not able to guard them from danger unless present with them.

Now I want to tell you of the Shepherd who is more loving and careful of His sheep than that, for He never leaves them by day, or by night. Who is this Shepherd? ‘Tis Jesus the only begotten Son of God. We real the Lord’s own words in John 10:11, where He says,

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

How much better to be one of the flock of Him who could say, “I am the good Shepherd,” than to be one of the flock whose shepherd could not watch them all the time.

All that is necessary to become one of the good Shepherd’s flock is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as shown in Acts 16:31, and then you will he able to say,

My Shepherd is the Lord,

He washed me with. His blood,

And now I wait His face to see,

In yonder glory bright.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

Do You Ever Sing Lies?

I WAS always fond of singing. Our day school teacher formed a sort of amateur “choir” to assist in the singing in our Sunday school, and I was one of them. During the winter, there was to be a week night service, and the teacher was anxious that we should lead the singing there. We went, and were flattered by being told, how well we sang. One night, a speaker from a distance was to address the meeting. After the opening hymn, and prayer, he began his address by turning round to “the singers,” and asking,

“Do you ever sing lies to God?”

We were thunderstruck at that question, and thought he must be “out of his head.” But he soon explained by telling us it was as bad to “sing lies” as to “tell” them, and worse if we “sang lies to God.”

All are guilty of this who sing.

“Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away,” and “Christ for me,” if they are not converted.

Some of the girls were angry, and said they would not go back, but I felt what the man said was true. My sins came vividly before me, and I never had peace again till I came as a sinner to the Saviour to receive “forgiveness of sins.”

“What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup-of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” Psa. 116:12, 13.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

An Orphan Child

WHEN the gospel was being preached to the black people in South Africa, a little orphan girl came to the missionary and said: “Sir I have no father or mother, but I wish to make Jesus Christ my father and mother.”

“Do you know you need a Saviour?”

“O yes,” she replied, “for I was born in sin.”

“Do you think Jesus Christ can save you?”

“Yes, for He died for sinners.”

Thus we see that even children in that dark land can learn the way of salvation.

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

The Saviour's Love

Jesus from the glory came,

Ever blessed be His name!

Came to die for sinful men,

Then went back to heaven again.

What a mercy ‘tis to know

Jesus loveth sinners so;

What a mercy ‘tis to prove

Young in years, the Saviour’s love!

Messages of God’s Love 6/10/1923

Gentleness

AS we look at our picture this week, dear children, does it not speak to you of “Gentleness”? What a happy little scene this is! The mother dog looking into the children’s mother’s face, begging for food. Her kindly, gentle, sympathetic manner, will not, I am sure, overlook doggie’s need, and also that of the puppies.

How gentle the children are with these wee things! They are God’s creation. and God delights to see us gentle, and kind to His creatures.

Many boys, and girls too are unkind to dumb animals; they tease and hurt them, forgetful of that scripture,

“Thou God seest me.”

When you know, dear boys and girls, the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, your hearts will no longer be hard and cold, “Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.”, Rom. 5:5.

That love goes out to one another, and makes us gentle and kind to all, even to the dumb creatures.

A boy went home from a meeting one evening, and told his sister that he had a new heart.

“Have you,” she innocently replied, then please show it to me.”

This is what all Christians have to: to show in their changed life, and conduct, that they have a new nature, a new, divine, eternal life, given them when they put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour.

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

Never forget, dear children, that “Gentleness” is placed by God among the fruit of the spirit. We have one perfect pattern of gentleness, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Little children were never afraid of Him.

“SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME, AND FORBID THEM NOT: FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Luke 18:16.

Messages of God’s Love 6/17/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 21

We have finished with God’s directions to the people of Israel, and in this chapter and the following one, we are given to read what He had to say to those who were able to come near to Him in the tabernacle. In them, the priests, we have a “type” or picture of those who, in our day, are saved.

Every child of God is a priest now, privileged, as 1 Peter 2:5 says, “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” and as we are told in Hebrews 13:15,

“By Him (the Lord Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good, and to communicate (to give of what you have) forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

And being priests, privileged to draw near to God, they must not defile themselves, make themselves unclean, or be guilty of anything that would be dishonoring to God.

Some of the sons might not be able to act as priests (verse 21), but they were priests by birth, and it was only the blemishes that kept them away from the priest’s privileges.

So it is with many Christians: s:Ane are “blind”—unable to “see” clearly, because this world and the Lord divide their thoughts. Others are “lame” in their spiritual lives, and many are “dwarfs” in the things of God, all because the Lord Jesus does not fill their hearts and minds, and the Word of God is not enough for their spiritual food.

Let us take warning, dear young Christian, and by prayer and diligent reading of God’s Word, seek to be of full growth spiritually.

“Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18.

Messages of God’s Love 6/17/1923

Little Children, Come to Jesus

Little children, come to Jesus,

Hark! He calls you, come away;

Little children, come to Jesus

In this bright and gospel day.

Trust upon His sacred promise,

Lean upon His loving breast;

Little children, come to Jesus

He alone can give you rest.

Messages of God’s Love 6/17/1923

Saved From Great Danger

THERE was a sailor on board a merchant vessel who feared the Lord; and a cabin-boy whose godly mother had recommended him to the sailor. The sailor’s name was Jacob Mills and the cabin-boy’s, Sam Rose. Although this vessel was not fitted up, to accommodate passengers, still on the return voyage from the West Indies, they took on board a young English officer, who, on account of poor health, was obliged to return to his native land. One day sitting on deck, his eye fell on Jacob Mills, who Was attentively reading.

“So, Jacob,” he said, “are you busy killing time?”

“No, sir!” answered Jacob, “I’m busy winning time. I am reading the Bible. When we have stormy weather, I have no time to read, and so I am getting it back now.”

The officer smiled, wondering to himself, how anyone could take pleasure in reading the Bible. “There are not many sailors so religious as you are,” he said. “How does it come that you are so different from the others?”

“Well, sir! when first I went to sea, I had much to suffer on account of the little bit of religion I had then, and this only made me cling more and more to it. My captain was a rough man, who had me punished for the least little thing, and made me do all sorts of dangerous work. I remember well that once in a terrific storm, when we all thought that we were going to the bottom,, I fell on my knees and implored God to save us. The captain flew into a rage, cursed, and swore that he would have no praying in his ship, and ordered me up in the mast to fasten the ropes. The first mate begged him to let a man do the work, but he wouldn’t listen, and said, that he would cure me of praying. So I was obliged to climb the mast. But instead of ceasing to pray, I decided on praying more than ever. Well, sir, not long afterwards, the captain was taken, very sick, and thought he was going to die. One day he sent for me, and asked me if I would read him a chapter out of the Bible. Then he asked me to pray for him, as there was no one on board, who could do so. I prayed as well as I could and I’ve never seen anybody so eager to hear about the Saviour. He lived a few weeks longer, and was quite changed. He died happy, all his trust was in Jesus.”

The officer smilingly shrugged his shoulders, and muttered something about “folly and superstition,” little imagining, that soon he would be called on to realize the solemn reality of eternity.

Two weeks later there were many days of calm, so that the ship remained in one spot. To pass away the time, the officer suggested rowing across to an island just opposite to where they were. Jacob and Sam had orders to row him over. After spending some hours pleasantly on the island, Jacob noticed that the weather was changing, and urged them to get into the boat and return to the ship as quickly as possible. The change in the weather was so sudden, that when they reached their boat, the sea that for days had been like a looking-glass, was covered with foam, and huge breakers thundered against the strand. It caused them some trouble to get their boat afloat, and Jacob saw that it would take all their strength to reach the vessel in time. He and Sam did their very best, while the officer steered; wind and waves were against them, but still they were making pretty good progress.

“There is no danger, sir! but it will be hard to get there.” Scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when a heavy shock knocked them all down, the boat had hit a sharp-pointed rock, and then turned over; all three fell in the water. Jacob and Sam caught on to the boat, but the officer sank. A moment later he rose to the surface, and Jacob throwing him an oar, called out to him to hold it fast and he would come to his help. The officer clung to the oar with all his might.

“If he can only hold on until I come to him,” said Jacob to himself. With one hand holding on to the boat, he tried with the other arm to swim! to him’. He heard the officer calling on God to have mercy on him. He had only a few yards more to reach him, when a mighty wave came and covered the poor officer; a moment later, and the oar only was to be seen floating—the young man had vanished in the depths of the ocean, there to remain until the resurrection, when the sea must give up its dead. The unfortunate man had suddenly and unexpectedly passed from time to eternity, to appear before the living and righteous God. Jacob shuddered at the thought of his going so unprepared. It is indeed true, that in the midst of life we are in death.

O, dear reader! think of this, and be saved while there is yet time; to-morrow may be too late for ever!

Jacob and Sam were in great danger. They still held on to the boat, and endeavored to keep their heads above water. They wouldn’t be able to do so much longer, and Jacob saw the moment approaching when they, too, must sink to the bottom. But all at once they were lifted by a large wave and thrown onto a low rock, to which they clung. They were filled with thanks to God, as for the moment they were safe.

“Look, Sam!” cried Jacob, after rubbing the water out of his eyes, “they are sending out a boat to get us! We must put out a flag, or else they won’t be able to find us.”

To take off their vests, fasten them to an oar and hold it up, was but the work of a moment.

“Now we can only pray, Sam!” said Jacob; and from his lips, a short, but earnest petition went up, such as one only hears from those who are facing death.

The boat came nearer; they could hear the oars, and the voices of the sailors.

“Will they be here in time, before the tide covers us?” asked Sam in a trembling voice.

“I doubt it,” was Jacob’s answer. “As far as I can judge, it will take them, ten minutes to reach us, and in five minutes the tide will have covered the rocks.”

“I thought so,” said Sam, “and then ... ..

“May the Lord have mercy on us!” answered Jacob.

“Amen!” said Sam, and he prayed to God that his sins might be washed away in the blood of Christ. He had often prayed for that before, but never as now when facing death. It seemed to him as if the words of John: “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” rang in his ears like a message from God.

The water was now flowing over the rock; they could no longer stand up, but were obliged to lie down, trying to hold it fast.

“We will soon be at home; cling to Christ, Sam!” said Jacob; and scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when a wave dashed them off of the rock and dragged them out in the sea. But they were not to perish! At the same moment the boat had come quite close, and two of the sailors with life-preservers on, jumped into the sea, caught hold of them and pulled them into the boat. An hour later they were lying in their berths in the ship, resting after all they had gone through. They were both thankful to the Lord for His mercy, and devoted their lives to Him, who had saved them, not only from a temporal, but also from an eternal death.

Messages of God’s Love 6/17/1923

Answered Prayer

TERRIBLE neuralgic pains compelled Mrs. N. to weep in agony. A fair little one, not yet three years of age, was standing by, trying to wipe away with his little handkerchief the tears of his dear suffering mamma.

“Why, mamma darling, do you not send for Dr. Y?”

“It is of no use, dear; man can do me no good: Jesus only can make me well, or give me patience to bear the pain.”

The little child suddenly knelt down, joined together his little hands, put his head down, and with beautiful simplicity, fervor, and liberty, prayed thus:

“Good Lord Jesus, I don’t like to see my mamma so ill. Dr. Y. cannot make her well. You can send away the naughty pains.”

One hour after that prayer of faith, the sick mother was relieved from the fearful pains of the tic douleureux. The mother, with her heart full of grateful praise to God, could not refrain from kissing her darling child. The little one seeing his mamma smiling, smiled too. It was the intelligent smile of faith.

“I knew, mamma, you would soon be better, because Jesus can make us well.”

“Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?”

Messages of God’s Love 6/17/1923

A Tea-Party Under the Trees

MANY of our young friends, no doubt, have often enjoyed an evening meal under the trees. How refreshing it is during the hot summer days, to go to a park, or some shady nook, near the water for a little outing.

How the dear children look forward to it; and their parents too, find much pleasure in being with their little ones. Father and mother watch their enjoyment, and enter into their simple amusements, and we can imagine the dear little ones, at the close, saying, What a happy time we have had!

But, remember, dear children, unless your sins are washed away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you are ready to go when He comes to take away all of His own, you do not .know what true happiness is.

“ WHOSO TRUSTETH IN THE LORD, HAPPY IS HE.” Prov. 16:20.

If the Lord should come to-day, how many of you would be caught up with Him? It will be only those who are under the shelter of His precious blood.

I heard this week of a dear young girl who has recently accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and has peace with God, and now her heart is full of joy, and she is happy in Him, and will, through grace, be among those who will be changed at His corning—caught up to be forever with Him.

Will you be among the number?

What peace and joy this gives to the heart, wherever you are, and whenever that shout takes place, you will be ready to go. It may be while you are having a little tea-party in the woods, or while you are at school, at home, or at Sunday school.

“Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40.

Messages of God’s Love 6/24/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 22

Aaron and his sons, who here foreshadow the heavenly people, were more truly separated to God, than the earthly people, the children of Israel. If there was anything that made them unfit to act as priests, because of not realizing what was due to God, they must keep at a distance, until they were clean.

Verse 10: only the family of God could share in’ the priest’s food.

Verses 17 to 25 are addressed to all the people, as well as to Aaron and his sons, and speak of the sacrifices. Nothing but perfect and whole offerings could be accepted, for indeed, nothing else would do as a type, or picture of God’s Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. But, sad to say, we have only to turn to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, Chapter 1, to find that God was neglected, and dishonored by these very people.

Messages of God’s Love 6/24/1923

The Conversion of a Hindoo

The Capitol of Northern India was formerly the famous Delhi or Dille, on the river Januma, where many heathen kings reigned in turn, until in the year 1193 the Mohammedans came down from the Afghanistan Mountains and besieged it. Here later the great Mogul lived, in a palace with a costly silver roof; in his reception-hall stood the peacock throne, on the hack ‘of which a peacock was represented with its tail proudly spread out, entirely made of precious stones. In this hall one could read on the four walls a sentence which translated meant: “If there is a paradise on earth, it is here.” But it was an undesirable paradise; for often terrible things happened in that palace.

In the year 1803 the English conquered it, and with them came Christendom. It penetrated very slowly, till in 1857 the great mutiny broke out, in which nearly all the Christians were murdered, or driven away by the furious. Mohammedans. For three months long the English ‘besieged the rebellious city, at last after a desperate resistance it fell into their hands. Now it is the principal station of the mission, and counts among its 116,000 inhabitants, 1400 Christians, mostly Hindoos, and some Mohammedans, who are redeemed by the blood of Christ.

The chief street of Delhi, the name of which is Tschank ni Tschank, runs, nearly 2 miles long, from the fort to the Lahore gate, and is 74 feet wide.

But the other streets are narrow and crooked, except the silver street, which is beautiful and clean. A delightful avenue of trees shades the side-walk which is higher than the road.

The most of the newly converted in India are very weak characters who need to be constantly looked after. Quite another person was Sabha Tschand, the oldest son of a nobleman of Rona. From this village (about 40 miles distant from Delhi) in the year 1861 he went at one time to the city to transact some business, and heard there for the first time, the gospel preached. This was something new to him. He bought a Testament in the Hindoo language, and took it with . him to his village. For six months he read it daily in secret (as there they would have nothing to do with Christians), generally in a field, or under a tree, where, too, he began to pray to the Lord. And so he found the truth, or rather, as a lost sheep, the Good Shepherd found him. (Luke 15:4, 7.) He read too in God’s Word, that he ought to be baptized, and confess publicly his Lord. For this he went to Delhi, told the Missionary Evans of his conversion, and according to his desire was baptized in the Januma. He remained a few days with his new friends, and then saying that he must tell his old friends about the Saviour he had found, he left, taking with him a number of books.

But what a noise was made when he declared to his people, that he was a Christian. In vain did he defend himself . against those who wanted to throw him out of the village, of which he was part owner. He showed them that his, belief had nothing to do with eating meat, that he would have nothing to do with false gods, but that he loved his family as dearly as ever.

They would not listen to him, and pushed him as an outcast out of the village. His wife and children were sent away to another village, and all his cattle were taken to his father-in-law. The uncle took possession of his property, and so he was obliged to put up a tent under a tree in the wilderness, where he spent eight months alone—alone with his God and his Bible. He was sometimes much discouraged. Once he remarked:

“I have now taken up my cross for Christ’s sake, and I often ask myself, if I shall be able to carry it.” But God helped him, so that the cross did not become too heavy for him. ,

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?”

Every day he visited the village, although he was not permitted to take water from the fountain. He let them insult him and curse him, but seized every opportunity of testifying for the Lord, remembering his Master’s word:

“Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8.

At last people were amazed at his patience and perseverance. Some came by night to his hut, to hear him read, pray and sing. The prejudices they had against him, slowly melted away. Tremblingly his wife approached the miserable hut one evening, and asked timidly: “Will you take me back?” She expected blows; but was surprised when taking her by the hand, he welcomed her warmly.

“But,” said she, “my father has sold the best of the livestock, and spent the money.”

“That doesn’t matter,” was his answer, “I am glad to have you with me again.”

After this, the children returned to their father; he was also given back some of his land, and allowed to come back to his home in the village. When his friends visited him now, they found that by his meekness and cheerfulness he had gained many friends in the country around. But not his near relatives; his uncle was so bitter that he threatened the Missionaries’ lives. In spite of his poverty, 35 families joined him. Because they refused to break off with him, they were excluded by the caste to which they belonged. They said:

“How can we reject him, he has become another man?”

All the land there is irrigated by canals, but the rulers of the village kept back the water from his rice-fields. What must he do? He laid the matter before the Lord in prayer. His rice plants were drying up, and behold, suddenly the darn of the river broke through, and a stream of water poured over his fields, only over his—and his crop was saved.

Once in the village he had spoken against idols; now there was in that place the tomb of a famous holy personage, and , crowds of people came there to worship. He explained to them how foolish and wrong it was.

“All right,” they said, “if this holy one is nothing, then destroy his grave, and if you are alive ten days after doing that, then we will never come here again to worship.”

This was hard for him, how could he lay hands on a place that he had been taught from a child to honor? Again he prayed to God for wisdom to act right. The following morning he spoke to the villagers and asked if they wished him to throw down the memorial pillar. “Yes,” they said, “destroy it, and if, in ten days you are still living, then that holy thing is nothing.”

To the horror of the crowd he dug round the sacred object, and broke the indestructible stone to pieces.

Then ten days passed and nothing happened to him. From that time the villagers in his neighborhood gave up going to that place to worship. But all sorts of enemies complained about him, and tried to have him killed, but God guarded him wonderfully; from experience he could say:

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psa. 34:7.

For twenty years Sabha Tschand carried on the work of an evangelist, and went through the whole North-West of India with the glad tidings, with this message—

“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.

His son Serup Sing was also a faithful preacher. To him he once said that when he died, he wished to be buried under the fig-tree where he had first learned to know the Lord, and later on had placed his hut.

In December 1880 he returned to Rona, and testified there for Christ for the last ‘time. To his son, who was just then on his way to preach in Turhoet, he wrote that he was lying in bed stiff and scarcely able to breathe. He wished Serup Sing to come and bury him, as his other unbelieving sons, would probably according to heathen custom, have him burned. Serup Sing hurried at once to Rona, but found that his father was already buried. On the 21St of December 1880 he had fallen asleep, and before the end, he had spoken so joyfully of Jesus his Saviour, to Whom he was going, that all his sons believed in the same Saviour and were baptized. (Acts 8).

Yes, beloved reader, in the same Saviour, for the Lord Jesus said:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. Salvation is in no other, “for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts. 4:12.

Serup Sing remained in Rona, and we may believe that from the twenty years sowing the seed with tears, of his faithful father, a rich harvest will grow. How many through his preaching in the streets and suburbs of Delhi have been brought to the Saviour of sinners, will only be revealed at the coming of Christ. Yes, truly, God desires to have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Messages of God’s Love 6/24/1923

Jesus is Mine

Jesus is mine,

How great is this thought,

I cannot but love Him,

My soul He has bought.

Jesus is mine,

My sins are all gone;

He suffered at Calv’ry,

The mighty work’s done.

Jesus is mine,

I know this is true;

He guides me and shields me,

All the day through.

Jesus is mine,

He now is above;

But soon. I shall see Him,

And rest in His love.

Jesus is mine,

And He is my Lord;

My dear, precious Saviour,

How greatly adored.

Messages of God’s Love 6/24/1923

Bible Questions for July

Answers to Bible Questions for May

1 “Saying, we give Thee,” etc. Rev. 11:17.

2. “And they sing the song,” etc. “ 15:3.

3. “He that hath an ear,” etc. “ 2:17.

4. “And the Spirit, and the,” etc. “ 22:17.

5. “And said to the mountains,” etc. “ 6:16.

6. “And He was clothed,” etc. “ 19:13.

7. “Saying with a loud voice,” etc. “ 14:7.

Bible Questions for July

The Answers Are to be Found in Mark

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Preached the word “

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “If he had never been born.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Bring forth fruit.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “And there prayed.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Coming in the clouds.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The master of the house.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Whom say ye.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/1/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 22 —Continued

We have both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He having “offered Himself without spot to God,” passed into the heavens as our great High-Priest, where He ever liveth to make intercession for us. The Epistle to the Hebrews dwells elaborately upon these two points. It throws into vivid contrast the sacrifice and priesthood of the Mosaic system and the Sacrifice and Priesthood of Christ. In Him we have divine perfectness, whether as the victim or as the Priest. We have all that God could require, and all that man could need. His precious blood has put away all our sins, and His all-prevailing intercession ever maintains us in all the perfectness of the place into which His blood has introduced us.

“We are complete in Him” (Col. 2.); and yet, so feeble and faltering are we in ourselves; so full of failure and infirmity; so prone to stumble in our onward way, that we could not stand for a moment. were it not that “He ever liveth to make intercession for us.” The believer, is “washed, sanctified, and justified” (I Cor. 6.); he is accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6.); he can never come into judgment, as regards his person (see John 5:24, where the word should read judgment); death and judgment are behind him, because he is united to Christ, who has passed through them both on his behalf and in his stead.

All these things are divinely true of the very weakest, most unlettered, and inexperienced member of the family of God; but yet, inasmuch as he carries about with him a nature so incorrigibly bad, and so irremediably ruined that no discipline can correct it, and no medicine cure it, inasmuch as he is the tenant of a body of sin and death—as he is called to cope perpetually with the combined forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil, he could never keep his ground, much less make progress, were he not upheld by the all-prevailing intercession of his great High-Priest, who bears the names of His people upon His breast and upon His shoulders.

Messages of God’s Love 7/1/1923

Emily's Dream

HOW good it is to know that God is a God of love and that He has many ways of speaking to us, if only we have ears to hear. I am going to tell you a story about Emily and how God spoke to her.

She had been sent away from home to a boarding-school in the country, and it was while staying there that she had a remarkable dream which she has never forgotten to this day, for it was through the dream that she was led to seek and find a Saviour.

As her parents were Christian people, there is no doubt that she had often heard them speak of the Lord Jesus coming again to this earth, as we read in Scripture, to take away all those who love Him; and that was what she dreamed— that the Lord had come and taken her father and mother away, while she was left behind.

Although she was asleep, the thought was terrible that if her parents had been taken and she left, she knew that all hope of salvation for her was over forever.

Awaking out of her sleep in deep distress, she pulled violently at the bell; which instantly brought the school teacher into her room to know what was the matter. She told her trouble to the teacher, who, being a Christian woman could easily understand her sorrow, and she was able to assure her that the Lord Jesus had not yet come.

Somehow this did not comfort her very much, and she thought if only she were at home with her father and mother, she would be quite sure that she was all right.

But the fact is God was speaking to her about her soul, though it was only a dream, and by that dream she was led to seek Christ as her Saviour, and we know there is no other One who can fit us for the presence of a Holy God but the Lord Jesus, who has loved us and given Himself for us.

I believe that God has often spoken to boys and girls by means of a dream, but we don’t always heed the voice, or the warning as the case may be. As we read in Scripture, “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Now that we have a complete Bible, there is no need for God to speak by an audible voice straight from heaven, as He did to Samuel in Old Testament times, or to Saul on the road to Damascus. No, there is everything in His precious book that we need to know, and though God may sometimes speak by means of dreams, yet His usual way now is to bring some text of Scripture to our notice that contains the message He has for us.

For instance, suppose we are in the Sunday-school and someone gives an address on the text, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Many of the boys and girls may think nothing of it, yet there may be one or two that are arrested by it. The text strikes their attention; they think about it; they go home; but the text still seems to sound in their ears.

Why is this? Very likely it is because God is speaking to them through that text, and they begin to think: If all have sinned, it must include me. Then they begin to look round, and in their hearts they say, “What must I do to be saved?”

When they reach that point, it is generally not long before they get the answer to the question,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

Dear young reader, have you believed on that blessed One?

Messages of God’s Love 7/1/1923

Buried Under the Sand

ONE day a group of merry children went late in the afternoon to the beach, which was not far from where they lived, to play there together.

They were five in number, and of different ages. The youngest was a delicate little boy of about four and the oldest, a rosy girl of nine. They all seemed merry and happy. They were in all, three girls and two boys.

After standing for some time watching the restless ocean, and the white-crested waves coming after each other over the sand and wetting their feet, they followed Nina, who, as the evening Was cool, brought them to a sheltered spot at the foot of a neighboring cliff. Each had a wooden spade, and it was not long before boys and girls were all hard at work under Nina’s leadership.

Half an hour passed, and still their task was not finished. Their eyes were shining with delight at the success of their united labors. Five minutes more, and their work would be completed.

Nina, who, as we mentioned already, was the leader of the little party, gave her orders and directions on all sides. Her merry voice could be heard above all the others, and her laugh echoed amid the rocks.

Look at her for a moment—see! she is just bending on the damp sand, to put a finishing touch to a miniature tunnel that they had made. The setting sun seems to be reflected in her eyes, and makes her cheeks rosier than usual. With one hand she leans against the steep sand-bank next to her, supporting herself, while she bends over the hollow opening. But while Nina leans over the frail arch-way, she hears a noise above her. A single scream of terror, and then nothing more. A second later and a large heap of sand is all that is to be seen in the place where the children had been. The sand-bank had fallen in, and buried Nina and two of her little playfellows. Terrified, the other two screamed for help, which came immediately. Strong men with willing hands came to save them. Praise be to God! two of the little ones were saved. The fresh air and cold water soon brought them to.

But where is little Nina? Ah! at last they reached her. Scarcely five minutes had passed after the sand-bank fell in; but Nina showed no sign of life. Her spirit had flown for ever from this earth. Yes, death had taken hold of her in the midst of her play. Beside the murmuring waves, and in the shadow of the stately cliffs, little Nina was called away. Unexpectedly, suddenly, without a single word of warning, the dear little one entered eternity.

The question is hovering on the lips of some of my young readers: “Did Nina love the Lord Jesus? O, tell us!”

Dear boys and girls! how gladly would I answer this question with Yes: but I do not know. Nor could I learn whether she knew the Lord as her personal Saviour, or not.

Then perhaps you will say: “But why do you tell us such a sad story?”

I will tell you why, dear children! Just because I want to ask you; “Are you ready to die? If death were to surprise you in the midst of your play, like little Nina, would your spirit fly away into the present of the loving Saviour? Jesus died to save you. Have you put your trust in Him, and are your sins washed away in His blood?”

If you cannot say that, dear children, O, then go to Him at once! He is waiting for ‘you. His arms are opened wide to receive you. Trust Him fully; and if it might be His will to call you suddenly away from this earth, like little Nina, then with joy you would pass into the presence of your Saviour, knowing that you were washed from your sins in His precious blood, that cleanseth from all sin.

Messages of God’s Love 7/1/1923

Tender Care

HOW good it is to see little sister so tender and mindful of her little brother who has gone to sleep in her loving arms. She has not pleased herself, in going off and to play with other girls, but this little bit of duty, which mother has given her to do, she does faithfully, and with love too for both mother and little brother, so that the duty becomes a pleasure.

This is the way the Lord would have us do, for He, with love and pity for us in our eternal need, gave Himself for us, a sacrifice to God, and willingly bore what we deserved from the hand of God, rather than have us bear it for ourselves.

There no love to be compared with His, for the Scripture says—

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. But the Lord gave His life for His enemies, so again the Scripture says—

“GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/1/1923

The Open Door

THE daughter of a poor widow had left her mother’s cottage. Being led astray by others, she had forsaken the guide of her youth. Fervent, believing prayer was the mother’s only resource; nor was it in vain. He who heareth the cry of the afflicted, heard the cry of that poor widow.

The daughter touched by a sense of her sin, and anxious to gain that peace to which she was a stranger, like the poor prodigal, when she came to herself, thought of her mother’s love, and her home, and she returned. She was surprised to find the door unlatched.

“Never, my child,” said the mother, “by night or by day, has the door been fastened since you left. I knew you would come back some day, and I did not want to keep you waiting for a single moment.”

Does not this simple story set before us the tender compassion and love of God’s heart, and His readiness to receive back His wandering ones?

“THOU, LORD, ART GOOD, AND READY TO FORGIVE; AND PLENTEOUS IN MERCY UNTO ALL THEM THAT CALL UPON THEE.” Psa. 86:5.

Dear young reader, are you far from God? Does your own heart tell you that you have sinned against Him? Are you afraid to think of His presence? Do you fear to meet Him as a Judge?

O, remember, now at this moment, God sets before you an open door. It is wide open, both by night and day. O, do enter now while it is still open. Someday it will be closed, and then it will not open for you again for ever. Now He will not keep you waiting a single moment, and His voice is calling you,

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

O! despise not the goodness and longsuffering of God. He is not willing that you should perish, but that you should come to repentance. Delay not, till the day of grace is past, and the door of mercy is closed for ever. It will then be too late.

“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not.” Luke 13:25.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 22—Concluded

Dear Christian reader, let it be our care so to walk, so to “keep ourselves unspotted from the world,” so to stand apart from all unhallowed associations, that we may enjoy the highest privileges and discharge the most elevated functions of our position as members of the priestly house of which Christ is Head. We have “boldness to enter into the holiest through the blood of Jesus.” “We have a Great High-Priest over the house of God.” (Heb. 10.) Nothing can ever rob us of these privileges. But then our communion may be marred, our worship may be hindered, our holy functions may remain undischarged. Those ‘ceremonial matters against which the sons of Aaron Were warned in the section before us, have their antitypes in the Christian economy. Had they to be warned against unholy contact? So have we. Had they to be warned against unholy alliance? So have we. Had they to be warned against all manner of ceremonial uncleanness? So have we to be warned against “all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” (1 Cor. 7.) Were they shorn of many of their loftiest priestly privileges by bodily blemish and imperfect natural growth? So are we by moral blemish and imperfect spiritual growth.

This it is which renders the close meditation of our section so pre-eminently practical. May we feel its power, through the application of God the Holy Ghost. Then shall we enjoy our priestly place; then shall we faithfully discharge our priestly functions. We shall be able “to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1); we shall be able to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15); we shall be able, as members of the “spiritual house” and the “holy priesthood,” to “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5.); we shall be able, in some small degree, to anticipate that blissful time, when from a redeemed creation, the halleluiahs of intelligent and fervent praise shall ascend to the throne of God and the Lamb throughout the everlasting ages.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

The Broken Wagon

BETWEEN twenty and thirty years ago it was a custom of the Bible-Association of New York to send their missionaries to the far West, to preach the gospel to the new colonists. It would have been impossible to visit many of these places on foot, so they generally went with a wagon.

Now it happened one day, that one of these equipages stopped at a lonely farm, the inmates of which had long wished for a Bible with large print. The Colporteur showed them just such a one, as they wished for, and five children gathered merrily round the stranger, fervently hoping they would get the treasure. But, alas! no matter how the woman searched, no money was to be found in the house; and the Colporteur had received strict orders not to give away any of the large Bibles, so that, although sorry, he was obliged to pack up his books again. Then after praying with the good people, he left.

About an hour later a heavy windstorm rose up. Fortunately he discovered another farm, and hurriedly drove into an empty barn in order to save his books; but crack! behold one of the shafts of the wagon broke in two. He unharnessed his horse, and entered the house to inquire if there was anyone who could mend it.

“There is only one man in the whole neighborhood, that can do it,” replied the farmer, “and that is Uncle Andrew; he lives two or three miles from here, but I think that at the present moment, he is not far away.”

As soon as the rain ceased (it had now turned to rain,) a boy was sent out to look for him, and in a little while he returned with him.

“I am no master in my trade,” he said modestly, ‘but I shall do my best. I will take the measure now, and make a new shaft this evening; and you will get it in the morning.

Uncle Andrew was a man of his word, the shaft was ready the next morning, and the Colporteur asked what there was to pay.

“Well,” replied the man, “I don’t like to ask you anything, as I have always followed your work with joy, and with such little services I could help it on; but still, at present I am tempted to ask something in payment.”

“Well, of course,” replied the Colporteur,” it is only just and right, that you should be paid for your trouble.”

“Have you not a Bible with large print?” asked Uncle Andrew, “like the one you showed yesterday to two women and five children. They are my mother, wife and children, and they are longing for a Bible. I have no money to pay for it, but will you take the shaft in exchange for it?”

The Colporteur was moved not a little at this circumstance, and willingly gave the large Bible to Uncle Andrew, saying that he thought that it had been prayed for.

“Ask, and it shall be given you: Seek, and ye shall find: Knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” Matt. 7:7.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

TrustIn God

A TAILOR after much wandering about, settled down in a strange town; but as no one there knew him, he had so little work to do. that he and his wife and children were suffering want. His wife took sick. One evening he sat with his little daughter, gazing sadly out of the window, without any hope of help turning up; without strength to do anything; without bread or nourishment for the sick mother. The over-burdened heart broke loose from its bonds at last; with many tears the man called on Him, who is a refuge for His own, although help seems far away.

All at once someone came climbing up the dark stairs, and knocked at the door. It was a porter from the hotel opposite. He was looking for a tailor, as a gentleman at the hotel had some suits to be repaired. When the tailor came to the traveler, and the latter saw the miserable, half-starved man, he gave him a small sum, but refused to trust him with his clothes. The unfortunate father promised so hard to do his best, that the man allowed himself to be persuaded, and gave him the work to do. Although weak and worn out, the Lord gave him strength to work the whole night, and as he really knew his trade very well, the gentleman was satisfied, and not only paid him doubly, but recommended him to his friends. Soon he had plenty of work, and was able to provide for his family.

“The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed; a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.” Psa. 9:9, 10.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

How the Truant Was Traced

BOB had no love for school. He greatly preferred roving in the woods, and even working in the fields, to books and lessons. His father was generally away all day, and this gave him good opportunity to play truant.

It came to the school teacher’s ears that Bob had been absent from school for a whole week without his parent’s knowledge, and he determined to capture the truant, if possible; but that was not so easy, as Bob was very swift on foot, and knew where to hide himself.

Early in the morning, four school boys were set to watch Bob’s movements. He saw that he was watched, and made a rush for the woods; but, poor fellow, bare-footed as he nearly always was, he found how thick the thorns were, and how difficult it would be to flee from his pursuers there. Before he had gone many paces, a great thorn stuck fast in his foot, making it bleed badly. He pulled it out as best he could, and made for the road, thinking he would find a hiding place in some of the houses by the way side. So on he ran, limping as he went, and soon was a good way ahead of the boys. He went into a house, and thought he would be quite safe there, as they would never think of going inside to look for him. So he seated himself, and lifting his foot on his knee, he began to search for thorns in his foot. But alas, for Bob’s hiding place. The bleeding wound in his foot had left its mark all along the road, so that the boys had no difficulty in tracing him. He was caught, and of course, punished for his evil doing.

This story of school-days reminds me of a text in God’s Book, which I wish every boy and girl would remember. It is this, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23.

You cannot hide your sin, or yourself from God. Justice and judgment will find you out, if you remain unsaved. The precious blood of Christ trusted in, alone can cleanse your sins away, and make you fit to appear before God.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

Only One Saviour

THE following lines were suggested by the words of a very little one, who, on hearing the name of Jesus mentioned, would inquire, in her childish prattle, “Is that the same Jesus who lives above my nursery ceiling?”

Only one Saviour,

And hundreds of years have gone fleeting by,

Since, leaving His beautiful home on high,

Came One but to suffer, to bleed and die.

Just the same Jesus.

Only one Saviour,

Through His own shameful death He triumphed o’er sin.

For you and for me did the victory win,

That home with Himself He might welcome us in,

This same blessed Jesus.

Only one Saviour,

He has risen again and hark! from above;

Thrills there a voice of compassion and love, “

Suffer the little ones—they my heart move—

Bring them to Jesus.”

One Saviour, Jesus,

High though the station or lowly the lot

Radiant with health or sick in the cot,

He’s calling the children, O! hinder then not,

Tell them of Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 7/8/1923

The Temptations of the Devil

HERE is a picture of some pigs going to market. Rowland Hill, a Christian who was an earnest preacher, told that he once met a drove of pigs- in one of the narrow streets of a large town, and, to his surprise, they were not driven, like those in the picture, but quietly followed their leader. This singular fact excited his curiosity, and he pursued them, until they all quietly entered the place where they were to be butchered. He asked the man how he succeeded in getting the poor, stupid, stubborn pigs so willingly to follow him, when he told him the secret. He had a bag of beans under his arm, and kept dropping them as he went along, and so they followed after him picking up the beans, though not knowing where their journey would end.

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

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

“ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF TM WICKED; AND GO.NOT IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN.” PROV. 4:14.

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

J.T. Armet Called to Be With the Lord

To Our Many Readers:—

It is with much sorrow of heart that we have to announce the removal of our beloved Brother Armet, the editor of this paper, to be with the Lord on the 9th day of June, 1923, after a brief illness.

On the morning of May the 29th, he had a severe chill, and pneumonia at once developed in both lungs, and his heart being weak, and being in a rundown condition on account of his untiring service for the blessed Lord, he was not able to survive the attack.

He was a faithful and beloved brother, untiring in his zeal for the spread of the truth, and one who spent himself and all he had to promote the interests of the One he loved so well. His loss will be greatly felt, but even in this we feel that the Lord would have us lean more confidingly upon Himself, and give us to prove that we have a resource there that will never fail us.

In a very little while we shall hear that shout in the air (1 Thess. 4; 1 Cor. 15) and, together, with all the redeemed, we shall meet in His presence to part no more. Those cold and motionless forms of our departed loved ones, shall then spring forth into life immortal at the bidding of Him who is “The Resurrection and The Life,” and through one eternal day our hearts will go out in untiring praise to the One who went into death and the grave for us, but who is alive again for evermore, and who lives as our Intercessor on the throne of God.

E. B. H. Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

The Telegraph Boy

I ONCE read about a bright little boy in a Bible Class, a telegraph messenger, whose happy face and consistent life-testimony as a Christian has done much to interest the young folks of the village in the Gospel. He was saved in the Sunday School, and says it was while one of the teachers was speaking from the lesson for that day which was Exodus 12, the blood on the door posts, which made the firstborn son safe.

“The blood of Jesus the Lamb of God, in which I trust makes me safe, and the Word of God which says, `Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe’ (Prow. 29:25), makes me sure,” was the boy’s bright testimony of the lips to the saving power of Christ. Always rejoicing, as he delivers his telegrams to rich and poor alike, he is a true messenger of the Gospel as well, and testifies of Christ.

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:1-3

This is a wonderful chapter about seven holidays which the people of Israel were to have every year. God gave them to the people, and told them just when to have each one.

Holidays are often meant to remind us of something that once happened. This is true of some of God’s holidays in this chapter, but some of them told of a time to come.

The first one stood by itself. While all the others came once a year, this was once every week, on the day now called Saturday, the seventh and last day of the week. From Sunday to Friday, Work should be done, but the Sabbath was a day of rest, set apart to God, and on it no work should be done.

Since we began these Bible Lessons, we have noticed a number of times, the mention of the Sabbath. As someone has said, Every time a new subject is mentioned, from Mount Sinai on, God speaks of the Sabbath. It is because He would have His people know of His great promise which goes beyond all others to them,—of bringing them at last into His rest.

Are you one of His own? Hebrews 4:3 tells us plainly that “we which have believed do enter into rest,” and the last verse of the third chapter records that others could not enter in because of unbelief.

Dear young reader, to-day, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts! You will never be at peace with God, never know the Christian’s portion, never sing the new song of which Rev. 5:9 and 10 speaks, unless you claim the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour, now while you may.

Come to Jesus now!

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

The Deformed Boy Transformed

A FEW years ago, in a quiet little town on the sea-coast, lived a poor boy whose name was Harry L. He was an only son, and his parents had fondly hoped he would be, in time, their support and joy, but a sad accident in early childhood had made him deformed for life, and they looked forward with dread to the mortifications and helplessness which they feared awaited him in the future. Poor Harry felt his misfortune most keenly, and often would steal away by himself to shed bitter tears over his blighted prospects. He felt that he was unlike all other boys, and would always be so.

It seemed to him that everyone regarded him with aversion, and that though some might pity, no one could love him,. But a change came over Harry’s life, and the consolation he had so long sought in vain in the world, he found in the love of his Saviour.

He was now no longer hopeless, for was not heaven before him? His fears for the future were dispelled, for had not the Lord Jesus, who died for him, promised to be with him to the end? Even his deformity he could now regard without a murmur, or a regret, for he knew it had been sent upon him by his tenderest Friend, and he was willing to suffer, if in that way he might grow in grace. Jesus loved him, even him, and he was satisfied. Hitherto he had lived for himself; now he desired to be a shining light for Christ.

By patient application, he soon learned a trade, and though his earnings were small, he cheerfully supported his dear parents, and did all in his power to make them happy. He had become the joy of their hearts, and they thanked God for giving them so excellent a son.

Harry became one of the most earnest young Christians in the vicinity.

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12:34.

He was filled with the love of Christ, and others knew it. Indeed, his acquaintances hardly thought of his deformity, it was so over-balanced by the loveliness of his character.

It is a sweetly comforting thought, that the physical defects which so often depreciate us in the eyes of the world, make us who are exercised, to realize that we are larger sharers in the tender love and sympathy of our Lord and Saviour.

“His visage was so marred, more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” Isa. 52:14.

In our Messages of Love issue of July 15th, 1923, the author, in quoting Isa. 52:14, did not intend to convey the thought that the physical sufferings of the Lord Jesus described in that verse, were the result of sin in Him. “In Him was no sin”, and there could be no physical defects or deformity in Him, the perfect and Sinless One. “His visage was so marred, more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men”, were from the sorrows and ill-usage He went through from unbelieving men.

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

A Spider's Web

YOU have seen the spider weave his web in the summer sunshine. How fragile it looks! A breath of wind would almost break it, yet that weak thing of gossamer, can be used by God to save a servant of His from the cruel hands of those who seek to kill him.

In the quiet village of Stambourne, there lived in the year 1662, a godly preacher of the Gospel, named Henry Havers. There was a great persecution at that time, and this earnest man was hunted from place to place by the soldiers, who were sent out to take him a prisoner. He was preaching one day in the country to a number of eager listeners, who delighted to hear the simple Gospel of God’s salvation from the aged preacher’s lips, when an alarm was given that a party of officers were on the way to arrest him. There was no time to mount his horse and escape, so he ran into an old house close by, and crept into an empty kiln, where he lay silently praying that God would save him from his enemies. No sooner had he entered his strange hiding-place, then a spider lowered himself across the mouth of the kiln, and began to weave his web. Forgetting his perilous position, the man of God watched the busy spider complete his web, which stretched from side to side of the narrow opening. Presently voices were heard, and he could hear the tramp of feet passing the kiln in which he lay. Right up to the kiln’s mouth they came, searching for their prey,

“It’s no use looking in the kiln,” said one officer to another. “The old villain can’t be in there. Don’t you see a spider’s web across the mouth of it? He could never have got in without breaking it.”

So off they went, leaving the man of God safe in the place which God had made a sure refuge to him, by means of a fragile spider’s web. When all was quiet, he crept from his hiding place, and looking on the feeble thing which God had used as a shield to protect him, he exclaimed,

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Psa. 118: 9.

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

Bertie, the Truant

BERTIE thought it was very hard to be at school all day, and every week-day, except Saturday. He thought the boys who roamed in the fields by day. and the streets by night, were the happy boys. They had no lessons to learn; no teachers to obey; and could do whatever they liked. He thought it would be nice to have a day of this kind of liberty himself, so he arranged to play truant. His books were quietly slipped under a hay stack by the way-side until he should return.

Bertie, in high spirits, jumped over the fence, and made for the riverside, there to enjoy himself. It did seem wonderfully fine the first hour to go free, with no teacher’s eye upon him, just able to do whatever he pleased.

The next hour was not quite so grand, for the novelty of it had worn off, and Bertie thought how grieved his mother would be, if she knew how he was spending the day, and there was just the possibility that it might be found, out.

The third hour he was very miserable, and wished it was time to go home; and the fourth, he wandered up and down the field with his hands in his pockets, hanging his head in shame, afraid to step out on the road, in case any of the boys should meet him.

Bertie’s truant life that day is not unlike the path of the sinner. He thinks that to get away from God is liberty; to have his own way is happiness; but, like Bertie and the prodigal of Luke 15, he found the end of his mirth heaviness, and the result of his sin misery.

Bertie’s books were stolen; his mother found out he had played truant; and Bertie paid dearly for his day of stolen liberty, which was not a happy one. It taught him a lesson, and may it teach you, that a run-away from God—a sinner against Him—’ cannot be happy, and the end will be eternal misery. Sin seems sweet in the bud, but the fruit thereof is bitter.

“The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord; but He loveth him that followeth after righteousness.” Psalm 15:9.

Messages of God’s Love 7/15/1923

Reproof

Do you like to be reproved, or told how naughty you are? I am sure you do not: we naturally like to have our own way, don’t we?

This young man does not act exactly pleased with what this old lady has been saying to him. It may be she has reproved him for something he has said or done.

If we look at the Word of God, we shall find that we are told plainly to listen and to submit to those who are older than ourselves. A special verse is given to children in Eph. 6:1,

“ CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN THE LORD: FOR THIS IS RIGHT.”

Each one of us should pay attention to what God says to us in His Word. David, the Psalmist, said of God’s Word, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119: 105.

Can you possibly know what your little friends are thinking about, unless they tell you? God knows every thought of every person. He can read minds and hearts.

As you read your Bible, ask the Lord to bring the power of His Word home to your heart and conscience. God is pleased to have you “from a child” know the “Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923

Heathen Children

Far beyond the dark blue sea,

Many little children dwell,

In a land of misery,

Where no gentle voices tell

Those glad tidings which impart

Joy and comfort to the heart.

But they bend, from day to day,

To their gods of wood and stone,

For the Gospel’s cheering ray

Has not made the Saviour known

Few the beams of heavenly light

Shining on their dreadful night.

Little child, if thou hast found

Pardon through the Saviour’s blood,

Seek to spread the joyful sound,

Seek to bring their souls to God;

Share those blessings rich and free,

Which He kindly gives to thee.

Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:4-8

The Sabbath was the first day to be mentioned, as it told of the end of God’s purposes for His people,—to bring them into His rest.

The second one was the passover, and that leads us back to the twelfth chapter of Exodus; and forward in our Bibles to the cross of Christ.

The blood of a lamb was shed, in Old Testament times, as a picture or shadow of the blood of The Lamb that was yet to be shed. Rev. 7:14 tells of some who have washed’ their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Here, then, is our starting point in God’s calendar for sinners.

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

Were the children of Israel all safe from the visit of God that night in Egypt, because some had the blood of a dead lamb on their door posts? No, only those were safe who were behind the blood. And is it true that since Jesus has died, no one will be lost forever? No, only those are saved who have believed in Him, as their own precious Saviour. Dear reader, have you?

Immediately after the passover, was the week of unleavened bread. Are you saved? If so, then your life should show that you are.

This week without leaven we can understand when we remember that leaven is always a type of sin. With the passover, the dying of Jesus—behind us Christians, we ought to spend our lives without allowing sin. We belong to the Lord Jesus; shall ways and thoughts and talk that He cannot be pleased with, be ours?

The seven days of verse 6 are to speak to us about our whole lives,—the full time we have to spend here. “No servile work” could be done: not for themselves, but for God, were they to live.

“An offering made by fire”—the Lord in His devoting Himself to God—was to be before them every day. Is He as often in your thoughts?

Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923

Our Father or Little Bertie

IT was a stormy winter evening. The rain poured down, so that no one ventured out unless obliged to. Even in the generally crowded streets of the large city, it was that day unusually still and quiet; one heard only the increasing rattling of vehicles in the wet streets, and now and then the hurried footsteps of pedestrians.

The stores were closed earlier than usual that evening, as there was little chance of selling anything in such weather. Even in a large bakery, the owner sat in a corner, reading a newspaper by a warm stove. He had been sitting there quite a while, when he noticed that a pair of black child-like eyes were watching him through the window. Suddenly the window was forced open by the wind, and now he could plainly see in the clear gaslight, the pale face of a very poor child. It had a garment on of rags fastened together, that scarcely covered its thin form. How long had that child been standing there? Perhaps he did not, himself, know, and nobody inquired about him.

Alas, it is not a rare thing to see such poor, starving children, staring into the store-windows, where eatables are sold, and from which they are debarred through their poverty, as if they stood behind iron bars.

O, what poor children! Woe to the sin, which is often the cause of their suffering. Woe, double woe to them, who have the means of relieving them, of drying their tears, but who know no mercy.

But, as I said, these are everyday occurrences in large cities. And so it happened that Mr. May calmly turned and continued reading, until it was time to close his store.

But now he was astonished to see that the little ragged figure seemed nailed fast in the same spot; and now he saw that it was a little boy to whom he had sometimes given a stale roll, or a piece of cake. His countenance betrayed great grief, and his whole appearance was touching. All children appealed to Mr. May; he had just buried his only child, his darling Bertie. Perhaps it was the thought of this beloved child, that made him stop and give a fresh roll to the boy with the words:

“Now, run home as fast as you can; it is too cold and wet for you here!”

Thanking him respectfully, the , child looked frankly in his face, then went away, while the, baker shut his door, and went to his home in a near-by street.

Mr. May was an upright Christian, and although we cannot follow his thoughts during his homeward walk, we can imagine that he thought of his Saviour, and remembered the words:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:7.

He was now at his home, and while opening the door he again saw the boy beside him, who must have followed him. The dull glow of his dark eyes caused him to ask, instead of the reproach that was on his lips:

“What do you want, my child?”

“O, dear sir, I just want to know where you live.”

“And why do you want to know that?” inquired Mr. May.

“Because I thought, sir, that you are perhaps “Our Father”. Please, tell me, if you are?

“ O, this cut Mr. May to the heart. He was no longer a father, but he answered:

“No, my boy I am not your father.”

“O, I hoped that you were our father,” said the poor little boy with a deep sigh. “Mother said, I must always call Him that, and say to Him: `Give us this day our daily bread’, and He will do it too, she said. But I always think that He must live very far from here, and that He cannot hear when I pray to Him. But no one has given me bread except you, so I thought, that you were perhaps ‘Our Father,’ and I wanted to see where you lived.”

This explained the look of reverence. Mr. May did not utter a word; silently he took the little cold hand in his, and brought the boy into a room where a bright fire was burning, that lit up the whole apartment. Putting the trembling child in front of him, he asked:

“Where is your mother, dear boy?”

“My mother is dead, ah, she died very soon after we came here. Formerly we had a nice home with large meadows around it. O, it was all so nice, till father died; after that, mother cried all the time, and she became so pale, and weak and at last remained in bed all the time, and one morning when I woke up, she lay dead in bed. Once she said to me, before she died, that she was going to heaven where father was; and then she said too, that ‘Our Father’ would bring me there some day. O, I do wish He would, but I think He doesn’t know at all where I am.”

Much moved Mr. May listened to the little orphan, and taking his hand, told him as simply as possible, who “Our Father” is, and commended him in a short, earnest prayer to God; then went to call his wife.

She was a delicate looking woman, with gentle, friendly features; in her face were the traces of suffering, and her black clothes accentuated the appearance of sorrow, that her whole person expressed.

She looked up from her sewing as he entered, and asked him anxiously: “Why are you so late, Henry dear? I was uneasy about your being out in this cold, clamp weather!”

He embraced her, and sitting down near her, told her everything.

“O! Henry, how sad; can we do nothing?” she asked.

“I think we can,” was his answer. “The poor child has neither shoes nor stockings; we have some that would fit him.”

At these words his wife’s pale cheeks colored up. and her eyes filled at the thought of her own beloved child, as she went around getting some things together.

O, do not think hard of her, when you see the hot tears fall on the little shoes in front of her! no one, not even her husband knew how hard it was for her to part with these things. But may I say, No one knew?

There was One who saw, and accepted the offering. To Him, what is apparently a trifling thing, is of great value when the heart goes with it. Do we give Him what is dear to us, for Jesus’ sake, who freely gave up life, and glory to redeem us? Our gift is precious in His sight; it is of sweet savor to the Lord!

But now the conflict is over, and perfectly calm she enters the room in which the boy is. Poor little one, he was so cold and tired that under the soothing influence of the warm stove, he lay on the rug fast asleep, his arms under his head, and a happy smile on his pale face.

Now the question was: “What shall we do with him, where must he spend the night?”

“I really don’t know,” said Mr. May. “I believe that he has no home, or means of support, but we can’t turn him out on the streets on such a night as this.”

“The streets? No never;” answered his wife; “don’t you think we could keep him tonight? We have room enough. Should we not do it, if it were only for Bertie’s sake?”

“Yes, let us do it for Jesus’ sake. I know with you, that is the principal thing. Perhaps the Lord sent us this poor, helpless child, to take in, in His name? Let us do so.”

(Continued in 7/29/1923 issue)

Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923

Wonderful Love

I have read of the Saviour’s love,

And a wonderful love it must be;

But did He come down from above,

Out of love and compassion for me?

I’ve heard how He suffered and bled.

How He languished and died on the tree;

But then is it anywhere said,

That He languished and suffered for me?

I’ve been told of a heaven on high,

Which the children of God soon will see:

But is there a place in the sky

Made ready and furnished for me?

O, yes! for His love is as wide,

And as deep as the fathomless sea;

And love such as this will provide,

Even blessings eternal for me!

Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923

Whiter Than Snow

I ONCE heard the story of a little girl on her way to Sunday school, who returned the second time to her mother for a clean handkerchief. Snow was on the ground and it was so much whiter than her handkerchief, she thought a mistake had been made.

Some years ago we passed through a small Italian settlement. We stood and watched such a washing as you see in this picture. The water in a small stream had been blocked up by stones for washday. The top stone on a slant was used for a wash board. Here one Italian woman after another came out and rubbed away until satisfied that her clothes were clean. To me it seemed hard work, but the women enjoyed it. This washing, dear children, might be very clean, but it could not be whiter than snow.

There is but one thing in this world whiter than snow, and that is a sinner washed in the precious blood of Jesus.

If there are any of my dear readers who cannot say,

“I’m a poor sinner,

And nothing at all,

But Jesus, my Saviour,

Is all, and in all,”

then just believe what the Word of God says:

“WASH ME AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” PSA. 51:7.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 7/29/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:9-14

As the Lord’s death was foreshadowed in the second of the seven “feasts”, or set times, so His resurrection and acceptance as a Man in the glory of God, are shown in the third. Two scriptures, in particular, tell us this; one is John 12:24, Where, during the week before the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus said to Andrew and Philip, “

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

He was the “corn of wheat,” which, unless it die, “abides alone,” but dying, brings forth “much fruit”,——many people to share His glory.

The other scripture, which perhaps more than any other, explains today’s lesson, is in the great resurrection chapter, 1 Con 15:20-23 chiefly. Christ is the “first fruits”, as verse 23 plainly says.

Now in verse 11 of Leviticus 23, you will see that the waved sheaf was “to be accepted” for the people. God has accepted Jesus on our behalf, who trust in Him. We are, as Eph. 1:6 expresses it, “accepted in the Beloved.” So great is the work of His Person who gave Himself for our sins, and so powerful the work which He did in dying for us, that we who have turned to God to wait for His Son from heaven, are “washed from our sins in His own blood, and... made. . . kings and priests unto God.” (Rev. 1:5, 6.)

What kindness, what love! But, have you, dear reader, accepted what God has done? If not, you are neglecting the only way of escape from being lost for eternity.

Messages of God’s Love 7/29/1923

Our Father, or Little Bertie

(Continued from Messages of God’s Love 7/22/1923)

Then they called their maid, and told her to get everything ready for the night. When everything was arranged, Mrs. May bent over the sleeping boy, and kissed him on the forehead.

At this soft touch, unknown to him since his mother died, he looked up, and gazed trustfully into the kind eyes of Mrs. May. Patiently he let her hold his hand in hers, without a question. Mrs. May gently smoothed his hair, and asked:

“What is your name, my boy? What do they call you?”

“O, Miss, no one calls me anything. I don’t think I have a name, since mother died.”

“Well, what did your mother call you?”

“Bertie!”

That was all, but it was enough; it went deep into the hearts of the parents. It was a curious coincidence, for the name was not a common one. With difficulty Mrs. May regained her self-possession, so that with apparent calmness she handed over the child to the care of her maids; but she was then glad to seek the quiet of her own room, and there she poured out her whole heart to the Lord Jesus, who became a Man of Sorrows for us.

It was late when Mrs. May arose from her knees, but she was comforted. Silently both parents went to the little bed of their Bertie, in which the strange boy was lying, and with deep emotion gazed on the calmly sleeping child. Was it not the “Father of the fatherless”, who had heard the prayer of a dying mother for her child. and who had filled the heart of another mother, who had been obliged to give up her own child to Him, with loving pity for the poor forsaken orphan, that with simple faith was trusting Him?

Thus the grieved parents stood for a while speechless by the bedside of the little stranger.

“Dear Henry,” began Mrs. May, “this evening reminds me of the one on which our Bertie died. It was just before you came home. I sat here beside him, moistening his dry lips, cooling his burning forehead, while he, so full of childish faith, and trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus, spoke of heaven and of his going there, and tried in his winning way to comfort me. I was called away for a moment, and when I came back, he did not notice me. O, I shall never forget it; there he lay with closed eyes and little folded hands, and I heard him say with such solemn emphasis:

`Dear Saviour, I pray You to bless papa and mamma, and give them another little Bertie!’ You know what has just occurred. Don’t you think, that He has sent us this little one to take care of?” (Mark. 14:7.)

“Would you take on you, the care of this child?” asked Mr. May after a short silence, but in a tone that plainly showed that the idea was not a strange one to him.

“If the Lord gives me grace, I will gladly be a mother to him!” was her serious and decided answer.

So all was arranged,—the little orphan had found a home. The two parents knelt down by his bed, and asked the Lord for His divine blessing and help. After some time Bertie could say that he had learned to know not only an earthly, but also a heavenly Father. Let us look at him for a moment in his present, well cared for surroundings. It is evening; on a low stool at his adopted mother’s feet, our little friend is sitting, and the faithful hand of his adopted father is stroking his hair; the joy and happiness that this couple brought to the little forsaken child, has now entered their own hearts; they have now experienced that love shown to others, was a sure spring of joy to themselves. It is true, that Bertie does not yet realize how much he owes them, but one thing he knows, they love him more than he ever expected to be loved. And he answers this with loving gratitude. But above all he firmly believes that it is “Our Father” who provides him with all he needs, and so Bertie is quite satisfied.

Up to this time the parents had not spoken to the boy of the great trial of their lives, of the loss of their own little Bertie, their only darling, whom God had taken to Himself. But this evening—he had shared their joy only—should he not share their sorrow. Kindly the father spoke to him:

“Yes, Bertie, you must love us very much, for we had once a little Bertie, about your size, our own dear child, and now we think that you have been sent to fill his place. Will you try to do so?”

“Yes, but where is your little Bertie now?” asked the child in astonishment.

“He is in heaven!” answered the mother.

The boy looked thoughtfully for some minutes, then raised his dark bright eyes, and cried out: “O then ‘Our Father’ will take care of him, because you take care of me. I will ask Him to do that!”

Dear children! can you speak with the same trust to your Heavenly Father, as little Bertie? O, He will so gladly listen to you for Jesus’ sake. He has through endless love to us, lost and ruined creatures, given His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ makes us to be His children, if we believe on Him’ with our whole hearts. He will also care for all our wants, even as He cared for “little Bertie.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/29/1923

And God Heard the Voice of the Lad

A KIND Christian lady gave a little boy, who was only three years and nine months old, a little puppy dog. This little dog was full of play. and used to jump up at the little boy and his younger brother, and bite their clothes and sometimes scratch their hands with his sharp little teeth. So rough did he become that the little boy and his smaller brother were quite afraid of him, and they used to run away, calling out as they did so,

“Go away, naughty Dandy.” The parents called the little dog Dandy, after a beautiful dog that the little boy’s grandmother once had.

Now before this little boy goes to bed, he comes to his father or mother to speak to God, and to thank Him for having taken care of him through the day; for having given him good food to eat and clothing to wear, and to ask Him to take care of the little boy and his dear friends through the night.

One night when this little boy was talking to God, he said,

“Pray, God, send away naughty Dandy, and send a nice kind kittie.”

On the evening of the next day a young woman brought a beautiful tabby kitten and offered to exchange it for ‘Dandy.” The offer was immediately accepted, and poor Dandy was displaced by Kittie. Kittie at once took kindly to its new home, purred about the room, put its pretty little paws over the fender, and warmed its nose at the fire.

The next morning after Kittie arrival, when the little boy and his brother came downstairs to breakfast, imagine their delight at seeing “dear little Kittie” playing on the hearth rug. Now what do you think were the first words that the little boy said? He said,

“Kind God sent away naughty Dandy, and sent dear `Tammel’ nice kind Kittie.” That same night, when he was speaking to God, he thanked Him for what He had done, and so “God heard the voice of the lad.”

And now, dear little children, do you know that “God is love?” that He sent His dear Son to die for you on the cross that you might be made whiter than snow, and become little lambs of the Good Shepherd’s flock, and be made fit to go and be with Jesus in heaven forever?

Jesus is soon coming back again to take all dear little blood-bought children, and their dear saved fathers and mothers, to go and live with Him in His happy home. Will not that be ‘nice?

I hope if you don’t know it already, you will soon know that God loves you, and then you will love Him because He first loved you, and then you will love to speak to God about everything, and He will hear and answer your prayers and bless you.

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

Messages of God’s Love 7/29/1923

Make Them Thine Own

Those who are young, O God,

Make them Thine own;

Hear from Thy blest abode,

Make them Thine own;

Now in their, early days,

Turn them to Thy blest ways,

Save from the giddy maze,

Make them. Thine own.

O! let Thy love abound,

Make them Thine own;

Now may the lost be found,

Make them Thine own;

Soon will all praying cease,

O! Lord their hearts release,

With Thee may they have peace,

Make them Thine own.

Then shall they happy be,

All made Thine own;

Shout then the victory,

All, all Thine own;

Satan shall lose his prey,

Mercy shall win the day,

Each shall with rapture say—

“All, all Thine own!’

“Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God.” 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

Messages of God’s Love 7/29/1923

Bible Questions for August

Answers to Bible Questions for June

1. “And His disciples came,” etc. Matt. 14:12.

2. “Watch, and pray,” etc. “ 26:41.

3. “When they saw the star, “ etc. “ 2:10.

4. “For the Son of man,” etc. “ 18:11.

5. “Whosoever therefore,” etc. “ 10:32.

6. “But what think ye?” etc. “ 21:28.

7. “But I say unto you,” etc. “ 5:44.

Bible Questions for August

The Answers Are to be Found in Luke

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Whosoever shall confess.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Glorifying and praising.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “With great joy.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Love,” “do good,” “lend.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Gave unto them.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “They obey Him.,”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Burn within us.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:15-22

Seven full weeks after the third, came the fourth of the fixed times, or feasts of the Lord. Like the third great day in the year, this one was on the first day of the week, the day following the Sabbath.

In this holiday, God was looking on to that day, just fifty days after the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, of which we read in the second chapter of Acts,—the birthday of the Church. This is why verse 16 speaks of a new offering; and verse 17 of bringing out of their homes, loaves baked with leaven, which is always used in the Bible to refer to sin. In us who compose the Church, there is sin; but in the Lord Jesus, there was none, so we have in verse 18, with the leavened bread, seven lambs without blemish of the first year, one young bullock, and two rams, for a burnt offering, and a sin offering, and a peace or thanksgiving offering in verse 19,—all of these pointing to the precious blood of Jesus, by which all believers are redeemed.

It was a new work that the Holy Spirit began, in Acts 2, gathering out a people for heaven, and when His work is ended with the coming of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:15, 17), it will not be begun again. God will bring blessing to this world afterward, yet through that thousand years, which we call the millennium, though the other holidays of this chapter will be observed. The fourth one will not be at all, because the heavenly people will have been caught away, never to live on this earth again.

The Old Testament does not mention the Church, though it leaves room for it, but in the first chapter of Eph. we learn that it was a mystery, or secret, which God kept back until Jesus died and rose again, and commissioned the apostle Paul to tell the story.

If you, dear reader, are a believer in the Lord Jesus, you are not only saved but belong to the Church of God.

Are you saved? Do you know the Lord as your own personal Saviour?

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

Fear of Thunder Storms

I —I—HATE summer,” said a little child one day, •with some hesitation, however, for “hate” is a strong word. “Hate the beautiful summer!” said her mother, “Why?”

“O, because of the thunder-storms; they frighten me so.”

There are a good many children, and larger folks too, that feel afraid of the lightning and thunder. I remember when I was a small child, at the coming on of a heavy thunder-storm, when I felt so timid that I wanted to stop my ears, and get into the darkest cellar, that my father took me on his lap and got down the large family Bible, and showed me the pictures and told me the stories that belonged to them, till I forgot all about the storm, for there was a calm in my heart, as he showed me how God loved me, and would take care of me and keep us all.

Dear old Book! I have it yet, though father and mother have gone to the Lord, that gave it; and those old pictures always bring to my mind that afternoon and the soothing effect of these stories of God. I do not remember that I ever felt any dread since. There are no stories like these, to last and to keep their freshness and beauty.

I remember a sweet verse, that tells us that “perfect love casteth out fear,” for it says, what any dear child that fears the lightning knows, “fear hath torment.” But fear and the knowledge of the love of God to us, which is “perfect love,” cannot stay together.

Fear, in us, comes from being sinners. The conscience tells us that all is not right, and that God is going to judge us. But suppose I learn that He loves me with His whole heart, and has given Christ to take away my guilt, to cleanse me from all sin by his blood; do you not see there is a reason for being very happy at once, by just believing that.

If you know He has given His Son for you, then you know He will take care of your body, and not a hair of your head shall fall to the ground without Him.

O! if you once rest on that wonderful love shown in the cross of Christ, all fear will be gone.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9.

“I will trust, and not be afraid.” Isa. 12:2.

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

The Sun Everywhere

ONE cold, winter’s day a visitor called on a poor girl that was a cripple, and always obliged to remain at home. She lived in a room facing the north, that always seemed dark and cheerless.

“Poor girl!” thought the visitor; “what a sad life you lead!” Then aloud he added, “What a pity that your room is only on the north side. You can never enjoy the sun,” he said pityingly; “not one ray can enter here. I am sorry for you, for sunshine is worth much! I, at least love it.”

“O,” she answered, smiling, “my Sun shines through every window and every crevice.”

Her visitor looked at her in surprise. “The Sun of righteousness” she continued softly—”Jesus,—He sends His rays in here, and makes everything look cheerful.”

“Yes, so it is; Jesus can make everything look lovely and pleasant; a poor dwelling with Him is a happy home.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

God Sent You

MARIA was spending a day with a friend of her mother’s, who had no children of her own, and was very fond of Maria. It was beautiful weather when she went there; but in the afternoon the sun disappeared behind clouds, it grew dark and towards evening began to rain.

“You must remain here tonight, dear Maria!” said her friend; “ your mother will understand that you can’t get back in this rain.”

“Then, I must sleep far away from mother,” thought Maria to herself, and this thought made her little heart sad. When she was alone in the room, she looked continually out of the window. Rain, and nothing but rain, was to be seen.

“If it would only stop long enough for me to get home;” she said; but it didn’t: in fact it got worse. Then tears mule in her blue eyes.

“Daddy,” she said, “O Daddy! won’t you come and take me home?” But Daddy couldn’t hear her; he was too far away

Then Maria thought of God. He could hear her; for He was not far away, but always close by, so she prayed to God, if it was pleasing to Him, to get her mother to send for her. It was quite a comfort to her little heart to think of God. He sent the rain. He could count each drop. God had created her, cared for her, and knew where she was now.

“If God wishes me to remain here tonight, instead of with mother, then it is all right,” .she thought. “But I would rather go home,” and the tears came again to “her eyes. “I can remain here, if God would rather have it,”. she said, and again began to weep.

While she was trying to convince herself that she must be satisfied, she saw Jane in the distance with a large umbrella, coming to get her. She jumped up joyfully at once, and ran quickly to the door to let Jane in. “Your mother sent me for you,” said Jane.

“No, Jane,” said Maria with a glad face; “God sent you.”

“That may be so.” said Jane; “but it was your mother, who gave me the message.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

Creation

WHAT a wonderful work of God creation is! “GOD SAW EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD MADE, AND BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD.” GEN. 1:31.

Yes, God made every beast of the field, and fowl, and creeping thing, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Now in the creation of man, there is a great difference. God formed man of the dust of the ground, but He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. God said, “Let Us make man in Our image.” Gen. 1:26. This was not said of the animals.

How intelligent some animals are! We become very much attached to them. Yet, when the animal dies, that is the end of it. The animal returns to the ground, from which it was formed. With us it is quite different. We have a never dying soul. We are responsible beings, and must give an account to God.

This is why, dear children, we persuade you all to accept God’s way of salvation.

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

If He is your Saviour, you will spend eternity with Him in glory.

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

Only One Sure Way

How can a little child be saved,

And know his sins forgiven?

And be assured that he will be

With Jesus, up in heaven?

There’s one, and only one sure way,

And that is by the Word,

For there we learn we must believe,

And own Him as our Lord.

He says to children, “Come to Me,

And I will give you rest;

I’ll own you as My little lamb,

And fold you to My breast.”

“You only need to trust in Me,

For all the work is done,

That saves a sinner from his sins.

And from his dreadful doom.” “

Then trust Me now with all your heart,

And let your life be given,

To show to others you are saved,

And on your way to heaven.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/5/1923

The Hay Field

THE hay harvest is earlier in Holland than in some other countries where it is colder; but when that time comes, no matter where, nor how it is done, either by the old way or by the new methods of machinery, the farmers soon get thirsty and tired; and in these parts the women will cone out to the field with a jug of cool water to refresh their husbands. God has permitted man to know what thirst is, and He has provided water to quench the thirst.

But there is another kind of thirst, a thirst for something very different than water, and that is, the longings of the soul. So the Lord Jesus, when He was here on earth, said to the Jews, who were very religious, on the last day of a feast. “If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink.” Their religiousness would not satisfy them, nor will mere religion satisfy any of us to-day. We need to get rid of the load of our sins and find peace with God. So the word that the Lord Jesus gave then, is what is needed now. “If any man thirst, let Him come unto Me and drink.” John 7:37.

“COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Math. 11:28

We must come to Jesus, who has died for us, in order to get rid of our load of sin, and He alone can satisfy the thirst of our souls. Have you come to .Him, dear reader? If not, you cannot know what rest of soul is, nor what it is to sit down and be truly satisfied. The terrible thing is, if you will not come to Jesus now, and get your soul’s need met, you will have to hear Him say by and by, “Depart front Me.” Which will it be with you?

Messages of God’s Love 8/12/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:23-32

This section of the chapter gives us the fifth and sixth of the fixed times which God appointed for the children of Israel to celebrate every year.

The fifth one was on the first day of the seventh month. It was not reckoned from the fourth of the fixed days, but from the Passover in the first month. As each of these “convocations” or gatherings was distinct and different, so the .special thing on the fifth day was the blowing of trumpets, but no work could be done then, and an offering was to be made by fire to the Lord. This “feast of trumpets” was a foreshadowing of that future day when God will wake up the sleeping hosts of Israel to seek their God again. “Arid many of them which sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). This is at the beginning of the millennium when God will gather again into their land (Palestine) the twelve tribes of Israel.

The sixth one of the set days was the day of atonement in the tenth day of the seventh month, ten days after the feast of trumpets. The people were then to “afflict their souls”, as they were told twice, in verses 27 and 32. This also speaks of the time when Israel shall be gathered again into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are to learn what they did in turning away from their Redeemer, saying, “Crucify Him! Crucify. Him!” Something of this we see in Zechariah 12:10 to 14, and other passages in the Word of God. The godly ones will then understand Psalm 22, and Isaiah 53, which they do not now.

Dear reader, will you not apply these verses in our lesson to-day to yourself, and ask yourself since, like the Israelites in a coming day (verses 23-25), you have heard the sound of God’s call, the gospel, you have made verses 26 to 32 your own? These verses tell of the finished work of the Son of God; “no work” can be added to what He has done in satisfying God on account of our sins. They were to afflict their souls (to mourn over their sins), and to offer an offering made by fire (a picture of the judgment of sin falling upon Jesus on the cross). Have you owned yourself a sinner to God, and presented Jesus to Him as your Sin bearer?

Messages of God’s Love 8/12/1923

A Child of Iceland

YOU will certainly exclaim, “O, how cold it must be in Iceland! With nothing but ice and snow!” Yes, dear young friends, in that land it is so cold that, sometimes, people freeze to death. It is nearly always winter there, and even in summer the snow and ice do not go away altogether. You can understand that it is not very pleasant there, especially for us, who are not used to such cold; we could. not stand it. But there are grown people and children living in that land; and will tell you a little about two children who lived there, a brother and sister; then you can picture before you a little how it is there, and I think at the end you will thank God that you were born in a land where you could learn about Him who took the children in His arms and blessed them. You know who I mean, do you not? The Lord Jesus Christ.

The girl’s name is Equrk, and her brother’s Awahtok. Strange names you will say, and not pretty. But you must know that if they heard yours, they would probably not think them pretty, either. The children live in a low house made of stone and plastered with moss; and the house is round like a lime-kiln. It has only one room, and they creep into it on hands and feet through a small opening. A small window in the wall lets in the light. But there is no stove, table, bed, or chair to be seen. How do you think that Equrk’s mother cooks the dinner? She does it in a kettle over a lamp. The lamp is made of the shoulder-blade of a walrus, and is filled with fat, with a wick made of moss, stuck into it. She never bakes. Equrk has never eaten a piece of bread or a biscuit, nor has she ever seen potatoes or apples. They eat a piece of a walrus; or boiled fat, or the paw of a bear, or an otter’s rib. But they enjoy their food as much as we do ours.

When Equrk comes out of her house, what does she see? Beautiful green fields with butter-cups and daisies? O, no. Then corn-fields? No. Then beautiful woods with oaks and pine trees? No, no! On the ocean she sees only icebergs and fields of ice, and on land nothing but snow, with here and there a grey rock. For a very short time in the summer a fine grass appears here and there, and in sunny, mild spots, a few little flowers. But Equrk is very happy, and often has much fun. She has no auto to ride in, but her father has made her a sled. He has no wood, for trees don’t grow in that cold land, so he took the bones of a whale, and a walrus, and fastened them together with seal-skins; and he put a back to it, as the ground is rough, and Equrk might fall off. And who pulls it, do you think? Not her father; he must go to hunt bears, and not her brother for he has his own sled, but they are pulled by two dogs, and they fly as swift as arrows over the slippery ground.

And how do you think Equrk is dressed? I shall begin with her feet. Woolen stockings she has not, no one can knit there. Her stockings are made of the skins of birds with the soft side turned in. Over these she has a kind of socks made of seal-skin. Then pants of bear and a coat of fox-skin, and a cap of bear-skin. At first sight you would take her for a little white bear. But she is warm, and in our clothing she would freeze.

The winter there is very long. In November the sun goes down, and they don’t see it again till March. That is a long night, isn’t it? We think the winter days so short, but they have no day in that time. They have the clear Northern light, but they miss the sun’s warm rays.

The winter they call Okipok, which means, ice-time. In March the sun comes above the horizon, and sets immediately. The next day it shines a little longer until June, when it shines day and night. The summer they call aosah, which means, the time without ice, although plenty remains, and the snow never entirely disappears. Still it is a pleasant time. Many birds come, and they are so tame, they can be easily caught. They make delicious food, and are prized by the inhabitants.

“But,” you will ask, “do Equrk and Awahtok go to school?” Alas, no! they don’t know what a school is. There are no books, or pen and ink there, no churches. They have no idols; but believe in the “great Spirit” who rewards good people, and punishes the wicked. Poor Equrk has never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners. That is the worst of all, isn’t it? How unhappy she is, not to know the One Name under heaven, whereby sinners can be saved.

What a privilege for you, dear young friends, that you have not been born in that dark land, but in a land where you were told early of the precious name of Jesus, and the way shown to you of eternal life and happiness. Are you thankful for it? And have you already believed in the Lord Jesus, and through faith in His Name, received the forgiveness of your sins? O, I hope you have from the bottom of my heart. If it is so, you will surely pray for the poor people of that cold land, that the Lord may have mercy on them, and make known to them the name of our precious Redeemer.

And if not, O, think how dreadful it will be, to stand before the judgment seat of God, unconverted, and yet in your sins, to be judged and then condemned. Now is the accepted time. Do not wait; turn to Jesus, who stands without stretched arms ready to receive, and save you from destruction.

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

Messages of God’s Love 8/12/1923

Whosoever "Will"

IN a small Mission Room, off one of the crowded thoroughfares of a large city; a few earnest Christian workers fathered a number of poor and needy children, for whom they provided every Lord’s Day afternoon, a free supper, and afterwards spoke to them the Word of God. Many were by this means reached with the Gospel, who would not otherwise have heard it.

A poor boy, called by his comrades “Will,” heard the singing, and stood listening at the door. The last line of the chorus, repeated after each verse was, “Whosoever will, may come.” This arrested Will’s attention. He was sure the “Will” applied to him, but what the “Whosoever” meant, he did not know. A gentleman passed as Will stood listening, and touching his cap, Will asked.

“Please, sir, can you tell me what `Whosoever’ means?” The gentleman smiled, and replied,

“Yes, my lad, ‘whosoever’ means anybody; you, if you like.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Will, returning to the Mission Room door as fast as he could run. It now stood half open, and Will, removing his cap, walked in, and received a warm welcome.

After the hymn, the supper was served. and then a short Gospel address was given, telling how that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,. that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Will went to that humble room for many a day, and there he was converted and now follows Christ.

Have you learned that “whosoever will” means anybody, you, if you like? Have you taken your place and claimed God’s gift, as Will claimed the invitation to “whosoever will,” at the Mission Room supper that day? God still says to you, “Whosoever will, let him, take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. But this sweet invitation will not be continued for ever.- A day will come when God’s door will be closed, and all who have refused to obey His invitation will be shut out for Eternity.

Then another “Whosoever” will be made known; “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:15.

Messages of God’s Love 8/12/1923

God Looks Down

From the glorious heaven,

Where the angels are,

God looks down on children,

Seeth them afar.

Heareth all they ask for,

All the night and day,

Watches like a father,

All their work and play.

As a father giveth,

So He gives them bread,

Saves them out of - danger,

Watches by their bed.

Tell all little children

Of God’s constant care,

That He loves and pities

Children everywhere.

Messages of God’s Love 8/12/1923

The Nest

NOW very happy these dear children seem! What a lot of them there are, too; can you count the number? This is an old elm tree that they are in; it has been split open by lightning, or by the wind in a storm at some time. Now the children can climb up into the hollow places and make a fine nest for themselves. What makes these children so happy? Isn’t it because they are having a good time in a way that is not displeasing to their parents? It is so good to see little folks happy because they know that they are doing what is right.

Whom do you wish to please besides your parents and teachers? If you know Jesus as your own Saviour, He is the main One, I am sure. Did any child ever make fun of you for not doing as he did, because you wanted to please your Lord? Boys and girls that are faithful to Jesus, are sure to have this experience at some time. But we are told in the Bible that we ought to be happy even at such times. “If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye.” 1 Peter 4:14.

The Lord will protect you from harm, even though some Nays or girls may get very angry with you, and threaten to harm you for not joining them in some things they do, that you think is not right in the sight of God.

We read in the Old Testament of three boys who would not do evil, as the people around them were doing, and so they were thrown into a terribly hot furnace. They suffered all this because they really loved the Lord; and what an awful thing it was to be thrown into such a place. What happened to them? It was a wonderful thing, but God brought them out of it without a hair of their heads being scorched, nor even the smell of fire on their clothes.

A God that could do such a marvelous thing for those boys, is surely just as able to care for you, and to give you courage to do what is right and good in His sight—even though all the other children may laugh at you for it.

“WHO IS HE THAT WILL HARM YOU, IF YE BE FOLLOWERS OF THAT WHICH IS GOOD? BUT AND IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE, HAPPY ARE YE.” 1 Peter 3:13, 14

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 23:33-44

This section presents the seventh and last of the annual set times which God gave to the people of Israel,—the feast of tabernacles, when all the people were to spend a week living in booths made of branches of trees as a reminder that they had had such houses when God brought them out of Egypt.

By and bye, when the redeemed people of Israel are in their own land in the millennium, they will have this “feast” in a way they never did before. They will look back in their thoughts over all the way God will have brought them, and blessed as they never have been before by Him, in spiritual as well as in natural things, their hearts will go out in praise to Him.

All is connected with the one sinless sacrifice of Jesus. Are all your hopes connected with that, too?

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

The Bees

HOW wonderful is all God’s Creation, and many lessons we learn from it. Very wonderful are the many kinds of work that go on inside a bee hive, from the time that the tiny eggs are laid in the wax cells till the bees are hatched and full grown, ready to take their share in the hard work. Indeed none are idle in the hive, with the exception of those bees called drones. When the eggs are first hatched they are little worms. These are fed on what is called beebread; it is the pollen from flowers mixed with a little honey. In a few days’ time they are ready for a change, and the bees that act as nurses shut them up in wax cells by making a door of wax and sealing it up.

Then follows the cocoon state, and the worm has gradually changed into a fluffy bundle, but changes still go on till presently legs and wings grow on the insect, and it forces its way out of the covering.

Now it is a grey young bee, but still shut up in its little wax cell. All bees, as you know, make a buzzing noise, and as soon as the nurse bees hear the little ones making the well-known sound, they scrape away a little of the wax till a hole is made in the door, and give the captive a little honey every now and then till it has grown strong enough to come out and begin work.

In every hive there are two classes of bees, one called the workers, who gather the honey, and, indeed, do everything in the busy hive, except laying eggs, which is the work of the queen bee; the other class are the drones. The latter, however, form only a small proportion of the whole number, as for every drone, there would probably be forty workers. But whatever number of bees a hive may contain, there is never more than one queen bee. She reigns in the midst of her subjects, and receives the utmost loyalty from them.

Several times during the season there is great excitement in the hive on account of another queen bee being hatched and coming out of her cell; then the two queens either fight till one is killed, or else the old queen with some thousands of the bees will swarm; that is, they leave the hive and look out for a new home.

The real work of the hive is to gather honey, and the workers have honey bags to put it in, and also pockets for the wax, besides which the dust of flowers or pollen, which clings to their legs, has to be taken home somehow, so i it is first rubbed into rough balls or lumps, and carried to the hive on the joints of their legs. These joints being very wide may almost be called pollen baskets.

Honey has always been valued from the earliest times, and in Palestine it was so abundant, and of such good quality, that the land is spoken of as flowing with milk and honey. That is how God spoke of the land of promise when about to deliver the children of Israel from their cruel position in Egypt. Later on, too, we read that John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, and his food was locusts and wild honey; that would be the honey stored by wild bees in the hollow trunks of trees and open spaces in rocks.

May we learn a lesson from the busy bees. Satan finds work for idle hands to do, so if we are the Lord’s, we will not want to be drones, but “working with our own hands,” that which will be pleasing to the Lord.

“Let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14.

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

A Full Confession

TELL me,” I said, “what is it that makes you so happy now? You say you are quite happy, and have been so since last night.”

Yes,” was the reply, “am quite happy”—said evidently with much feeling.

“But do you think you could tell me distinctly what it is that gives you such new joy?” After a moment’s pause, the following reply was given,

“I see the love of Jesus to me, a sinner.”

“Bless the Lord,” I said, “that is something to see. May you never lose sight of it! But in what way do you see His love to yourself now?”

“I see now that He died for me on the cross, and put all my sins away there.” Amen, my heart replied; surely thou art taught of God!

`And now, once more, tell me, How do you feel towards Jesus Himself, after seeing and believing all this?” The reply was given natural and beautiful. It was,

“I feel it very easy now to give my heart to Him.”

I had nothing more to ask of the young believer, and went on my way, but with a praising heart, and with these three answers so engraven on my memory, as never to be forgotten.

“I see the love of Jesus to me, a sinner”;

“I see now that He died’ for me on the cross, and put all my sins away there.”

“I feel it very easy now to give my heart to Him.”

I have heard many confessions from many lips, but I have never heard one more simple, more concise, more complete, or more satisfactory.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

I Want to Be Sure About It

AT the close of our Friday Evening’s Children’s Meeting, a little boy came up to me and said,

“I want to be sure about it, sir,”

“What do you want to be sure about, my boy?” I asked.

“About my salvation, sir,” he replied.

We sat down side by side, and spoke together a long time about Christ, and His precious blood. We read several portions of Scripture, such as John 5:24, Acts 13:38, that make all who believe sure about their salivation, and at the close of our conversation, the dear little fellow said, “I am sure about it now.”

Reader, are you sure about your salvation? Are you certain that, if you were called into eternity now, you would go to heaven to be with Jesus? Do not put the question from you. Ask yourself,

“Am I sure about it?”

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

JesusSaid It

IN a rather crowded court a poor boy was lying sick. On his window sill were a few bright red flower-pots, and the carefully tended flowers gave their pleasant smell to the evening air. His little room was very clean, and as tidy and comfortable as his poor mother could make it, for she had hard work now that her son was ill, to find enough to keep the home together.

“M. you are very ill; perhaps you may die. Are you ready? Do you think you would go to Jesus?” a Christian friend inquired.

“Yes, my lady, yes,” said he; “I am sure I should go to heaven.”

“And why are you so sure, M.?” she asked again.

“O, ma’am,” was his answer—”Jesus says, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you’— and that’s me—’He that heareth My word’—and I do listen to His word— `and believeth on Him that sent Me’— and I believe—`hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life’—and Jesus never told a lie!”

Dear M’s. was simple faith—Jesus never deceived any poor sinner, and His word was life to M. He was an ignorant boy; as to doctrines of religion, he knew nothing of them, but he did know that he was a lost sinner, that Jesus died for lost sinners, and that if Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,” Jesus was to be depended upon.

Do you not long for this childlike faith, reader? I think you are cast down because of your sins sometimes, and that you tremble at the accusing’s of your conscience, and at the roars of your adversary the devil. But hearken to the words of Jesus. They are the words of One who cannot lie. He says, “I am the truth;” again, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Do you believe the words of Jesus? If so, you have everlasting life.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.”

Where then are your sins? Gone, gone forever. Gone from the sight of God, from the presence of eternal justice, so that all who believe in Jesus, God declares to be justified from all things. God’s perfect acceptance of the work of His Son gives us not only peace, but the privilege of living for Him and serving Him on earth.

Would you not like to have M’s. simple faith in Christ? and then you would really belong to the Lord Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

Rejoicing

I know a little girl,

Whose voice I often hear,

As merrily she sings,

With accents sweet and clear.

This dear child is assured

Her sins are covered all,

And that no vengeance can

Upon her ever fall:

That Jesus on the cross,

God’s wondrous love to show,

For young and old did die, To save from endless woe.

If, children, you believe

He suffered thus for you,

And liveth now to bless,

You should be singing too.

Messages of God’s Love 8/19/1923

The Queen

WITH a plain, little chair for a throne, an old umbrella for a canopy, and a wreath of grape leaves for a crown, the youngest child makes a contented little queen.

Just outside the door you see the grape vines. The basket inside is full of the fruit, and now the children are feasting on the grapes they have gathered.

The rest of the children are serving their young queen very attentively and kindly.

You may learn from this that you should play contentedly with your, little brothers and sisters, or friends. You should be unselfish, and ready to give them the first place.

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you have eternal life, and you will take pleasure in seeking to please Him in all your ways. He is the unselfish One who gave up all that He had in order to save us. So let us seek to please Him in everything.

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDER HEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” Eph. 4:32

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 24

After telling, in the meaning of the seven feasts or fixed times of the twenty-third chapter of all His plans for the saving of their souls and bringing His children into full blessing, God reminds them in this chapter that there was to be a long dark night before the dawn of Israel’s day. So we have light provided at the beginning (verses 1 to 4) to be burning continually from the evening to the morning.

This tells us that the Holy Spirit was not going to give them up, but to shed light from God in this dark world; though the mass of the people were asleep as toward God, yet there would be some who had faith in Him, believing His word, and looking for the morning of eternity. “Before the Lord,” too, the twelve loaves, to signify the twelve tribes of Israel, the whole nation, were to be always.

Verses 10 to 23 show that sin was there, and that it must be punished. God does not forget sin; and the agony of the Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:40-44), and on the cross (Matthew 26:45-46 and Psalm 22) tell us that God cannot pass our sins by, even when the blessed Son of God took our sins as though they were His own, Who was ever sinless.

Dear young reader, fly to this deaf Saviour who is ready to receive you.

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

Never Man Spoke Like This Man

From everything our Saviour saw,
Lessons of wisdom He would draw;
The clouds; the colors in the sky;
The gentle breeze that whispers by;
The fields all white with waving corn;
The lilies that the vale adorn;
The reed that trembles in the wind;
The tree where none its fruit can find;
The sliding sand, the flinty rock,
That bears unmoved the tempest’s shock;
The thorns that on the earth abound;
The tender grass that clothes the ground;
The little birds that fly in air;
The sheep that needs the shepherd’s care;
The pearls that deep in ocean lie,
The gold that charms the miser’s eye;
All from His lips some truth proclaim,
Or learn to tell their Maker’s Name.

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

The Three Fishermen

A LONG while ago, God—who lives above the sky, where everything is beautiful, and every one is happy—looked down upon this earth, where you know things are not beautiful, and people are not always happy, and the desire of His heart was to find some people, and little children, who would be glad to come and live up there with Himself.

So God sent His dear Son. And when He came, He went about telling God’s kind message everywhere. Do you think that everyone thronged around Him?

Do you think the little children said, O, take me, oh, do take me? No. It was not so. Scarcely any one would listen to Him. They did not believe that He could be God’s Son. They thought He could only be a common ordinary man like themselves, and although He did things no one else ever did, and said things no one else ever said, yet after all, they did not believe He could be’ God’s Son; and besides, they did not want to be washed and made fit for God’s home. They thought, after all, they would rather stay where they were.

But all were not like this. There were a few, oh so few, but there were a few that said that He could be no other than God’s Son, for they had read in the Bible how God had promised to send Him, and they believed what God said.

Out of the few that believed Him were three fishermen, Peter, James and John were their names. There were four more fishermen, but what I am going to tell you is about the three I have mentioned.

Well, one day Jesus said to Peter, James and John, Come with Me. So He took them up a very high hill, and went to a part of it where they were all alone.

When they were all alone—all of a sudden they saw Him change into the most beautiful being their eyes had ever rested on. They never had seen any one so lovely, and as for His dress, it was white like the beautiful snow when the sun makes it sparkle, and while they, were full of wonder, they heard God’s voice speaking to them and saying, “This is My beloved Son.”

These three fishermen who had believed what He told them, now saw with their eyes how true it all was, and when they came down from the hill they could tell other people how certain they were He was God’s dear Son.

But did people believe them? Ah, no! It takes much to make people believe anything but what is just under their eyes, and so they got weary at last of hearing the message, and presently they thought they would like to get rid of the Messenger, for they began to hate the thought of having One so good always with them, and at last they put Him to death.

But where is He now? He has gone back to God. And where are those who received Him? They are gone to God. And will God have any more go to be with Him? Yes, God sent down another Messenger, an invisible Messenger, but as real a messenger as Christ. He is called the Holy Ghost. Peter has told us about Him, and John has told us about Him, and the message still is, that God will receive all who receive His Son.

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

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

Little Japs Who Pray

I WANT to tell you about a little Japanese boy and girl who believed in prayer. The boy tried to pass an examination, but failed; of course he was greatly disappointed; but like a good plucky little Jap, he felt he must try again. Somewhere he had heard of the true God, and how His worshipers were allowed to ask Him for what they needed, and how He answered them. So he prayed, and this time passed his examination, feeling sure that God had helped him.

Have you ever asked God in this simple way, and had an answer? And when answered have you given the praise to God?

Little Miss Jap, the boy’s sister, had also a desire. Hearing how God had answered her brother’s prayers, she wanted to know more, and was determined, if possible, to go to a school where she would be taught more about prayer, and the God who answered. But her friends, who were heathens, did not like the idea, and put obstacles in the way.

What do you think Miss Jap did?

She prayed—prayed to the God she so imperfectly knew, that He would make the way plain for her to go where she could learn more. And He answered. One by one the hindrances were removed, and as she still prayed on, they were all removed, so that she was free to go to a school conducted by Christian missionaries, her relations gladly consenting.

The lady at the head, of that school of nearly 100 girls, many of whom are young Christians, writes of this one thus:——

“If there is one fact more than another that she has taken in with her whole heart, it is that God hears her prayers, and one sees the effect in a bright Christian life.” Now let us take our Bibles and find texts in which God promises to answer prayer.

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

Here is another, Luke 11:9, “Ask, and it shall be given you.”

Yet a third, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.” John 16:23.

Here is a fourth, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.

“O Lord, the children come to Thee,

For Thou the children’s life didst share;

Its thoughts and feelings Thou didst know,

And Thou wilt hear the children’s prayer.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

The Lost Drummer Boy

DURING one of Napoleon’s cruel wars, he ordered one of his officers, named MacDonald, to cross the Splugen with fifteen thousand soldiers, during a severe snowstorm. As they marched along the rugged road, an avalanche of snow rolled down the mountain side, and swept a drummer boy into the valley below. A cry burst out from the ranks, and many a brave soldier wiped the tear from his eye. As they listened, they heard a drum beat below, and they knew the drummer boy was alive.

Marshal Macdonald threw off his cloak, tied a rope around his waist, and ordered his men to let him: down into the deep ravine. He found the drummer boy buried in the snow, and, tearing off his sash, he bound him firmly to his own body, and gave the signal to draw up. Those on the height at once began to raise their commander, who had left them, and gone down at the risk of his life, to rescue the lost drummer. Up from the depths beneath, slowly the rescuer and the rescued were drawn. There was a shout of great gladness among the soldiers when the brave marshal and the lost drummer were safely landed together.

That lost drummer represents the lost sinner. Jesus the Son of God came down to seek and save the lost, and all who know Him as their Saviour, are bound up in life with Him, and shall reach the same glory. Have you been reached and saved by the Son of God? Are you lost in the depths of sin beneath, or saved and risen with Christ above?

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

Jesus-Saviour

Jesus, He the Saviour is,

O! what a theme is this,

Praise shall be forever His

Seated now in glory.

O Saviour, precious Lord,

Worthy to be adored;

Join now with glad accord,

Give Him, honor, glory.

Jesus—precious name to know,

While pilgrims here below,

By His blood made white as snow,

Meet to dwell in glory.

Jesus-O how sweet that name,

For evermore the same.

Worthy He of highest fame

And of honor, glory.

Jesus, ever faithful Friend,

His love will never end,

He will all His own defend

Till with Him in glory.

Jesus hath done all things well,

Now let the tidings swell,

Of His grace the story tell;

Till the dawn of glory.

Jesus, O, what love and grace,

In all His ways we trace,

O, what joy to see His face,

In the brightest glory.

Jesus soon again will come

And gather all His own,

Ever then to be at home

In His rest in glory.

Jesus when on earth was slain,

Now lives on high again;

He in righteousness will reign

When He comes in glory.

Messages of God’s Love 8/26/1923

Bible Questions for September

Answers to Bible Questions for July

1. “And straightway many,” etc. Mark 2:2.

2. “The Son of man indeed,” etc. “ 14:21.

3. “And these are they,” etc. “ 4:20.

4. “And in the morning,” etc. “ 1:35.

5. “And Jesus said, I am,” etc. “ 14:62.

6. “Watch ye therefore,” etc. “ 13:35.

7. “And Be saith unto them,” etc. “ 8:29.

Bible Questions for September

The Answers Are to be Found in John.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou didst send Me.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Seeth Him that sent Me.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Where He was before.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Sent into the world.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Which is in heaven.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The Father hath sent Me.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Came forth from the Father.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

Bible Lessons.

Leviticus 25

Here we are told, how God counts everything as looking on to the day of eternity, when He shall rest for ever. All the days are past of His working for man’s good, and of bearing with sinners, and the great day of judging and sending the unsaved to the lake of fire.

Nothing will alter God’s plan, and He would have His people live their lives and do all their business affairs and everything else, in view of the rest that remains. Hebrews 4, verse 9 tells us of that rest for the people of God, yet God’s rest; and Revelation 21, verses 1 to 5 and first sentence of verse 6, brings us to it.

Have you a share in God’s rest? It is only by believing in Jesus, and what He has done for us who were rebels against God, that heaven’s door is opened to you. Come to Him, while mercy is still offered to you!

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

I Am the Living Bread Which Came Down From Heaven. John 6:51

WHEN you are very hungry, you know how earnestly you long to have some good bread to eat. But when you have eaten as much as you want, you are satisfied; your hunger is gone, and you feel contented and happy. This is just the kind of feeling we have in our souls when we have eaten of this Living Bread. If we learn to know and love Jesus, and to believe what the Bible tells us about Him, it makes us feel perfectly satisfied and happy. And there is nothing in the world that can make us feel so, but eating this Living Bread.

We often hear people talk about being “as happy as a king.” But this is a mistake. Kings are about the most unhappy of men. I was reading lately about a king who began to reign when he was very young. As soon as his father died, and the crown was put on his own head, he thought he was going to have a very happy time. He was so sure of this that he had a large silver-toned bell made, . and put up in the tower of his palace. He had a rope connected with this bell, in every room in the palace. He told his friends that he was going to ring this bell whenever he felt happy; and he said he expected they would be tired of hearing the bell ring, and he would be tired of pulling the rope. But the story says that the king lived to be an old man, and he had so many cares and troubles that he never rang the bell but once, and that was just as he was dying. Ah, that king’s crown was not able to make him happy! But if he had only known and loved Jesus, and had eaten this Living Bread which came down from heaven, he might have rung that bell every day of his life.

There was a minister once who often used to say to his people,

“God is good, and is able to make His people always happy.”

One time his only son—a bright, darling boy—died very suddenly. The day of the funeral came. The coffin was lowered into the grave. Another minister was there attending to the funeral. Just before he finished the service, he asked the weeping father if he had anything to say. Most of his congregation were standing round the grave.

“Yes,” said he, “I would like to say a few words. My friends, when I was in no trouble, you have often heard me say that God is good, and always able to make His people happy. And now, here, as I stand beside the grave of my darling boy, I can say from my heart, God is good, and I am satisfied, even in my sorrow.” That minister had learned to eat of this wonderful Bread, and he was feeling its power to satisfy.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

Does God Answer Prayer?

OF course He does. Several cases I could mention, when, in answer to prayer, I had relief from pain in illness, pleading those precious words at the end of the general Epistle of James, “Is any among you suffering? let him pray.”

Only the other day, visiting a cottage in a small town, I noticed a little girl crying bitterly, and was told she was suffering from ear-ache. On asking the father if he could not take her to the doctor (who lived in the town two miles away), he said he would have to get a “permit” from a farmer living at a distance of two miles (in an opposite direction). He added, he could ill afford the time for walking these distances, while the mother had a baby to nurse, and all the children were quite young.

I asked the parents if they would join with me in asking the Great Physician to cure their child, quoting to them the passage already mentioned and other sweet encouragements to prayer given by our Lord Himself.

They both nodded assent, and I hoped the prayer of faith was offered by all three.

Calling again and finding the man and his wife at home, as before, I asked him if he had gone for the permit, when he said he had not.

“Did you go straight to the doctor, then?”

“No,” he replied, “there was no necessity for it.”

“How was that?”

“She lost the ear-ache after you left.”

I trust we all sang praise with the heart to the Lord, who had so graciously answered our prayer by granting complete relief to the little sufferer.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

Nettie's Rescue

AT the dark midnight hour, flames were seen issuing from the windows of a house. The fire bell rang, and a few minutes later, a crowd gathered around the burning house, eager to lend a helping hand and to extinguish the fire, or to rescue those within. One after another of the inmates were safely brought out, and kindly received in the houses of neighbors around. It was supposed that all had been saved, when a woman burst through the crowd, wringing her hands, and crying piteously,

“My Nettie, my Nettie is still there.”

Could it be possible that a precious child was still in danger of the flames, and that no effort was being made to reach her? Yes, indeed, a mother’s only child too, dearer to her heart than life itself.

Nettie had been put to bed as usual, and after she was asleep, her mother had gone out to see a sick neighbor. The sounding of the fire-bell, and the noise of voices brought her quickly to the spot. There was a hurried glance around to see if Nettie had been brought out, but no Nettie was there. Soundly asleep in her cot, dear child, unconscious of her danger, while the raging flames glowed underneath her, a faint but solemn picture of the sinner’s present state. The firemen looked at each other in dismay. There was not a moment to spare; but who was to risk his life to save the life of Nettie? Another moment, and a tall fireman, his helmet gleaming in the light of the lurid flames, was seen ascending the ladder. It was a terrible risk, and the people stood with bated breath, as they saw him enter the window and disappear amid the smoke. In less than two minutes he appeared again at the window, clasping the child in one arm, and battling with the flames with the other. There was a ringing cheer went up from the crowd, and many a “God bless you,” as he handed Nettie into her mother’s arms, shaking with fear, but safe. But that noble act cost the fireman his life. The flame from which he saved the child had leaped upon himself, and left its marks, from the effects of which he died.

How could Nettie ever forget the love of her deliverer? Many a tear was dropped, and many a daisy planted on his grave. But his love was only a shadow of the love of Jesus, who left His radiant home, and endured the flame of God’s wrath to rescue you from eternal judgment and everlasting fire.

Reader, are you treating Him with con. tempt? Are you spurning His hand outstretched to save you, and choosing rather to continue in sin, and go down unconverted to hell? Who would remain in a burning house with flames raging underneath? Yet the sinner chooses to remain within a step of hell, refusing deliverance.

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

Giving of Thanks.

MANY of our young readers, from their early days, have been taught to give thanks to the Lord for everything they receive, and how good it is to know while young that God is the One who gives us all things. We know that we brought nothing into this world, and that we can carry nothing out of it, so it is evident that God has given us all things. Our place is, according to His Word, to be

“GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS UNTO GOD .AND THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Eph. 5:20

So, whether it is little or much, it becomes us all to give thanks to God.

There is one gift God has given us above all else, and that is. His only begotten Son. He gave Him as a Saviour for us. Have you ever thanked God for such a Saviour? He is the only and competent Saviour, and the One who saves to the uttermost all Who come unto God by Him. So we can truly say, God hath done great things for us, and we should ever give Him praise and thanks for all things, even for the scanty meal; but above all for His unspeakable gift. the Lord Jesus Christ.

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

Christ, The Lord, Will Come Again

Christ, the Lord, will come again,

None shall wait for Him in vain;

I shall then His glory see;

Christ will come and call for me.

Then, when the Archangel’s voice

Calls the sleeping saints to rise,

Rising millions shall proclaim

Blessings on the Saviour’s name.

“This is our redeeming Lord,”

Ransomed hosts will shout aloud;

“Praise, eternal praise, be given

“To the Lord of earth and heaven.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/2/1923

The Morning Greetings

HOW very pleasant is the face of this young girl! I think we may judge by the picture that she is kind hearted. How fearless the little calf is! As she goes about her usual morning work, it seems to have been her habit to bring it some dainty leaves of green vegetables, and now it comes forward to get them.

The geese follow close behind her, giving an occasional reminder that they do not wish to be forgotten. She always brings something in her basket for them too.

We should show kindness and consideration to all of God’s creatures. Did you ever stop to think that every living creature belongs to the Lord? He has said,

“Every beast of the field is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psa. 50:10.

The fear of the Lord will cause us to be kind to His creatures.

“THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE, BEHOLDING THE EVIL AND THE GOOD.” Prov. 15:3.

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

A Deformed Boy Transformed — Note

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 26

This is one of the many chapters of God’s Book that tell us of His love to us, who deserves nothing from Him.

“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.” (Verse 1).

“If the Lord be God, follow Him,” Elijah said to the people in 1 Kings 18: 21. Why, indeed, should we, who profess to belong to Him, let anything or anyone come into our hearts so that God has not the first place there?

Of course, we who live in countries that are not heathen lands, like China and India, have no idols, exactly, to bow down to, but Satan is back of every idol, just as much as he is behind everything that comes into a true Christian’s life to displace the Lord Jesus there.

Be very careful, dear young believer, what thoughts, and wishes, and ways, you allow to have a home in your heart. Read your Bible daily, and pray much for help from God, that you may live as a Christian should, and you will find that the things in which you once found pleasure, will cease to interest you, and your desire will be to please the One who has loved you and given Himself for you.

Verse 2, gives us again the Sabbath, for God is always looking on to His rest, the rest of God, when all His work for man will be over. We who belong to Jesus, long for His rest, too, and we shall have part in it, but there is no rest for God while sin is in the world.

The sanctuary is where God is at home on earth. Where can that be? Stephen, the first martyr, in Acts 7:48, said,

“Howbeit. the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” May we not find the answer in Eph. 2:19, 22, and Matt. 18:20?

Verses 3 to 13 are full of precious promises, which God was ready- and anxious to make good, but you will find in five different times afterwards what sorrows He must send upon the people, if they would not walk in His ways.

So it is with many Christians today: trial upon trial is sent by our God to bring them to let Him have the first place, the chief place, in their hearts. Yet He is always merciful, ever gracious, as verses 40 to 45 so expressly set forth.

Dear young reader, are your sins forgiven?

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

The Young Girl's Faith

A YOUNG man went over to Paris to learn the French language, and to finish his education. He spent several years there, and became acquainted with a number of men who were infidels. At home he had been taught by his mother to read the Bible, and to believe its teachings. But after hearing what those learned men had to say about it, he gave away His Bible, and became an infidel. These men were learned in the world’s wisdom, but not in God’s wisdom.

Shortly after his return home, he was invited to spend an evening with an intelligent family in the neighborhood. There was a large company present, and different groups were amusing themselves in various ways.

As this young man was walking through the parlors, he saw two young girls—one about twelve, and the other about sixteen years old—sitting in a bay window, earnestly engaged in reading. Going up to them he said,

“Well, young ladies, what novel is that you are reading?”

“It is not a novel, sir,” said the elder girl. “We are reading God’s book, the Bible.”

“O, then, do you believe there is a God?” asked the young man.

The girls looked at each other in astonishment. Then the elder girl said to him, “And is it possible, that you don’t believe there is a God?”

“I used to believe it once,” but after living in Paris, and studying science, and philosophy. I ‘learned that this is all a mistake. There is no God!”

“I never was in Paris,” said the younger girl, “and never studied those important things that you speak of. I only know my Bible. But since you are so learned, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly; just as many questions as you please.”

“You say there is no God. Now, suppose there was an egg here, could you tell me where it came from?”

“What a funny question! Why, of course, the egg comes from a hen.”

“And which of them existed first, the egg or the hen?”

“I really don’t know what you mean by this question. I suppose, of course, the hen existed first.”

“Well, that must have been a hen that did not come from an egg. Can you tell me where that hen came from?”

“Beg your pardon, I was mistaken. Of course the egg existed first.”

“Then that must have been an egg that did not come from, a hen. Well, where did that first egg come from?”

The young man became excited, and said, “What’s the use of asking such questions as these?”

“The use is just this,” said the young girl. “If the first hen did not come from an egg, as other hens do, then somebody must have made it. That somebody must be God. If you cannot explain how the first hen, or the first egg existed without God, can you explain how the world existed without God?”

That is a question which all the infidels in the world cannot answer. The young man had nothing more to say. He turned away from the girls, took his hat, and went home.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.

God opened the eyes of this young girl’s soul to see what this young man, with all his learning, could not see.

“The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” Psa. 19:1.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.” Isa. 40:28.

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

The Deaf Mute

A MAN was visiting in a hospital, where he met a deaf mute. He was struck by the bright appearance of the boy, who now came forward to answer questions which were written on a black board. The visitor asked,

“Who made the world?”

Taking the chalk, the boy wrote, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

“Why did Jesus come into the world?”

His answer was, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

One more question was put, the visitor quite hoping for a good answer,

“Why were you born deaf and dumb?” The child smiled this time, and then wrote,

“Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”

This dear boy trusted in the Lord, and felt He was his best Friend. He had proved His love for him by dying to save his precious soul, and the boy was contented that the Lord’s will should be done.

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

The Text Card

A LITTLE boy, who loved Jesus, sent another little boy a text card, and wrote on it, “MUCH LOVE.”

It was only a schoolboy’s scrawl, but the schoolmate who received it knew the words meant what they stood for, and so treasured the little token.

It made me think of another precious token and another message:

“I have loved you, saith the Lord.” Mal. 1:2.

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Jer. 31:3.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9.

If a little card was valued because it expressed a boy’s love, how should we prize Jesus, who is the expression of God’s love?

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

God sent Jesus with “MUCH LOVE.”

Is not this how we should feel about the Bible, God’s second gift with

Much Love

It comes to us with the message of His love who died for us.

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

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us with His great love, even when we were dead in sins. Eph. 2:4-5.

“God, even our Father, hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.” 2 Thess. 2: 16.

“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5.

“Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

Let Your Songs Be of Him

About me oft I hear men sing,

Some mighty hero’s fame;

Or victory of some foreign king,

But never Jesus’ name.

In every place and house they praise

The things they most admire;

Of this world’s pleasure, dress or ways,

With all their souls on fire.

But Christ, the most renowned and good,

Is very rarely sung;

Men seldom make the Saviour’s blood

The music of their tongue.

But if they knew His worth, like me,

Naught but His righteous praise

Would fill their lips: His praise would be

The theme of all their lays.

O, mighty Hero! Glorious King!

More than ten thousand fair!

Thy praise let me forever sing,

And while I tarry here.

Messages of God’s Love 9/9/1923

Waiting

DEAR Children, what do these bright, pretty faces make you think of? They seem to be waiting—watching for something. Perhaps some of you often sit out on your door-step, or porch, waiting for father or mother to come home. And what do you do when you see them coming? You may clap your hands for joy as you run to meet them. You are happy to see those you love.

Is there anyone else you are watching for?—some One you have not yet seen— One you may have learned to love, though still unseen?

Many of you know and love the blessed Saviour who died for you. You know your sins are forgiven, through faith in His name. Do you know also, that He is coming to take you, and all who love Him to His home above? Do you know that any day, any hour, He may descend into the clouds, and call us up to meet Him in a moment-T-in the twinkling of an eye? (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52.)

So He wants you always to be waiting and watching for Him, ready to be called away at any moment from this world of sin and sorrow: ready to meet Him in the air: ready to share His home and throne above. Are you watching? Are you longing with joy to see His blessed face?

The apostle Paul said, “Henceforth there is laid up for.me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the rightous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

Bible Lessons

Leviticus 27

A vow was made to God; it was a gift to Him of oneself or one’s property,—it did not matter. There is One who judges; it is the Lord Jesus, for Moses, who is the one spoken of in “thy estimation” again and again in this final chapter of his third book, is a type of the blessed Son of God in a day yet to come, when Israel shall be in their own land once more.

Even the smallest (one month old), and these poorer than the estimation, are accepted,—according to ability. It is not the world’s standard of excellence that counts, but something- unknown outside,—the “shekel of the sanctuary.”

What is our service for the Lord when weighed and valued by Him? Let each of us who are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, think this over solemnly. What has He obtained in me, for whom He died? Has He my heart, my life? If not, why not? Is He not worthy?

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

How a Little Girl Learned to Know the Love of the Lord Jesus

A FRIEND who loves you all very much wishes to tell you something. You all like books with pictures in them. I am quite sure of that.

Listen then, and I will tell you of a little girl who loved picture-books very much, and although she was hardly old enough to read all the words, or know all the meanings of the words, yet she liked pleasing tales and pictures, and never seemed to tire with looking at them over and over. So one clay this little girl was very busy turning all the other books out of the way, to find the old favorite with its droll faces and strange figures, when in a moment there seemed the sound of a voice quite close to her. and the voice said to the little girl,

“If you die as you are, what will become of you?”

She looked around, thinking it must be her father speaking to her. But no: there was no one in that large room, that she could see, except herself, yet the voice said again,

“If you die as you are, what will become of you?” and she felt that it went down into her heart, and something there said,

“Yes; what will become of you?’’

The little girl closed the large book with its pictures and went away very slowly and very thoughtfully into a quiet part of the garden behind the house, but the voice followed her there, and still said to her,

“If you die as you are, what will become of you?”

The voice sounded very solemn and very sad, and yet it seemed always to speak with such love and pity to that little girl, always, always the same words.

“If you die as you are, what will become of you?”

A long time the little girl stood there in the garden all alone, thinking, and .holding her dress very tightly in both hands. I can tell you all she thought about. She thought,

“Yes; I am a sinner, and if I die as I am, a sinner, what will become of me? I am afraid I should have to go to hell, to be always with the devil and his angels. But I will try from now to be very good. and if I can only get to be good before I die, then God will, I hope, let me go to heaven; for I should not like to be always with the devil and his angels.

“ O! my dear young friends, I must tell you how mistaken this little girl was in forgetting God did really love sinners. for do we not read,

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”? And she did not think of that Friend of little children, that Friend of sinners, Jesus, who spoke to her heart in the large room, and then in the garden.

If any of you feel yourselves to be sinners, and fear to die as you are, O! do not, as this little girl did, look all at yourselves and your own weakness, and forget Jesus who only can save you, and is quite near to you always, if you will only look to Him.

This little girl I am telling you of did not try to put this voice away from her. She had a naughty, obstinate temper; she tried to mend this, and those about her began to say they thought she was at last going to be a good, obedient little child, and sometimes she thought so herself; but O! it was very hard work, for she often forgot her good intentions. But the voice still kept saying,

“If you die as you are, what will become of you?” So the poor little girl did not know what else she could do. She did not know the love of the Lord Jesus.

One night she had gone to bed; the nurse had taken away the light, and thought she had left her asleep; but O! no, she lay on her little bed thinking, thinking always of what was to become of her if she should die just as she was. She said to herself,

“I am afraid I never, never shall get to be good, so good as to be fit to go to heaven;” and then she thought, and this was the best thought of all,

“I will just now tell Jesus all about it;” and this was her prayer to Jesus as she lay there on her little bed that night:

“O, if You please, Jesus, I am quite sure I have tried a long while to make myself fit to go to heaven when I die, but I can’t do it. I am so often doing something wrong, and then being very sorry about it, and that is just all. O, what must I do? I am so very sorry, and I am very tired. I want so to have rest. O Jesus, please let me rest. If You would take me just for a little in Your arms as You did the little children in the Bible. If You would take me, and take away all my sins, too. And, O! if You won’t, if You won’t, and I die as I am. what will become of me?”

Poor little girl! her heart was ready to break at this thought, so she could say no more, but just hid her face, all wet with tears, in the pillow.

But, dear reader, the Lord Jesus Christ loves little children, and He loved this little girl, and had been waiting to take her, and bless her, but she had been so busy trying to make herself fit to die,” that she had never once, till now, looked in simple faith to Christ for the “Rest” which He alone can give the sinner. And O! how kindly did that compassionate Saviour smile upon this “little one,” and say, “Come”!

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

“ O! that was a sweet word, “Come”! The little girl obeyed, and in the love of Jesus felt she had “Rest.”

The voice that had said so long, “If you die as you are, what will become of you?” was hushed; she heard it no more, but went to sleep, and awoke saying,

“O, I am so happy now! I do love Jesus.”

And when she rose the next morning she was so glad, so full of joy, for she felt Jesus was still with her.

Ah! she saw Jesus now, by faith; and 0! what a sweet attraction held her upturned gaze upon Him, “the Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”; “the Crucified”; “the sinner’s Friend”!

Jesus was dearer to her than all beside, and because she loved and wished to please Him, she found she could obey her father, and try not to be naughty and obstinate a great deal better, and could say to herself, “Jesus helps me now.

“ By faith in Christ her sins were all forgiven, and she became a new creature ( John 1:12, 5:24; Acts 10:43; Gal. 3: 26).

Dear young friends if you die in your sins, unwashed in the precious blood of Jesus, you cannot enter heaven. But Jesus says to you all, “Come.

“ O! trust not in yourselves, but look to Jesus to save you, and to give you rest, and in coming to Him, you shall find rest, and learn also how to “rejoice always.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

Am I Too Little?

AM I too little to go to Jesus, teacher?” was the question that fell from the lips of a little girl of five years old, at the close of the Sunday school, some weeks ago. Drawing the dear child to her side, the teacher tenderly answered,

“No, my child, you are not too little, for Jesus says, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me.’ When He was here on earth, He took little children up into His arms, and blessed them.”

“The infant children Christ received.

O praise His precious name;

He took them up into His arms,

And blessed each babe that- came.

Jesus will bless the little ones,

O praise His precious name.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

The Lost Receipt

A WIDOW received shortly after her husband’s death, a notice to pay a large sum of money to a merchant with whom he had had business dealings.

She knew the money had been paid several months before, but in spite of all her searching, she could not find receipted bill. In her distress she cried to Him who has promised to be the Father of the fatherless and the Judge of the widows. (Psalm 68:5.) Then she retired quietly for the night. Hardly had she fallen asleep, when she dreamed that she saw distinctly on the floor a box filled with tracts and books; in one of them she saw the receipt so long looked for. A short time after she awoke and remembered this box. She went to take it from its place, opened it and found the receipt in it.

Evidently her husband had been reading one of these books while the paper was on the table. Unconsciously he had slipped it in the open book, probably to mark the page at which he had stopped, and had replaced the book in the box without thinking any more about it. God loves to answer the prayers of His children.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

Jesus, I Do Trust Thee

Jesus, I do trust Thee Trust

Thee with my soul;

Guilty, lost and helpless

Thou canst make me whole.

There is none in heaven,

Or on earth like Thee;

Thou hast died for sinners,

Therefore, Lord, for me.

Jesus, I do trust Thee,

Trust without a doubt;

Whosoever cometh,

Thou wilt not cast out.

Faithful is Thy promise,

Precious is Thy blood;

These my soul’s salvation,

Thou my Saviour God.

Messages of God’s Love 9/16/1923

The Contented Family

No grandeur or style was needed to make or add to the happiness of the humble home, where sat the mother and her three children at a plain, but substantial meal. Love for one another, and kindness even .to the animals, prevailed, and they are content with their circumstances.

These are good traits, which may well be sought after, as they have their good results. Godliness added to contentment, is great gain. Mere contentment with the circumstances will give a measure of happiness for a certain length of time, that is, as long as the circumstances seem to be agreeable, but such conditions change, and then the happiness and contentment go, too. But if there is godliness with contentment, the changes of circumstances cannot alter the happiness, as they are accepted as coming from His all-wise and loving hand.

We must first know the Lord Jesus, the gift of God’s love to us, as our own personal Saviour, and then we are able to say,

“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.

The measure of God’s love in giving His Son is so great that it should cause us to accept every circumstance from His hand, and as being the best thing for us; consequently, there is happiness and contentment, although we may feel the trial which the Lord is bringing us through. Do you know and enjoy that love?

“IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 1 John 4:11.

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 1

In Leviticus, we had, we may say, God’s word given to us. In Numbers we are starting on our journey, taught by Him. There are unforeseen dangers in the way, but we are now to put into practice what we have learned, and we shall find in so doing, if we are really converted to God, some painful lessons about ourselves, while learning confidence in Him.

A year almost, has passed at the base of Mount Sinai, the mountain of the law, and a wilderness is mentioned now, in verse 1. A count is to be made of all the people who are able to go out to war, for God well knows what Satan intends to do. How interested God is in all His people, not only in bringing them safely to glory, but their present needs and cares are always before Him; there is nothing in a believer’s life about which He is not concerned.

Verse 18. Can my reader give his pedigree? In other words, Can you say, on the authority of God’s Word,

“I believe on the name of the Son of God, and therefore, I know I have eternal life”? (1 John 5:13).

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

O, how many, dear to Him, have not fully trusted in Him! They think salvation cannot be sure in this life, and that it is proper to humbly doubt. O do trust His unfailing word, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

Declare your pedigree, Christian reader! (Read John 5:24).

It is not only for war,—for watchfulness against a great and powerful enemy who knows our weaknesses very well, but also for service to God, that the people are, in this first chapter, set apart.

The Levites are not numbered; theirs is not to fight the enemy, though that be under the eyes of God, but to be associated with Him in a very near place, where He should set His name, and therefore, He will not have them counted as an earthly army, for, typically, heaven is their home. And in the picture, He would have us see, in this first chapter of Numbers, the Levites are the same people as the already counted twelve tribes. So the Christian has two sides,—that towards God, and that towards the world. In both he must be what the Word of God will make him. You cannot he a Christian by trying to be one.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

Cursed Be the Man That Trusteth in Man

Jer. 17:5

THE ship, Cedar Grove, had struck against rocks near Halifax. N. S. Happily the majority abandoned the wreck, and safely reached the shore. It is sad to think of those that went down with the wreck. They might have been saved. They thought they Were safe; but, alas! they were not safe. Like many who say, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace;” and so deceive themselves and others.

The ship had become a wreck; the captain, however, thought she would not sink, and consequently was in no hurry to escape to land. Two or three others, one of whom was a young lady, considered their position safe, and so remained with the captain on board to await a more convenient season, while twenty-four strong men got into boats and reached the shore in safety. The ship went down, and all who refused to get into the boats, perished.

From the position of the wreck it was a little inconvenient to get into the boats, and the captain thought the wreck would remain steady as it was. Being a man of great experience, the other few were persuaded not to abandon the wreck until there would be a more convenient way to take them ashore.

How forcibly the account of the loss of the Cedar Grove brings to my mind that solemn passage of Scripture, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matt. 15:14.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.” Jer. 17:7.

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

Willie's Psalm

LITTLE Willie was scarcely five years old when it pleased God to take his mother to heaven, to be with the dear Saviour, whom she had loved on earth. Willie saw how sad his father looked when he talked of the dear one who had gone from them, and who would never come back to them again; but he was too young to understand how great their loss was.

As Mr. — could not be much at home with his motherless child, he accepted an invitation for him to spend a few months with his aunt Maria.

On the first Sunday of his visit, he accompanied his aunt to chapel in the morning, and behaved very quietly during the service. In the afternoon his aunt Maria gave him a picture book, thinking it would amuse him while she read. Presently the little fellow laid down the book, and going to his aunt, and looking up into her face, he said,

“Auntie, will you read to me, please? Mamma always used to read to me on Sunday afternoon.”

“Yes, dear, certainly I will,” was the reply. “If you give me that book, I will read one of those pretty stories for you.”

“No, not that, auntie; please read to me out of the Bible.”

In some surprise aunt Maria said, “Out of the Bible, Willie! Will you like that best?

“Yes, please, auntie, I would like the Psalm which mamma liked to read to me.”

“Which was it, do you know, Willie?”

“It was about a shepherd. I can say a little of it.”

“I shall so much like to hear you say it. Will you tell me what you know?”

Willie repeated the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” he could get no farther than those first five words, but by these his aunt knew directly which Psalm her little nephew meant. But in order to try if he really knew the right one, she read some other verses in which the word shepherd occurs. At length, finding that he was not satisfied, she turned to the twenty-third Psalm and read.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

On hearing these words, Willie clapped his little hands, and with a very bright face, he exclaimed,

“That’s it, auntie, that’s it; now will you read it all to me?”

“Yes, darling, I will.”

As she replied, aunt Maria kissed the child’s sweet upturned face, and taking him on her knee, she read and talked to him about that beautiful Psalm which King David wrote, so many, many years ago.

Perhaps he wrote it when he was himself a shepherd, taking care of his father’s sheep in the wilderness. This occupation made him well acquainted with the habits of sheep. He knew how likely they were to stray from the fold; even the little lambs would sometimes wander away to the bleak barren mountains, where they could find no nice food, no cooling streams of water, but where they would be exposed to great danger, and perhaps to death. David knew, too, how sorry a kind shepherd would feel for the poor silly creature; how anxiously he would search for it. And when he found it wounded and bleeding, how tenderly he would carry it back to the fold, and care for it so lovingly, till it was quite healed; and ever afterwards take special care of it. In like manner David knew that God cared for him, so that he could truly say,

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

We hope that many of our young readers know this beautiful Psalm, and love it as little Willie did. It will be the greatest happiness to you, if you are able to say,

“The LORD is MY Shepherd.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

The Needed Remedy

A FRENCH nobleman, suffering from a strange mind trouble, went to consult a noted doctor.

After a lengthy examination in his office, the doctor said,

“I can find nothing in the state of your system to account for the melancholy of which you complain.” The nobleman replied,

“This sadness of spirit endangers my reason. Do, doctor, help me if you can.”

In reply to certain questions asked by the doctor, the nobleman further said that, his position in life just suited his tastes and wishes; that he was not aware he had any enemies, and that peace and love reigned in his family circle. He acknowledged, however, that he was an unbeliever in Christianity, yet that one of its teachings always haunted him, namely, that of a judgment to come. Thereupon the doctor, taking from his bookcase a well-worn Bible, said,

“I have an old book which contains a remedy for your disease;” and turning to the fifty-third of Isaiah, he handed the Bible to his patient, requesting him to read it aloud line by line.

As the reading went on, the doctor took occasion, like Philip the evangelist, with the Ethiopian eunuch, to preach Jesus to the nobleman, who there and then, under the power of the Spirit of God, received salvation joyfully through the Lord Jesus Christ.

“As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Heb. 9:27-28.

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

The Ark

Gen. 7:11-23.

In days of old when Noah lived,

Men went so far astray;

A mighty deluge came from God,

And swept them all away.

But Noah and his house were saved,

They lived when all were dead;

The ark in which they calmly sailed,

Endured the storm instead.

Another day of wrath will come

Upon the sons of men,

When all who have God’s love despised,

Must feel His anger then.

But Jesus is the Ark of God,

Where all who will may fly,

To find in Him salvation now,

And glory by and by.

Messages of God’s Love 9/23/1923

A Feast

WHAT a beautiful spot these four dear girls have chosen for their feast of luscious fruit, under a fine large tree. surrounded by pretty flowers and shrubbery. Dear children, to whom are we to give thanks for such feasts as this? Who caused the beautiful fruit to grow and become sweet and juicy? Who made the grand big tree, and the beautiful flowers?

To all these questions, you will answer, “God.” Yes, dear reader, you cannot name one good thing for which the Lord is not to be thanked.

“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17.

He has given us so many good things to enjoy, that our hearts should always be filled with thankfulness.

There is one gift above all other gifts —a gift that affords a far greater feast than anything in this world. Many of you know about this gift—God’s gift of His own beloved Son to save poor lost sinners. Many of you have accepted this gift, and have feasted on that blessed One. You know how He satisfies the heart, and what joy and peace accompany such a feast.

If any of you do not have this Gift of God be assured now that He is offered to you, and that you too, are invited to God’s feast.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and with: out price.” Isa. 55:1.

“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.

“Of all the gifts Thy love bestows,

Thou Giver of all good,

Not heaven itself a richer knows,

Than the Redeemer’s blood.”

“THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” 2 Cor. 9:15.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 2

Everyone was given a place, the place God gave him in the great camp of His people. Read 1 Cor. 12:18,

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.” They did not choose places for themselves, nor did other men choose places for them. The dwelling place of God upon earth was their center; around it they were gathered, though the word is “far off” (verse -2).—distant, because the veil still hung (Matt. 27:51); the blood of the Lamb of God was not shed (John 19:34; 1 Peter 1:18, 19).

Verse 3, presents Judah first, and Judah was to lead the war, (verse 9). This is the tribe with which the Lord Jesus was pleased to take up His earthly connection as a baby.

Verse 10 brings in the eldest son, Reuben, with two tribes attached, as Judah and the others also; but now centrally with the tabernacle are shown the Levites,—-example of the Christian seen, not as fighting his way through an enemy’s country, but as one who serves a heavenly Master. These are followed by the remaining groups of Ephraim (verse 18), and Dan (verse 25).

This was God’s plan, and no doubt, as men have tried their best to “improve”, and alter what He has done in forming and directing the true Church of to-day, which includes every real believer in the Lord Jesus,—every saved soul,—so it must have been then in the camp. But God’s words permitted of no altering, no amending, no improving.

Are you satisfied with what God has done? I am, and amid the ruin that is to-day, He has not changed His Word.

“The Word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isa. 40:8.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

How a Chinese Boy Made Himself Useful

A WEALTHY Virginia planter was lying very ill in the city of Richmond. He had a dangerous and infectious fever. and his physician thought that he was dying.

He had no knowledge of salvation through the Lord Jesus. Christ, and had lived without any thought of God, or of his own soul. When the doctor told him that he had not long to live, he said:

“It’s too bad, a man so young as I am, with so much to live for, to think of dying now! But everything has always been against me.”

At length the nurse was afraid of catching the fever, and she left him. Then the doctor asked him if he might get a Chinese boy to wait on him.

“O, it makes no difference,” said the sick man; “you may as well let me die like a dog. It will soon be over, anyway.”

In another part of the city of Richmond there was a large Chinese laundry. One of the boys connected with this laundry was named Ching. He was a native of China, but had learned to read and love the Bible, and had become a Christian. The love of God in his heart, and the hope of going to heaven when he died, made him very happy; and the great desire of his heart was to get an education, and go back to China, and tell his countrymen about Jesus and His great salvation. But he saw no way yet of getting an education.

The doctor was acquainted with Ching. He called at the laundry, and asked him if he would be willing to wait on a patient of his who was sick with a dangerous fever.

“He is a rich man, and will pay you well.”

Ching expressed his willingness to go, for he felt sure that God would take care of him. Then the doctor took him and introduced him to his patient. A few days after this, the sick man lay dozing on his bed, while Ching was sitting in the corner opposite him reading his Bible. Presently the sick man opened his eyes, and seeing what Ching was doing, he said,

“What stupid book is that you are always reading?”

This hurt Ching very much; but he meekly said,

“This no stupid book; this my Jesus’ book; this my passport.”

“Ha! your passport.—what do you mean by that?”

And then Ching merely read these two short verses:

“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must he saved,” but the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:12).

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

“Did you say ‘all sin,’ Ching? Read that again. Would it cleanse my sin?”

He read it again, and then said, “Yes, sir, it will cleanse your sin, and satisfy all your hopes and longings.”

And then, at the sick man’s request, Ching knelt down by his bedside, and prayed that God would pardon his sins, and give him a new heart, and make him a happy Christian.

This was repeated day by day for some time, and then a great change came over that sick man. He found pardon, and peace, and salvation in Jesus.

A change came over his body as well as over his soul. His fever was broken, and he soon was quite well again. When he learned that Ching was anxious to have an education, and go and preach the gospel to his countrymen, he gave him money enough to pay for his education.

Today that once wicked man is a happy Christian, and is using his money to promote the interests of Christ, and education in the South; while Ching is one of the missionaries among the Chinese, and is laboring faithfully to make Christ known among his countrymen.

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

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved;... for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

How A Penny Prospered

THE son of a powerful chief in Burma, while paying a visit to a place two hundred and fifty miles away from his home, met with a Christion missionary, whose wife taught the young man to read, His reading lessons were from a little tract, which told of God’s love and the Saviour’s grace (John 3:16; 2 Cor. 8:9),:and which God was pleased to bless to the soul of the young Burmese, making it the means of his conversion.

When he returned home, he preached the gospel to all who would listen, and succeeded in bringing hundreds of souls to Christ. His influence as a preacher was very great. From all parts of the country, people came to hear him, and as many as fifteen hundred natives were baptized in the course of a year.

That which had begun all this was a little tract, which cost only a penny! Who gave this penny? God alone knows. Perhaps it was the heartily given mite of some little girl, or the well-earned penny of some little boy. However this may be, by God’s blessing it was made the means of bringing hundreds of heathen to the knowledge of the Saviour; of delivering hundreds of benighted souls from Satan’s power, and casting down hundreds of senseless idols.

O! how great is the value of a penny used in the service of God! Let nobody say,

“The little that I can give is too trifling to be of any use.”

Rather, let us all try to do what we can, praying that God may graciously bless our feeble efforts in seeking to spread the gospel of His Son. Let us remember how short the time is, and that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said,

“The night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

In Terrible Danger

Psalm 107:8

In some parts of Switzerland the railway tunnels are of great length, and run straight through a mountain. Some time ago an engineer was walking through one of these tunnels, when he heard the sound of an approaching train. The tunnel was extremely narrow, having only one line of rails, and there was not room to stand between the track and the side wall. He was unable to determine in which direction the train was coming. What was he to do? If he went towards either end, probably he would come straight on the engine. In this dilemma he cast himself between the rails on his hands and face, and listened in breathless anxiety for the approaching sounds.

Presently the train came thundering along; he clutched the ground in an agony of suspense. On came the terrible monster; now the engine has passed now one—two—three cars—until the whole train has gone by! Who can tell the agony of those moments, which seemed years to the prostrate man! He said that as he lay there all the deeds of his life flashed before him with terrible distinctness.

Perhaps we have never had an escape like this; but from how many dangers has God delivered us? Any of us who have been preserved when sickness and death came near, have cause for thankfulness. But how much more dreadful is the danger of God’s eternal judgment? Seek to escape from this. There is but one way—rest in Christ’s atoning work, and believe His promise, and you are safe; judgment will pass over you.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

I Want to Be in Paradise

“I want to be in “Paradise,”

And hear the happy song;

To learn the note of sweetest praise,

As sung by every tongue.

I want to be in “Paradise,”

For I have found on earth

How much the Saviour’s love to prize,

Beyond all human worth.

I want to be in “Paradise,”

And walk the “golden street,”

And wear the dazzling crown of light,

To cast at Jesus’ feet.

I want to be in “Paradise,”

The “Paradise” above;

I trust in Jesus’ sacrifice,

And I have “peace with God.”

But are there none on earth I love,

Who know not how to pray?

I’ll tell them how His precious blood

Washed all my sins away.

Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1923

Bible Questions for October

Answers to Bible Questions for August

1. “Also I say unto you,” etc. Luke 12:8.

2. “And the shepherds,” etc. “ 2:20.

3. “And they worshipped,” etc. “ 24:52.

4. “But love ye your enemies,” etc. “ 6:35

5. “And He took bread,” etc. “ 22:19.

6. “And He said unto them,” etc. “ 8:25.

7. “And they said one to,” etc. “ 24:32.

Bible Questions for October

The Answers Are to Found in Acts.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “The forgiveness of sins.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “We must be saved.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Cleave unto the Lord.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Build you up.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “They spake the word of God.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou shalt be saved.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Remission of sins.”

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

Take Heed How Ye Hear

A YOUNG man of London went late one night to a revival meeting, and reached the place just in time to hear the last words: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This was all he heard. He left the room.

On his way home he began to think about the words he had heard. He knew that text. His mother had taught it to him in his childhood, but it had been a mere tinkle of sound. Now the Holy Spirit was pressing the words upon his heart. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

“Why, that was wonderful love!” he thought. How could his ears have been dead to their meaning all his life? “Why did God give Jesus to die?”

Memory replied: “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.”

“Why did I never think of that before? ‘Should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ I have no everlasting life; I must perish—if I were to die now, I should be lost!”

Again and again the words circled about in his mind. The dulled hearing of his soul was waking up. “God so loved the world,” he repeated. ,”I am one of the world; then God loved me. He gave His only begotten Son for me, so that if I believe in Him I shall not perish. Believe what? That God gave His Son to die for my sins on the Cross. Whosoever believes in Jesus shall not perish—I do believe in Him!—and God says I have everlasting life! I am saved!” Thus the truth of eternity burst upon his soul.

On reaching home, he told his mother he had gone to hear the evangelist.

“And how did you like him?”

“I was too late to hear his sermon, but I was not too late to be saved! I am saved and my sins are forgiven.”

“How do you know that?”

He opened the Bible lying on the table. and read John 3:16.

“But there is nothing new in that. I’ve known it all my life, and taught it to you.”

“But mother, do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?”

“Of course. I have always believed on Him.”

“Then, mother you are saved.”

“I cannot say that.”

“If you believe in Jesus, mother, you have everlasting life.”

“I cannot say I have it.”

“Then, dear mother, you do not believe in Jesus. See—read!” He pointed to the verse, and his mother read aloud slowly:

“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.”

All at once the glorious truth burst upon her that Christ had borne her sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2: 24); and the dulled ears of her soul were opened. Mother and son praised God that night for a common salvation.

Thousands of people who call themselves “professing Christians” have never opened their ears to the meaning of those simple words. They are struggling toward heaven with the vain idea that they are going to win it some way by their struggles.

“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:S, 9.

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

A Horse Without Its Rider

RECENTLY I met a horse galloping furiously down the street without its rider.

Following to see whether it ran over any children, I saw it rush into a cab proprietor’s yard, where it stood trembling at the stable-door, waiting to be admitted to its stall.

Feeling sure an accident had happened, I hastened in the direction from which the horse came, and met a youth limping and crying. He told me the horse took fright, had thrown him on to the road and hurt him badly. After expressing sympathy, and rendering what assistance I could, I enquired,

“Where would your soul have gone had the accident caused your death?”

“To heaven, sir,” he replied.

I asked him how he knew it.

He said, “Because I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and am saved; for all who are saved go to heaven when they die.”

Our young reader may not have had an accident like that, nor have been so near death’s door as this boy was; but let us ask, “Do you know you would go to heaven were you to die?”

Because, remember, the wages of sin is death, and after death the judgment. Then not far beyond the great white throne of judgment, is the eternal lake of fire, where all the unsaved go. That youth knew he was going to heaven, and his horse knew the way home to its stall. God said to His people of old.

“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib, but Israel doth not know.” (Isa. 1:3.) Dear one, never rest till you can truly say,

“We have a, home above,

From all defilement free:

A mansion which eternal love

Prepared our rest to be.”

“Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Ecc.12:1.

“Be ye also ready” like that youth; for we know not what a day may bring forth,

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

A Useful Lantern

WE would like you, dear young readers, to turn to the 119th Psalm, because we are going to preach you a little sermon on the verse which says,

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

We think we can explain our text better by telling you a true story. The Lord Jesus often spoke to the people, and also taught His disciples by parables. If this word parables is too difficult for you, we will call them stories, true stories, something that might be well understood, be_cause the things spoken of belonged to their daily life here on earth; such as The Sower, The Lost Son, The Mustard Seed, and others.

Our story is about a servant of the Lord who once went to preach the gospel at a place called B . He arrived in the afternoon, while it was still daylight, and called to see a dear old Christian who lived a good way from where he was to preach.

As he sat talking with her about the things of the Lord, he did not notice that it had become very dark; but when he went to the front door, and looked out, he could not see a single ray of light, not even the stars, for it was cloudy; indeed, the night reminded him of what God says in Isaiah 50, “I clothe the heavens with blackness.”

What could he do? He turned back, and said to his friend, “I cannot possibly find my way tonight, for I cannot even see the ground under my feet.”

“Well,” she said, “I have an old lantern, into which I can put a piece of candle. You are welcome to that, if it will be of any service.”

How thankful he was for the tiny light from that lantern! But he had to hold it down close to his feet, in order to pick his way along the narrow path to the place where he wanted to go. As he went along our text came in much power to his mind,

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Dear young readers, we are in a dark world to-day, we mean spiritually dark; but there is a true light that shines to guide us. We suppose that if we were to put the question to each one of you, Where is it you want to go when you are called to leave this world? we should get only one answer: “I should like to go to heaven.”

Well, just like the preacher and the light from his lantern, if you take God’s Word for your guide, you will be sure to reach the place where you want to go. Jesus is the Way, and the Word of God points you to Him.

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

Her Jersey Pets

IT is toward evening, so we may easily guess why this girl is leading the cows homeward.

She has found her pets in a fine meadow where they have been nibbling the sweet grass all day. How many people depend upon milk! We need it when we are tiny children to make us grow; we need it every day in cooking our food, and we specially need it when we are sick to give us strength.

But this kind of milk only feeds our natural bodies. God has told us in the Bible that we need food to make us grow spiritually. We eat our meals every day, and how weak we feel, if we have to go without them. Some claim to know Jesus, and neglect to read His Word, and what weak Christians it does make them.

Dear children, do read God’s precious Book every day for food for your soul, and think carefully about what you read.

We eat our food and then digest it; now when we read what the Lord says to us, we want to apply it to our lives; this is like the digesting of our food. It is a very, very sad thing to read the Scriptures, and not take heed to what they tell us.

“AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE .WORD; THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY.” 1 Peter 2:2

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

The Birthday Picnic

THERE was a little girl who was promised a picnic on her birthday, if the weather was suitable for an outing.

She prayed every day that it might be a bright day. But lo! when the morning came, dark clouds covered the sky, and soon the rain was pouring down.

Was there a cloud on our little friend’s face? Or did any tears disfigure it? Not at all! Some of her friends were unwise enough to say,

“Your prayer was not answered after all.”

“Yes it was,” she replied, “but God said, ‘No.’ “

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways.” Psa. 145:17.

Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923

Protection

YOU naughty dog, for hurting my kitty! I will not let you get near her again.”

SO she took kitty in her arms and on her lap for protection, as she looked at the dog with an expression of “I don’t like you.”

It seems as if nearly every creature has a torment. Dogs torment cats, and cats torment birds, etc; but who do you think is, the enemy of man? I expect that many of you can readily answer, “It is Satan.” That is true, and there is a place of safety provided for us, where Satan cannot reach us, and where is that? I believe some will be able to tell me where that is, “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”

Have you, dear reader, gone to the Lord Jesus Christ and put your trust ii Him? If you have, you may trust Him for everything, and rejoice in His readiness and ability to save you from sin and Satan and to lead you in the paths of righteousness.

“IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES.” Psa. 118: 8, 9.

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

What Shall It Profit?

“What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his o w n soul?”

Can you answer this divinely asked question, dear reader? Yet, by the way most men live, we might think they had satisfactorily done so, and that some had made up their profit and loss account for eternity by placing to their gain a few years of glory, a few hours of pleasure, and, more astounding still, a few pieces of gold; and to their loss, everlasting shame, and misery, and poverty—yes, poverty and pain so deep that not even a drop of water to cool the tongue) could be had.

“Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.” Mark 8: 36, 37.

For what shall he barter it? The devil gives but little, even when he offers much, while for the multitudes of men, the smallness and the insignificance of what is exchanged for the soul’s salvation is the marvel.

Now Jesus the Redeemer waits for your answer. He gave His life that we might live. He yielded Himself to suffering and to death that ours might be perfect and eternal peace. And to-day, while men make up their account of gain and loss, He stands offering mercy without money and without price. Every divine blessing to the sinner comes to him by gift; and life eternal, peace and pardon may now be yours. Will you take the gift?

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

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

Granny's Story

ONE afternoon, said a Christian lady to a friend, I had taken a long walk, and feeling tired, I called at a cottage by the roadside, and asked if I might rest there awhile. “With pleasure, ma’am,” said a clean, plain-looking middle-aged woman. “We are just having tea, and if you will take a cup with us we shall be glad.”

I did so with pleasure, and found from conversation with them that they were a happy Christian family. In the corner, by the fireplace, sat the old grandmother of the family, or “granny,” as they called her. She was crippled with rheumatism, and unable to do anything. I spoke a few kind words to her, and this was what she said in reply,

“Some people ask me if I don’t find it hard to have to sit here, helpless, from morning till night; but I haven’t served the Lord Jesus fifty years without finding out that His grace is sufficient for all the trials of life. Ah, I could give you many proofs of His faithfulness! But there is one answer to prayer in particular that I can never forget.

“My husband hadn’t been dead a year, when my five children were stricken down with scarlet fever. Not a neighbor dared to come near us. I nursed them all myself, and no one but the doctor crossed the threshold—for seven weeks. One Saturday night I had eaten the last bit of bread for my supper, and put the last piece of coal on the fire, and I’d not a penny left to buy more.

“I took up my Bible, and opened it at the forty-ninth chapter of Jeremiah, and read on till I came to the verse which says, ‘Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in Me.’ I stopped there, and knelt down and told the Lord all about my trouble. Then I went to bed. About six o’clock in the morning I heard a knock at the door. I went down and opened it. A strange man stood there with a big basket.

`Does Mrs. Grant live here?’ `

Yes,’ said I.

`My Missis has sent this,’ he answered.

“Before I could get over my surprise he’d set the basket down. There was everything in it that I needed—tea, sugar, bread, butter, candles, and soap. etc.,—and he walked off as fast as he could.

The strangest thing about it is, that from that day to this I’ve never found out where it came from, except I know that the Lord sent it.

“But that wasn’t all that happened. Just about nine o’clock, on that same Sunday evening, there was another knock at the door. When I opened it Farmer Griggs, one of the deacons of our chapel, was there.

`Mrs. Grant,’ he said, ‘We’re all very sorry for you; and if you’ll accept it, we made a collection for your benefit tonight; and when this is gone, let us know, and there’ll be more, for we’re not going to let you starve!’

“And there in the moonlight, he counted into my hand twelve dollars.”

Now certainly that good old granny had a very satisfactory, and practical proof that Jesus the Good Shepherd does provide for His sheep; and He expects them to hear His voice, and to follow Him. ( John 10:14, 27.)

“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:12.

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

The Birthday Gift

SUPPOSE you are ten years old that is, you have lived on this earth three thousand six hundred and fifty days; yet perhaps von do not feel if von had lived half as many.

Now try and remember what you have thought, said, and done, each of these days. I think I hear you say, “Why, I was a baby a long time, and we forget all about what we did as babies.” Quite true, but try for the past five years, or one thousand eight hundred and twenty five days— Do you give it up?

Would you be glad if anyone should know all you had said and done all the days you had lived, and could remember all and tell you? I dare say, you will say. “I should like someone to remember all that was good, and forget all that was bad.” Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that I know of some One who does remember all you have done from the first day you have lived, to the day you are now living in? Perhaps you will say, “No, because I know God remembers all, both good and bad.” You are right. Does this make you happy? Do you say, “No?” Is it because He remembers the bad things that you cannot feel happy?,

Well, I do not wonder at this, but we have learned how to be happy because God did not forget one single sin, but remembered every one of them,. Would you like to know what we have learned? We will tell you. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, God laid our sins (that is, the Christian’s sins) on Him, yes, every one of them, and when Jesus died and shed His precious blood, all our sins were put away, and God says He will remember them no more. But suppose God had forgotten just one of our sins, and did not lay it on Jesus, then it would not be put away, and we should never get to heaven; so’ we are glad God did remember everything especially the bad things.

Now perhaps your loving parents, brothers, sisters and kind friends will join to give you some nice gifts on your birthday to show you they really love you, and want to make you as happy as they can. How glad you are to receive the gifts. But do you know there is some One else who has been waiting a long time for you to take the gift He wants to give you, if you have not already taken it? This gift will last “much longer than anything else. It can never be broken, never wear out, never be lost, and never be stolen. If you will take your Bible, and turn to the sixth chapter of Romans and read the twenty-third verse, you will find Who will give you this gift, and what it is.

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Why not take this wonderful gift now, before you get any older? If you wait too long, God may cease to offer it to you.

How would your loved ones feel, if, when they offered you their gifts, you were to stand before them with your hands behind your back, and refuse to take what they offered you?

“O”, you say, “I never would do that; if I did, they would’ never, never offer me another gift.”

You are right, they would be highly offended, and think you a very strange child. Then how must God feel when He offers His dear Son as a Saviour for sinners, and they turn away from Him and refuse “His unspeakable Gift?”

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

I Could Not Help Coming to Jesus

IT was fine summer afternoon. The sun was shining brightly, its light seemed to get into every corner, and brighten every gloomy place. But the sun was not the only light doing its work that Sunday afternoon. The “True Light” was going to shine in one poor dark heart at least, for the first time.

Ethel Wood went to Sunday school that day with such a heavy heart, feeling the awful load of her, sins. During the class, the teacher read those lines of earnest pleading—”What will you do without Him?” praying that God would bless them to some girl there.

While the lines were being read, Ethel felt she was “without Him”—without God without Christ, and without hope.

The sins of fifteen years—unforgiven unwashed—uncleansed. What could she do? How could she be saved?

Dear Ethel did find the Saviour that afternoon, for after the class was over, a friend, seeing how anxious she was about her soul, went home with her, and told her, as simply as she could, that Jesus was seeking her, and that He had died on the cross to put away her sins.

Then the light came streaming into her poor dark heart, and ever since then this dear girl has been so happy. She told one of her friends soon after, when asked, “Why did you come to Jesus?”

“I could not help coming, when I knew how much He loved me.”

O! dear reader, can you help coming, when you know how much Jesus loves you?

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

Whomsoever

John 3:16 and 6:37.

A MESSENGER came to a Sunday school superintendent and said, “Hasten as quickly as you can, there’s a boy in. a garret wanting to see you. He is dying.”

The superintendent hastened to the place, and found, lying on a heap of straw, a boy who had been crushed by a cart.

As he entered, the lad quickly said, “Didn’t I hear you say the other Sunday, that ‘whomsoever a fellow comes to Jesus, he would be saved?’ “

“Yes,” replied the visitor, “I said something like that.”

“Well,” said the boy, “then I am saved. I have been a bad boy, but I’ve been thinking about that, and I have taken God at His word, so I’m saved.” After he had uttered these words his strength seemed to fail, and a few minutes after, he passed away, his last words being,

“Whomsoever a fellow comes to Jesus, He will in no wise cast out.”

He did not quote the words exactly, but he had grasped the meaning of them, and believed them too.

“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.

Dear children, have you believed on God’s blessed Son as your Saviour?

Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1923

The Mistaken Sparrow, and Its Deliverer

YOU no doubt have seen many sparrows. Well, I will tell you a story about one. A gentleman returning from a walk one afternoon, was rather startled as he went along the gravel path leading to his friend’s house, by a strange noise coming from -the conservatory. On getting close, the sound increased. He could see no one inside, so he hurried in, and found to his surprise that the cause of all this ado was a poor little sparrow; it had flown in at the open door of the glass house, and seemed very much ruffled and perplexed to find that it could not fly out through the glass windows at the other end.

As soon as the gentleman entered, its fright increased. It flew wildly from side to side and from pane to pane, dashing itself against the glass with terrible force. Whenever he tried to catch it, the poor little creature would dart away from him. He was however determined to save it, if possible.

At last it hurt itself so badly, that it fell to the floor quite exhausted, lying there trembling and panting. He took it up very gently, and put the little weary thing into some cold water for a moment just to refresh it. Then, carrying it out into the garden, laid it on one of the shrubs, fearing that it was too far gone to recover. But what was his joy, after a little while, to see it move, then shake itself about, and soon afterwards fly right away into a tall tree.

Now, clear children, having read about the little sparrow, you must not skip over the rest. The sparrow got itself into danger and trouble. Yes, it was its own fault. No doubt the pretty flowers in the conservatory looked very tempting; but it had no business to go in at all. And is not this just like little boys and girls?

“ 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.

Yes, dear children, you have sinned against God, and no sin can ever enter heaven, what will become of you? Let us consider the sparrow again. The bird soon found out its danger, and tried to escape out of prison, but it was easier to get in than to get out. Is not that just like the sinner? As soon as the Holy Spirit shows a little boy or girl that he or she is a lost sinner, and in real danger of being lost forever, O they will say, “I must begin to be good, and then God will love me and save me,” so they try to behave better, but it is all of no use; they cannot save themselves. When our dear Saviour, Jesus Christ,’ looked down from heaven, and saw that all the boys and girls, men and women, were in dreadful danger, and quite helpless, His loving heart was filled with pity, for

“He knew how wicked man had been,

And knew that God must punish sin;

So out of pity, Jesus said,

He’d bear the punishment instead.”

Then He left His bright home of glory, came to this world, and poured out His precious life’s blood, that you and I might be saved. He became our Deliverer. What love! what wondrous love!

Does the love of the Lord Jesus, not touch your hearts? Can you pass it by lightly? 0 my dear young friends, come to Jesus now, He in love, is waiting to receive you. Will you by faith say:

“I do believe, I will believe

That Jesus, died for me:

That on the cross, He shed His blood,

From sin to set me free?”

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

The Anchor Holds

AN old fisherman, who was an earnest, happy Christian, in his declining years /used to spend his afternoons on the sea beach, giving away gospel papers to the people, and speaking to them, as he had opportunity, about Jesus. The children were very fond of “Old Joe,” as he was familiarly called; he had so many stories to tell of the sea and its dangers. Perhaps the one he told most frequently was the story of his own conversion, which took place at sea one stormy night, by resting his soul on Christ through the words of 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.”

“My anchor held there,” he would say, “and I know of no better anchorage for a sinner than that grand, glorious verse. Many weary storm-tossed souls have anchored there, and found rest and peace through believing that God loved them.”

Reader, have you anchored there, or are you tossed about, afraid to meet God, because you do not know Him?

“Old Joe” took ill suddenly one day; his place on the beach was empty, and many who knew and loved him called at the house to ask how he was. His pilgrim days were done; and just before he passed away he raised his hand, and pointing to a framed card on the wall with the words of John 3:16 on it, he said in triumph,

“The anchor holds! the anchor holds!”

Wasn’t it good anchorage? Let it be yours, my reader; all else will fail, but “the Word of the Lord endureth forever.”

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

The Young Carpenter

AN apprentice ship carpenter, a Christian boy of seventeen, was working in a large ship-building yard. The man who worked next to Willie was a hardened scoffer, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. He could scarcely speak without using foul language, and fearful oaths, at which many others, from whom better things might have been expected only laughed. Our young friend, Willie, was greatly pained to hear the name of God and Christ used so blasphemously, but being the youngest in the shop, he feared to speak.

The scoffer seemed only to get worse, and to excel in blasphemy, and the heart of the young believer was burdened with him. He made him a subject of daily prayer to God, and asked strength and wisdom to speak the right word to his fellow workman. One afternoon the carpenter was swearing fearfully, and Willie, who was working next to him, quietly laid his hand on his fellow workman’s arm and said,

“Jamie, it grieves me much to hear you speaking that way about my Master.”

“Who’s your master? “said the carpenter gruffly, as he turned to look at the apprentice, whose. flushed face and tear-filled eyes showed what it had cost him to speak that simple word. Willie wiped the tear from his eye with his sleeve, and in broken accents replied.

“The Lord Jesus, who loved me and died for me, and for you too, Jamie. I wish you would believe it.” That was all that passed. The clang of many hammers forbade any further words passing between them. But there was no more bad language used that day, by Jamie the carpenter.

The effect of that simple, honest word, was to make the blasphemer ashamed. Nor was this all. When work was over that day, the carpenter came alongside Willie on the way home, and spoke more frankly than ever he had done before. Willie laid hold of the favorable opportunity to ask him to a gospel meeting in a tent that night, where two servants of Christ were faithfully preaching the Word, and Jamie, hardened sinner as he was, at once consented.

That night the arrows of God entered his conscience; he was awakened deeply about his soul, and before many ‘days had passed, he was saved. The hardened scoffer was a disciple of Christ, and no one rejoiced more over his conversion than Willie.

“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.” Exodus 20: 7.

“Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt 5: 37.

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

Where Are Your Sins?

AN aged man, very much concerned about the load of sins, was asked,

“Where are your sins?” As he considered, he was further questioned,

“Did God lay your sins upon Jesus on the cross, and did He bear them there?”

“Indeed He did,” was the man’s response.

“But Jesus is on the throne of God now; sin’s load. is no longer on Him. Where, then, are your sins?” As he pondered the question, and considered how he should answer it, the aged man’s eyes were opened, he saw the gracious truth, that his sins had been borne by Christ on the cross, but. were no longer upon Him; if then borne by Christ, and gone, where were his sins? —gone!

And, we may add, not only forgiven, but forgotten, for God is almighty to forget as well as to forgive. “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 8: 12; 10: 17.

Most abundantly does the Word of God prove to us that we are saved from our sins. Christ stood surety for us, and suffered in our stead upon the cross.

“His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree,” I Pet. 2:24. Note the two owns here—His own self—His own body. See how the Scripture brings Himself before our hearts.

What He did for us should ever live in our souls. We will keep Him before our eyes. Jesus, in His suffering love, “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;” our iniquity has been laid on Him, and “with His stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53.) He has saved us from our sins by becoming our Substitute on the cross.

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

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 fulfil;

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.

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

He Died for Me

AT the close of a children’s meeting, during which the preacher had spoken much of the love of Jesus, and what He had done out of love for sinners, a little boy was asked,

“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 Saviour, and the value of that wonderful work Jesus finished on Calvary’s cross, was for him.

Dear boys and girls can you say the sane 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!

Messages of God’s Love 10/21/1923

Prayer

IT is not natural to us to ask God for anything, because we are a part of a fallen race that is away from Him; so we often have to be taught that we have to do with God, and He sometimes allows us to be put in trying circumstances to make us cry to Him.

But there is one need above all that might well trouble us, and that is to get rid of the load of our sins. Has that ever troubled you, dear reader, so that you have bent your knee and closed your eyes to all that is around and cried to God about it? May you feel what a load that is, and the terrible thing it is to have to do with a holy God, and you will soon learn the way to have all your sins blotted out.

“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON, CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.” 1 John 1:7

Jesus, the blessed Son of God, died in the place of the sinner, and bore the dreadful penalty for our sins. His life’s blood was poured out, proving that He had died, and the giving up of that spotless life was acceptable to God. Have you taken that Saviour as yours? If so, the bowing of the knee before Him will not be such a burden, but the committing of all your ways to Him, and giving Him thanks for all His love and mercies by the way, will be a pleasure to you.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37: 5.

Messages of God’s Love 10/28/1923

Millie's Fright

Mamma, I have had such a fright! What do you think it was? As Walter and I were playing in the summer- house, a horrid spider crawled over my hand, and Walter laughed at me and said I was a baby, because I was frightened and ran away.”

Mrs. Hall stroked Millie’s curly hair as she answered, “Poor little girl. It was not very polite of Walter to tease his sister; but I quite agree with him that a sensible little girl would not have run away from a spider.”

“O mamma, how can anyone like spiders? I am sure they are ugly creatures. Sarah says so and she always sweeps down their webs when she sees one on the wall or ceiling. And they are so cruel too, they catch and eat the poor little flies.”

“I do not wish you to number tame spiders among your pets, Millie; but I have read a very interesting account of a gentleman who, during a long and weary imprisonment in a gloomy French prison, called the Bastille, made friends with a large spider, which became so tame that at his call it would go to him and eat out of his hand. Still I think a little knowledge about spiders and their ways will help you to overcome your fear of them.

“The spider family is a large one, nearly a hundred different kinds being found, but it would take too long to get acquainted with all of them. They are divided into five classes: hunting, wandering, prowling, solitary and water spiders. These are known from each other by the shape of their webs, and also by the way in which they take their prey. But all spiders have eight long thin legs, which, as each one has seven joints, can be bent any way without danger of breaking. Eight bright eyes, placed in two rows on the top of its head, enable the spider, even when itself hidden from sight, to see when a fly or small insect gets caught in its web. But I have not told you yet of the wonderful way in which this web is made.

“On the underside of the spiders are several very small bags called spinnerets; from these a great number of very fine threads can be sent out by the spider. These are twisted together by the help of a very fine comb with which each leg is furnished, so as to form one thread, in much the same way in which threads of hemp are twisted into a rope.

“The threads of the web are placed at regular distances, and if any part of it gets broken or injured, the spider will repair it with great care and patience. Never was a soldier more fully armed than the spider as it has two pairs of strong jaws, in each of which are a number of sharp, saw-like teeth.

“Sometimes a spider will hide itself among the leaves of a bush at some distance from its web, out of sight, but still quite ready to pounce upon its prey: If we look closely at the web we shall see two threads, stronger than those of which the web is formed, are fixed firmly down near the spider’s hiding-place.

“Of what use do you think they are? You will smile when I tell you that we may call these threads the spider’s telegraph, as when a fly gets into the web, of course, it wants to get out again, and in its efforts to free itself shakes the web very much; the movement passing along these threads gives notice to the spider of what is going on. “The Bible has something to tell us about spiders and their ways. In Proverbs 30:28 we read, “The spider taketh hold with her hands and is in king’s palaces.’

“King Solomon, by whom the words were written, must often have watched spiders busy at their work, and I have no doubt that, as he observed their curious ways, he learned fresh lessons of the wisdom and goodness of God in His care, that even the poor despised spider should be so fitted for the kind of work it has to do, as well as the place in which it is to live. “Do you think of running away from the next spider you see, Millie?”

“No, mamma; I think I shall be brave enough to watch it at its work. I am so glad we have had this nice talk. r did not think there was so much to be learned about spiders.”

“Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created.” Psa. 148:5.

Messages of God’s Love 10/28/1923

A Minute Too Late

HOW invaluable oftentimes is the brief space of one or two minutes. It may make all the difference between “ in time” and “ too late.”

I was seated in a train one evening, going home, when I heard a scuffle just as we were moving from the platform. I looked out of the window and saw a man who was in want of a single minute. He wished to go by the train in which I was seated, and so nearly had he attained his object that he was even standing on the footboard of the train.

But he had an umbrella and several parcels, and while attempting to step up, he dropped one or two articles, and then in his confusion fell back on the platform, while the train went on its way without him. What a difference would one short minute have made to that man! It would have enabled him to take his seat in the train quietly, and he then would have been in time as others were, but for want of a minute he was now too late, left behind. Ah, well, you say, it was perhaps no great matter to the man. Very likely not, he had but to wait half-an-hour, and another train would be going to the same destination. But had it been a thing of life or death, it would have been just the same, and O, how it would then torment the man to know that one minute more would have saved him.

Let me give another instance of the value of time. A gentleman entered a train at the last moment ere it started. He was puffing and blowing by reason of the exertion he had made to catch the train. By way of explanation to the other passengers, he said he had saved three hours by running so hard, “And,” said he, “that’s well worth running for.” Ah! thought one of the passengers, three hours he thinks is well worth a struggle to save, and yet so many trifle away the precious moments which. God has given us to prepare for eternity.

We value three hours here on earth, but we forget that vast eternity which lies before us, and many fail to prepare for it, till they are found on a dying bed.

A large steamer was wrecked in the Bay of Biscay, and the little boats were all manned and put off from the vessel, but just as the last was leaving the steamer’s side a lady came up from the cabin, where she had been busy arranging her things, and seeing that she had lingered too long, and that all the boats had now left, she shouted after the one near at hand to come back and take her too, but the only answer was, “No! too late!” Again she cried, and offered a large sum of money, but the boat could not return, and the lady was left to perish!

Dear readers, let me press you to think of your soul’s welfare, and make sure of your-salvation ere it be too late!

“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! children, pause, ere yet “too late;”

Now is the day of grace,

Now Jesus calls, O! do obey

His pleading, loving, voice.

Messages of God’s Love 10/28/1923

Jesus Died for Me

A YOUNG man was speaking to some girls and boys at a Children’s meeting, and he said to them,

“I was saved when I was ten years old. My father and mother are Christians, and I had heard the way of salvation, through the Lord Jesus Christ, from my earliest years, but it was only when I saw my need of a Saviour, that I made Him my own. One night a hymn was sung, “There is a Fountain,” and I had often sung it, but that night, the chorus,—

“I do believe, I will believe,

That Jesus died for me,

That on the cross He shed His blood,

From sin to set me free,”

was sung over and over again, and I saw, as I had never seen before, that Jesus died for me,—my own self—and that I, by believing on Him, was saved. I just made Him my own, and I was saved there and then. Jesus was mine and I was His. That was the best and happiest night in my life, and I have thanked Him every day and night since. I have my troubles, but He helps me to bear them, and I am happy. in His love.

Can you say from the heart, dear children,

“I do believe, I will believe,

That Jesus died for me”?

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

Messages of God’s Love 10/28/1923

Search the Scriptures

SEARCH the Scriptures, for in them ye think, ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me,” John 5:39. A Sunday school teacher, before leaving his class, to go to live a long way in the country, gave to each of the boys a Testament, and on the fly leaf of each he had written the following verse:-

“Here is the Book whose leaves display

Jesus the Life, the Truth, the Way.

Read it with diligence and prayer;

Search it, and you will find Him there.”

Do you know of a more valuable or useful present to give anyone than God’s Word? Think of all the riches and gifts that God, as the Creator, has given to this earth, and compare them with what Jesus says: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away;” and it is He who says, “Search the Scriptures,” for “they are they which testify of Me.” (Matt. 24:35. John 5:39.)

We would like all of you to be little Timothys. What we mean is that you should do as Timothy did—read the Scriptures often.

“Continue thou,” wrote the Apostle Paul to him, “in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;. and that from, a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:14, 15.

Ah! dear young readers, Timothy had been brought up, like many of you, under the teaching of God’s Word; and he not only read it, and listened to it, but, because he believed it, it made him “wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

No doubt all the boys in the class valued the present of the Testament given by the teacher, but some did not use theirs. Let us be like the boy that did read his. Let us listen again to the reason he gave when he was asked why:

Read it with diligence and prayer

Search it and you will find Him there.

Yes, search the Scriptures, for Jesus says again, “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath One that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him, in the last day.” John 12:48.

This is very solemn, but Jesus came not to judge: He came to save (ver. 47.)

Messages of God’s Love 10/28/1923

Bible Questions for November

Answers to Bible Questions for September

1. “For I have given unto,” etc. John 17:8.

2. “And He that seeth Me.” “ 12:45.

3. “What and if ye shall see,” etc. “ 6:62.

4. “Say ye of Him,” etc. “ 10:36.

5. “And no man hath ascended,” etc. “ 3:13.

6. “But I have greater witness,” etc. “ 5.36.

7. “I came forth from the Father,” etc. “ 16:28

Bible Questions for November

The answers are to be found in Romans.

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Rejoice in hope.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Every one that believeth.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Faith in His blood.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Scriptures of the prophets.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Redemption of our body.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Abhor,” “Cleave.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Past finding out.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 2

God, as we have seen in our progress through the Bible, plans everything for His people. Here He is seen appointing the place for each, while resting in camp around the Tabernacle, the place of His presence, and the order of their going, and naming their leaders. Nothing was left for them but to obey. So it is with the Christian.

Four groups of three tribes each encircled the Tabernacle, but when two groups are named, the order is stopped in order to tell of that simple, plain looking (outwardly) enclosure and those who were entrusted with its care. Then the record goes on, leaving us with the thought of the precious, inspiring word of Matthew 18:20.

The numbers given are of the men who should be able to fight the enemy when he would appear. Satan is our enemy, and he will not be long in coming against us. As these early Old Testament books, as we have before noticed, are full of “types,” and shadows pointing onward to our own, and still later time, so we see in the two divisions of the Israelites here, the two characters the Christian is to have. He is a fighting maxi, for he is on a journey through what he soon finds to be the place where Satan dwells; and he is a Levite, too, privileged to draw near to God, away from war, to serve. Him in being occupied with what belongs to Him.

We shall, if we go on through this book, read more of both the fighting men, and the servants of God.

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Known By His Doings

ONE evening, a short time ago, I had a chat with some little boys over that verse in Proverbs.

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”

Now these boys had told me that they belonged to Jesus, that they had really taken Him for their Saviour, and that they wished to serve Him and live for Him. In fact our meeting that evening was only for Christian boys, so I thought that text would be a nice one for us to talk over together. I was rather afraid that some of the boys had an idea that they would serve the Lord when they were men, and did not see that, if they belonged to Him, they should begin to work for Him when they were boys.

Now I think some other boys who read this may like to hear how my boys talked about the “doings” by which they were to make it known that they were the Lord’s.

It struck me as rather strange that each of them found out more quickly what some other boy should do, than what he should do himself. It made me think of Peter’s question to Jesus about John,

“Lord, what shall this man do?” and the Lord answered him,

“What is that to thee? follow thou Me.”

By and by, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we shall each have to give an account of what we ourselves have done, and the Lord will not ask us to say a word about the deeds of other people.

I explained to my boys how, in all their ways, they could make it plain they belonged to Christ: by being truthful and honest, by showing diligence at their lessons, and willingness at their work, by being unselfish, gentle, and obedient.

“There are, then, many things you can do at home to help mother,” I added. `You boys, that have good strong arms, might run to the well to fill the bucket for her, instead of letting her carry it herself; and in nearly all your homes there is a little baby brother or sister, that you might sometimes hold for mother. I always think babies like boys to play with them best, because they make such good fun.”

“I often dance our baby,” said a jolly-faced boy, with a big, good-tempered mouth, “and she loves me. She crows and pulls my hair,” he added, laughing loudly.

“O, yes! It’s all very well to serve Jesus by nursing baby as long as she’s like that, Sam,” remarked a thoughtful-looking, blue-eyed boy, “but it’s altogether another thing when she stiffens herself, like ours often does.”

They all laughed heartily to think of Dick’s baby stiffening itself. But do you Know how hard it is to hold a baby that is doing so, and is in a downright passion? The boy who has charge of such a naughty baby needs much patience and grace not to lose his temper too, and hand baby hastily back to mother.

So it is about everything we take up for Jesus. There are days, when, like the baby, all is smiles and sunshine; but then, at other times, the work seems to “stiffen,” and only God can give us grace patiently to continue in well doing.

So we went on to have a talk about how we should each try not to think of ourselves, or of what we liked, but seek to be brave and unselfish in living for others. I ‘showed them that verse, “Even Christ pleased not Himself,” and we talked of how many things there must have been in His village home long ago that He did not like, and of how He did always those things that pleased the Father in heaven; and then we prayed together that we, too, might, for His sake, learn to set self aside, and thus grow like Him.

May none of you, who belong to Jesus, forget that —

“There’s not a child so small and weak

But has his little cross to take,

His little work of love and praise,

That he may do for Jesus’ sake.”

“Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10: 31.

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Not Forty Men

ELLEN was the youngest child of Christian parents, who were anxious for their little one to know Jesus as her Saviour. So one autumn evening, while staying at home with her mother reading the tenth chapter of John, Ellen said,

“Mother, do you think Jesus would save me tonight if I were to ask Him?”

“Yes, certainly,” replied her mother.

“Well, mother, it says here in this chapter. ‘No man can pluck them out of My Father’s hand.”

“No,” replied her mother; “because if you believe in Jesus you are in His hand, and then the Father’s hand is over His again, so that you are safe.”

When Ellen went to bed, her mother said to her,

“Ellen shall we ask Jesus to save you and make you, one of His lambs?”

“Yes, mother,” replied Ellen.

So mother and child knelt in prayer to Him whose ear is always listening, and who is ready and willing to save all who come to Him. Prayer ended, Ellen arose and said, “There, mother I knew Jesus would save me tonight before I went to bed.” Frank, her only brother, being in bed, Ellen said to him,

“Frank, dear, are you saved? If not, you are lost — only think, Frank, that I was saved tonight, Alice was saved on Sunday night, and if you were to be saved now, what a_ rejoicing there would be in heaven; but better to be saved any time than lost.

“Think, Frank, that I am in Jesus’ hand, and then the Father’s hand is over that again. It is not like you taking my hand, no, Frank, you cannot feel it, but it is by believing it, and no man can pluck me out of that hand — , no, not forty men. Frank, have you gone to sleep? Remember, if you lose this opportunity, you may never have another.” Thus Ellen pleaded with her brother till twelve o’clock so overcome with joy of being in her Father’s hand that “not forty men” could pluck her out.

Dear little reader, this is my story, Ellen being my own sister, eight years old, and Frank is the only one of six of us unsaved. And now I want to ask you if you are in the Father’s hand? You are not too young to come to Jesus. He bids you, young or old, rich or poor, now, if you have not already come to Jesus — come now, just as you are. Then you, like Ellen, will be able to say, “I am in the Father’s hand, and not forty men can pluck me out.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Lured To Death

THE rattlesnake is provided with a strange appendage to its tail which produces a rattling sound. When on the look-out for its prey it continuously shakes this rattle, until bird or rabbit, attracted by the sound, approaches it. Its food chiefly consists of rabbits, birds, etc., though it frequently attacks man and inflicts a wound with its poison fangs, which may prove fatal in a few minutes.

The serpent, erect and motionless, now fixes its glittering eyes upon the frightened bird or animal. and subjects it to some sort of strange influence, for though half paralyzed with fear, the victim makes not the slightest effort to escape, hovers or plays about nearer and nearer the beautiful destroyer, fascinated by those sparkling eyes, and at length the trembling prey approaches, unable to escape, coming close to the serpent.

In the twinkling of an eye the subtle serpent darts forward and fixes, its deadly fangs in the victim which he has lured to destruction.

Remember the words of the preacher; “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Prov. 1:10. Satan has varied snares for the unwary, and subtly deludes with the world’s pleasures; but, dear reader, be not deceived, he seeks your soul’s destruction. All that this world can offer is for TIME; your soul must live for ETERNITY. Seek, I beseech you, a refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ. He died to deliver you from the power of Satan, and find you a home in glory with Himself for ever.

Which will you be — lured td destruction, or saved for glory?

“WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.” Rom. 10:13

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Jesus' Love for Little Children

Even unto little children,

Jesus Christ said, Come to Me;

And He spoke to them so kindly,

Took the babes upon His knee.

Still He loves the little children,

Still He says, Come unto Me;

Beckons them to come and trust Him,

Trust His dying on the tree.

Messages of God’s Love 11/4/1923

Cattle in a Marsh

HOW much these cattle seem to like the water; they have hunted—this marsh to get away from the heat. The trees, too, spreading over the water make it more comfortable for them here. We are glad they can have such a refreshing spot. Not only cows like to wade in water, but how much little boys and girls enjoy doing so, too. You have been wading at some time I know; how cool the water seemed to your tired hot feet, and how you liked to splash about in it. These little lakes and marshes are of so much comfort to us.

Isn’t it good of the Lord to give you these things for pleasure, as well as the things which supply your needs? But these things you can enjoy only as long as you live down here on the earth. Does His love for you stop here? No indeed, He has made a way for you to be saved, so that you may go to heaven if you should die, and have eternal life with Him. How has He made this way possible? It was by the death of His Son, and if you believe in Him as your Saviour, you may be sure of happiness not only in this life, but for eternity.

Do you know that you are a sinner? Have you been to Jesus to ask Him for forgiveness of your sins? Where will you spend eternity? “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord,?” Exodus 15:11.

“HE THAT IS OUR GOD, IS THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION.” Psa. 68:20.

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 3

This long chapter tells us what the sons of the tribe of Levi were to do while the people of Israel were on their journey to God’s land. They were first presented ( verse 6) to the high priest, for his service. The Lord Jesus is our Great High Priest, if we have been fully converted to God. Only a true Levite could do the work (verse 10). No one that was not real could be accepted.

Dear young reader, if you have not been “born again” ( John 3), you cannot serve God. He demands your heart, your soul, before He can use your voice, your hands, your service.

The Levites were linked with those who were spared from judgement (verse 13), the objects of mercy, and they were counted from the earliest days (verse 15) from long years before they could really serve their Master. A New Testament verse which throws light on this, is Gal. 1:15. Some one has rightly said, “Strength is given before service is Claimed.”

Each family of the Levites had its own particular place, and its own particular work, and all was according to God’s plan. The children of Kohath had the first position in service; they were to care for the ark and all the furniture and vessels of the house of God. The family of Gershon came next, to look after the outward frame of. the Tabernacle; and the family of Merari were last, charged with the care of the boards and smaller pieces which went together to make up the walls of the Tabernacle.

No one could decide for himself what he would do. God had decided everything, and He asked only for obedience. The Christian has only to get God’s mind from the Bible, and obey Him, not man.

Verse 40, and following, tell with painstaking care and loving purpose, that the Levites were to take the position of, and act for, all the people. All were one before God, and redemption was needed for all.

Dear child, have you been redeemed: ( See 1 Peter 1:18-21. )

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

Call Upon Me

MY Boyhood home was on the New England sea coast, at a point where Long Island Sound opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

Seventy-five or a hundred years ago there was, in a New England village, no such wide distance between the rich and the poor, as nowadays there is in many a prosperous community.

Few families had household servants. Servants, indeed, were not known there as a class. Families who were “better off” than their neighbors, were accustomed to call on the women and girls of those neighbors to act as “help” in household work. Men and boys who were not in any particular trade, or who were not on the water as sailors or coasters, were accustomed to do service for their well-to-do neighbors as “help” outside the house. While most were enabled to get along day by day moderately well, there were families where the widow and her fatherless children, or others, would be pressed for means of support.

Such a family lived not far from my mother and grandmother, in a house often pointed out to me as I heard the story afterward. The mother and her two children served and trusted God, and did the best for themselves, in doing such work as their neighbors could furnish them.

But at one time the mother found herself in extremity. As a stormy night shut them in, she had not a particle of food for the next day’s need. When she lay down that night, she prayed with her children, without telling them of her helplessness— for, indeed, she was not helpless while she trusted God.

With the new, bright morning the mother prayed for her daily bread, assured that her Father could supply it. She asked her children to go down to the shore before breakfast, and get some clean sand from the beach for their sitting room floor.

Before the days of woolen carpets, in the humbler New England homes they were accustomed to strew sand on the floor, and ornament the borders by arranging it in figures with a broom.

When the children had gone, the mother again kneeled and prayed for their daily bread. After this she spread the breakfast table, for which she had no food. Suddenly the children returned with the sand, but bringing gleefully a fine fish, which they had found in a hollow of the beach, as left by the outgoing tide after the storm. With a grateful heart she thanked God for His goodness, and then began to prepare the fish for their breakfast, when she was called to the door by a visitor.

A man from the country had called to say that on one occasion her husband, now dead, had done some work for this man for which he had not been paid. The man. had now brought a bushel and a half of cornmeal to give the widow on account, promising to give more by and by.

As with swelling heart the mother thanked the donor, and brought the meal into their doubly glad home, she told the children how God had answered her prayer and they kneeled together to give Him thanks. Then she hastily made a “Johnny cake” of the Indian meal, and baked it by the fire for breakfast. Together they asked God’s blessing on that God-given meal, and thenceforward they both served and trusted God more fully and joyously than ever.

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

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

Prayer

THE following courageous deed on the part of a sailor. boy in Connecticut is related by a missionary. The ship on which it occurred was named Cornelia, and was in all respects a good vessel.

“Yet at one time,” he said, “we were afraid that the voyage we were making would be her last. We were already some days from New York, when an unusually violent storm overtook us, which lasted five days. When the storm was raging at its worst, and the ship heaved up and with fearful violence, some of the tackle above the main mast came into disorder. Someone must go up, in order to put it right again; but it was a duty attended with danger to life. The steersman called a sailor-boy, and ordered him to climb up the highest mast. When this order was given, I stood quite near the steersman, and beheld the boy to whom such a heavy duty had been assigned, with heartfelt pity, for he was so young and tender, that one would much rather have put a spelling book into his hands, than let him unfurl a sail. But this was now the business of the poor boy. His mother was a destitute widow; she could not keep her son under her care, and was obliged to send him to sea, in order that he might earn something.

When the steersman called out for him to ascend, the boy took his cap from his head, looking towards heaven; then at the mast bending to and fro; then at the mighty steaming waves which swept over the deck, and then silently and wistfully into the calm, stern countenance of the steersman. After standing a moment, as if considering, he hastened along the deck, and went into the fore-cabin, his place of rest when he became weary with his hard work. He remained there only a few minutes, returned to the steersman, laid his hand on the rope ladder, and climbed up quickly and fearlessly. My eyes followed him till dizziness seized me. I went to the steersman and asked,

`Why do you send little tender boys to such a dangerous height? I am afraid he will not come down alive.’

`I do it’ said he, ‘to spare a MAN’S life. We have had men before this to fall down and be killed, but never boys. Look now how he climbs! He holds himself firmly as a squirrel. I hope he will come back to us quite safe.”

I looked up again until tears darkened my view, and I was obliged to turn away. Every moment I feared he would fall; but after about ten minutes, the brave boy was among us again. He had accomplished his difficult and dangerous duty, smiled in the happy consciousness that he had held himself firm.

The boy made a deep impression on me, and I sought him out the same day, to speak to him. I asked him what he had first thought of, before he climbed the mast?

“I thought I would first pray,” he answered.

“Do you pray often, my son?

“Yes, sir,” was the answer, “and this time I thought I might not come down alive, and therefore I went into my cabin and commended my soul to God.”

“Where did you learn to pray?”

“At home My mother sent me to the Sunday school. The teacher told me to pray to God, that He might keep me, and this I have done ever since.” “What sort of a book was that which you stuck in your jacket?”

“My New Testament, which my teacher gave me. I thought sir, if I should be killed, I should like to have God’s Word near my heart.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

Thank God I Was Saved Last Night!

A TOUCHING story is told of a collier who attended a gospel meeting in Cornwall. At the close of the meeting he remained for some personal conversation with the preacher. The collier, though anxious to be saved, wanted to put it off to a future time, but God’s Word being put directly to him,

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” he bowed to God’s word and time, and accepted salvation from God as His gift, and went home praising Him for it.

Early in the morning he went to his work in the coal pit, but he had not been long at his work, when a large portion of the roof fell in and buried him. Loving hearts and willing hands soon removed the rubbish and brought him to the pit’s mouth, when his lips were seen moving. An ear was bent to catch the dying man’s last words, which were,

“Thank God I was saved last night!”

He accepted the “present salvation” of God, and in less than twelve hours afterwards, lie was “absent from the body, and present with the Lord.”

Dear reader, “Take salvation; take it now and happy be.”

The devil tempts people to put off the salvation of the soul until tomorrow; but tomorrow is death, the grave, the lake of fire, the eternal wail of a damned soul. God would not say, “NOW” so frequently in His Word, if He did not mean it, or if there was not awful danger in delaying; or if tomorrow would do. It may be now or never with you. God grant that it may be now.

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

Tomorrow may be the rejected time; tomorrow may be the day of damnation. May it never be so with my dear reader!

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

A Child's Prayer

Gracious God, how good Thou art!

Let Thy goodness fill my heart;

Let Thy wisdom me’ engage,

Now in this my childish age.

Let Thy power my mind perceive;

In Thy Son may I believe—

In His love may I abide,

Cleaving closely to His side.

May His blood my conscience know,

As that which makes me white as snow

Through faith in Jesus by God’s word,

Through faith in Christ the coming Lord.

Messages of God’s Love 11/11/1923

The Wrong Man

OUR little darling’s dolly’s head has come off and it needs to be fixed on again, but what do you think she has done? Why she has gone to the blacksmith with it. Poor little thing, she did not know any better, and we can easily look over her mistake. The kind hearted blacksmith will send her to the right one, who will put it on properly.

Would you think children who are able to read, and grown up people too, would ever make such a mistake as this little girl? I expect most of my little readers would say, “Surely not.” But let me tell you, there are a whole lot who are making such a mistake about the salvation of their souls. Instead of going to the Lord Jesus to save them, and who alone can save, they go to a preacher, and hope he will be able to save them, maybe, by baptizing them, or praying over them, or doing some other things for them. Others will turn to do good works with the hope they will get their soul saved that way, not knowing, perhaps that the Scripture says,

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

“By GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOUR_SELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.” Eph. 2:8,9.

“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts. 4:12.

May you dear reader, go to the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul, for He is the only One who can save you, and He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 4

Here are details we have not had before. God, we may say, is seen lingering over His people, gathered to the one center on earth. Numbers is the book of journeying, for it was to be many years before the ark, the table, the. candlestick, the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering, with all their furnishings, were to be set in a permanent abiding place. When “the camp setteth forward” (verse 5), “Aaron shall come, and his sons,” — they, taken together, are a type of the Church of God, set to guard the name of Jesus in a wicked world.

The opening verses, however, (verses 2, 3, 4) mention first the sons of Kohath; theirs was to be the privilege of carrying the precious furniture of the Tabernacle, the things, which to the eye of faith, express the Lord Jesus in His blessed person and work; but here in these verses, it is their place always, to be before God in the place of His dwelling. This is the Christian’s true place, to abide with God, in communion, through the atoning work on the cross.

How God, even in these early shadows, guards His glory! Christians are apt to get careless, and indifferent to the claims of a holy God. There is nothing of that here, though the Tabernacle be a plain, simple structure, and the people full of failure in the midst of whom it stood. The fact that they were on a journey, and the home yet far away, did not alter God’s being among them in holiness and grace.

Let us, if we keep His Word honor Him by carefully following it, and as verse 5 begins the divine order with the ark and the veil, both of which tell us of Jesus, the God Man, let Us also begin our ways, our thoughts, with and from Him.

Each of the pieces mentioned, from the fifth to the fourteenth verse, except the last one, was to be covered with a blue cloth. Blue is the color of the sky on a clear day, and God has used it to bring to our thoughts the Lord Jesus Christ — the heavenly Man — “the Lord from heaven.”

Every article was covered with badgers’ skins, a type of the separateness from evil, which was in Jesus alone. The table of show bread, and the altar of burnt offering, were covered, the one with a scarlet or crimson cloth; and the other with a purple cloth. The first telling of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel; and the second of the glory He has won through death, the death of the cross.

In this chapter we have the counting of the number of the Levites from thirty to fifty years old, the full grown, able men. God counted on them for His service.

Does He not count upon all his children to serve Him? And shall we seek our own comfort, — we who are washed in the blood of Jesus, — and neglect Him?

The work for each is again plainly named in this chapter. It might be humble work, but nothing that God gives us to do for Him, should be too lowly for us to do.

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

The Promise Fulfilled

CHILDREN,” said a Sunday-school teacher, when the lesson was over, “I should very much like for each of you to try next Sunday to bring a new scholar with you. I think it would not be very difficult, and in that way we will have many scholars to teach the way of life to. Will you try?”

There was a general shout of “Yes” in reply. If the children really realized what they were promising, and whether they would take any trouble to keep their promise, was doubtful. But one little girl did keep her promise, and that was little Mary Gordon.

When on her way home, she said to herself, “I have promised to try, but all the children that I know, go to Sunday school, except Tom, and I can’t speak to him. He is a big boy, and so rude, I am really afraid of him. No, I can’t ask Tom.”

Tom, that Mary was so afraid of, was the terror of all the children in the neighborhood. If a boy found his kite torn, or his skates broken; or a girl found that her cat had been ill-treated, or thrown into the water, it was always Tom who had done it. Naturally, he didn’t want to hear anything about the Sunday-school, and once he had said, with a threatening air, that he would like to see the person that would try to take him there. No wonder, then, that little Mary was afraid of him, but still she could not forget her promise.

“I promised to try,” she repeated. “It was a promise and I will break it, if I dont try, and that wouldn’t be right. And he might come; then he would hear how he could get to heaven. I fear he doesn’t even know that he ought to be converted. Yes, yes, I will speak to him; perhaps he will come.”

Not long afterwards she found an opportunity. The next day, coming out of school, she met Tom. She saw him first. With trembling lips, and a beating heart, she called out to him. “Tom, will you go with me next Sun day to Sunday-school?” Tom looked at her as if he could not believe his ears, and then said slowly,

“To Sunday-school! What in the world would I do there?”

Mary picked up courage, and looking at him, said very earnestly,

“O, don’t you want to go to heaven?”

“Yes, I do want to go there,” was his reply, “but going to Sunday-school won’t bring me there.”

“No, it won’t,” answered Mary, “but Tom, when I first went to Sunday-school I heard them singing, O, so beautifully,

`One there is above all others,

Well deserves the name of Friend.’

I thought then I should like to learn to know the Lord Jesus, and I asked how I could learn to know him, and Tom, it will be just the same with you, if you go with me.”

The friendly child had scarcely finished speaking, when Tom turned his back on her, and walking away a few steps, began whistling as hard as he could, to mock poor Mary.

Poor little girl! Her hopes were dashed to the ground; her little heart was heavy, and large tears filled her eyes. When she took out her handkerchief to wipe away her tears, all at once she saw Tom standing before her. She was startled and sighed. “Why are you crying?” he asked, “surely not because I’m not going to Sunday-school with you?”

“O, Tom!” she said looking at him pityingly, “won’t you go with me? O! do!”

“Listen, Mary,” said the boy, “this has never happened to me before, that anybody thought enough of me to shed tears on my account. Don’t cry, next Sunday go with you.”

He kept his word. Nobody could be happier than Mary. After he had gone once, he never missed a Sunday. Like Mary, he not only sought the way to get to heaven, but when he had found Jesus as his Saviour, he walked with Him through life. The last I heard of him was that he had gone as missionary to the heathen. Whether he still lives and works for the Lord I cannot say, but this I know, that when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall arise, he, who was on the road to destruction, shall rise to eternal life. And still more I know that Mary shall receive a great reward from the Lord, when He comes to call home all of His redeemed ones to be forever with Himself (Rev. 22:12), for she was the means, in God’s hand, of saving the soul of wicked Tom.

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

I Am Sure JesusLoves Me

WHILE I was visiting at a hospital at B. my attention was attracted towards the little girl of whom I ain about to tell. I walked across the ward, and seated myself by little Lizzie’s side. Marks of suffering were visible on the little wan face and yet it was lighted up by a look of peace and restfulness that contrasted strangely with many of the sufferers around. Some faces were very sad, but Lizzie’s was sweet and calm.

To my joy, I found that Lizzie, though so young, was resting on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the Sunday-school she heard how He had died for poor sinners, just like she felt herself to be. She had believed the wonderful story of His grace towards her, and now she was lying in the hospital happy, and perfectly contented in the knowledge of her Saviour’s love.

“Lizzie,” I said some time later, as I saw it was time to go, “I want you to tell me what makes you so happy?”

Her dark eyes quite beamed in answer to my question, and her little face brightened into a beautiful smile, as she readily replied,

“It is because I am sure that Jesus loves me.”

Dear little Lizzie. No wonder that she was happy. She had the Lord Jesus for her Friend, and the constant thought of His love made her perfectly content. Dear children, can you say, like Lizzie,

“I am sure Jesus loves me?” If not, why not? Believe and trust Him as Lizzie did; and then you will realize, also, the joy of the Saviour’s love to you.

You have heard of Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, and how He condescends to become the Unchanging Friend of each boy and girl who trusts Him for salvation. You may have Him as your Saviour; and then you will know what it is to be perfectly happy. He waits to bless you, and whispers those blessed words of foregiveness and peace,

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

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

The Little Cripple Boy

A LITTLE boy was so crippled that he could not even turn over the leaves of a book, but he loved his Bible, and used to keep it open before him. A friend asked him one day why he was so fond of reading it. He simply replied,

“I like to read the Bible, because it tells me about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Do you think you have believed on Him?”

The child’s face lighted up as he answered,

“Yes, I know I have.”

“But what makes you think so?” He promptly replied,

“Because I know Him as my Saviour. and He helps me to bear the pain patiently.

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

If I Come to Jesus

If I come to Jesus,

He will make me glad;

He will give me pleasure,

When my heart is sad.

If I come to Jesus,

Happy I shall be,

He is gently calling

Little ones like me.

If I come to Jesus,

He will hear my prayer,

For He loves me dearly,

And my sins did bear.

If I come to Jesus;

He will take my hand,

He will kindly lead me

To a better land.

There with happy children,

Robed in snowy white,

I shall see my Saviour

In that world so bright.

Messages of God’s Love 11/18/1923

Are You One of Jesus' Lambs?

LOST little children are fond of looking at a flock of sheep. How happy the little lambs appear as they gambol and skin about. and how bright the countenance of the little ones as they watch them running to and fro. And there’s the kind shepherd, too, that looks after them all; sometimes bringing their food to them, or turning them into a pasture of rich, green grass. It is a pretty sight, and as one thinks of it, we feel how good it is of the Lord to compare His people so often to sheep and lambs.

He said,

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

He could not have us around Him, and make us His flock unless our sins were put away, so this good Shepherd died upon a cross of wood; and His precious blood that was there poured out, washes away the sins of all who come to Him. Having died and been buried, this good Shepherd, Jesus, rose again, and is now seated at God’s right hand. (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4. Heb. 1:3.)

Every day He keeps calling young and old to come to Him, and he never turns one away. Have you come dear child? Are you one of Jesus’ lambs? Would you like to be? Do you say, Yes? 0, come then, come to Him now, for His love to little children is the same as when He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them, not.” Mark 10:14

Delay no longer. Come now! Jesus will welcome you, pardon you, save you, feed you, take care of you, both now and forever. The Bible tells us,

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm. and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11.

And now, dear little children,

A Shepherd’s up on high,

Who came to seek the straying,

Who all deserved to die.

For sin each lamb had ruined,

And far from God had led;

But O! what love unbounded

He suffered in their stead.

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 5

Sin and God shall not dwell together. If God was to be among them, the people must put the lepers out. A leper, as is well known in Scripture, is a type of one in whom, sin is at work.

Now, sin is in all Christians, but it must not be allowed to work, and if by chance it does come out, it, must be judged and confessed to God, and given up. It may come out in different ways, and this chapter tells us this; but it is a holy God that we have to do with, and He will not go on with His people if they go on in sin.

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

Is My Name Written There Too?

SOME time ago a well-known coal-merchant spoke at a meeting, and said: “Dear friends, if on going home tonight, you found that the mail-carrier had left a letter for you, and on reading it, you find that it is from a notary who therein informs you that a rich relative of yours in Australia has died, and has. left von a large fortune. would you not want to read for yourself that last will or testament and convince yourself that you were getting all that should come to you? You would wish to read it word for word. You would not be satisfied with the notary’s word. No! No! you would want to read it yourself.

Well, do the same thing with God’s Word, in which His will in man’s behalf is written. Examine that will, read it carefully, arid see if your name, too, is written there. You won’t have much trouble, for again and again you will come across the word “Whosoever,” which means you also.

“How can ‘whosoever’ mean me?” a workman asked a friend, as they walked home together.

“Well, if you took it into your head, to climb over yonder fence, and steal turnips from that piece of ground, and you saw a board on which was written, ‘Whoever walks on this land will be prosecuted,’ you would know that you were in danger of being arrested.”

“Well, that is plain enough.”

“Well, then, when God says, ‘Whosoever let him take the water of life freely’ has this nothing to do with you? Your name is written there.”

The man understood, and believed and was saved through faith.

Dear reader! your name, too, is in the Bible. God speaks to you, too. O listen to His voice! Believe His Word, and peace and joy will fill your heart.

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

How the Change Came

A YOUNG lady had gone to spend a holiday in Wales, where she might enjoy the fresh air, beautiful sunshine, and the sparkling sea. She had looked forward for a long while to this holiday, hoping to have her health built up, and get back color to her face, which was quite pale from always living in a city: Now she was free to ramble along the seashore, or to climb the high hills near at hand.

“O!” you say, “how I should enjoy such a holiday! How happy I should be!”

Ah! but there was this strange thing about it; the young lady of whom I am telling you was not happy. She failed to find the pleasure she expected in the brightness and beauty all around that God in His goodness was pleased to give. No, she had a trouble that took up all her thoughts, and prevented her from enjoying her holiday.

One day she went to a meeting where the Lord Jesus and His love were being spoken of; and God, by His Spirit, caused His word to have a great effect upon her, and the thought would come to her, “What a sad thing it would be to be lost, forever!” Yet she knew her sins were not forgiven. No wonder she was unhappy.

No wonder she could not enjoy her holiday. But I am so glad to be able to tell you that she did not continue long in that miserable state. No, she was led to look to JESUS, and to trust in His FINISHED WORK for the salvation of her soul. A happy change then came over her, for she knew that Jesus was her Saviour; and so that holiday, though it began with unhappiness, was at the end the happiest in her life. Now she could sing:

“I belong to Jesus:

`Twas a happy day,

When His blood most precious,

Washed my sins away.

When His Holy Spirit

Changed my heart of stone,

Set His mark upon me;

Sealed me for His own.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

Children of China No. 1 Hei-ling, or Saved From Death

I HAVE been thinking that I would like to tell some of our little friends at home something about some of our little friends who live out in this great strange land called China.

They are not really so very different from yourselves, and I am sure that you would love them very much, if only you could know them. But as you cannot come out here and visit them, I am going to try and make some of them visit you, even though it is only by telling you stories about them.

But first I would like to tell you one or two reasons why I want to tell you of them. Well one reason is that I know some of you love the Lord Jesus yourselves, and pray to Him; and when you pray I want you often to think of these little yellow children and pray for them too. Remember that they have precious souls just like you have. Remember that they need a Saviour just the same as yourselves; but remember, too, that many, many of them, have never even heard of that Saviour, and among those who have heard His name, so few really know Him. But there is another reason why I want to tell you about these little children out here, and that is because I fear that many of my little readers have not yet trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour, although they have heard about Him so long, and I hope that perhaps the stories of some of these little children in China, may make plain to my little friends at home, how they can come to the Saviour, and receive His great salvation.

There are so many children that I might tell you of, that it is hard to know where to begin, but I think that our little Hei-Ling has the first claim for a visit with you, so you must listen and try and picture what she is like.

Almost exactly three years ago, an old woman brought a funny little bundle rolled up in an old pair of trousers to our door, and begged us to take it, — not the old trousers, she wanted them back,—but what was inside, and what do you think was inside that old bundle? A dear little yellow baby girl, that they wanted to throw away! The old woman didn’t like to do that; it was such a nice baby, and so she brought it to us, to see if e would take it in, and my sister did take it in and gave back the old trousers, and now that funny little bundle has turned into a dear little girl of three years old.

I wish that you could see our merry little Hei-Ling in her little dark blue cotton suit, long trousers and little short coat. her little Chinese wooden shoes, with her little brown bare feet in them. She has such merry black eyes, and lots of black hair not very long and such a fat little brown face, with a funny little flat nose, that all her country men admire very specially. We think she is just a darling. Just now it is about “six coats cold,” and she looks almost as broad as she is long.

What a narrow escape she had from death! and O, how many many dear little baby girls out here perish! Just two or three doors from us they drowned little twin girls because they didn’t want them! But this dear little Hei-Ling found a saviour, one who was able and willing to deliver her from death. And do you know, dear children, that we who live in other lands need a Saviour even more than little Hei-Ling did, she needed a saviour to deliver her body from death, we need a Saviour Who will deliver our souls from the second death in the lake of fire for ever.

Where can we find such a Saviour? It is very hard to find a saviour for little Chinese baby girls, and thousands perish every year for want of one, but is it very hard for you and me to find a Saviour?

“Ah,” you say, “no, it is not hard,. Jesus is our Saviour from that second death.”

Yes, that is right, Jesus is our Saviour. But let me ask you, Is He your very own Saviour? Has He saved you yet? It was ‘Now or never’ with Hei-Ling, and it may be Now or never’ with you. 0 dear child, if you have not yet found the Saviour, why not seek Him right now and he says,

“Those that seek me early shall find me.” Prov. 8:17.

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

Consecrate All to Him

God gave me two eyes that I might see

Wonderful things in His Word for me;

That I might there great things behold,

Find riches and pleasures worth more than gold.

God gave me two ears that I might hear

His words of comfort, of rest and cheer;

That I might always hear Him say,

I am the Truth, The Life, The Way.

God gave me two feet that I might walk

The narrow path, however dark,

That I might tread the path He trod,

The only way to the throne of God.

God gave me two hands that I might yield

My labors to Him in the gospel field;

That I might work with a willing mind,

To spread the glad tidings to all mankind.

God gave me a tongue to speak His truth,

To tell of His love in age and youth,

To tell of the One who came to save,

Who conquered the power of death and the grave.

God gave me a heart with which to love

The Saviour who came from the throne above;

And day by day I would love Him more,

Till I meet Him on heaven’s eternal shore.

Then take them, Lord Jesus, and let them be

Willingly given each day. to Thee;

And when in the glory I bow at Thy feet,

I’ll give Thee the honor, the glory that’s meet.

Messages of God’s Love 11/25/1923

Bible Questions for December

Answers to Bible Questions for October.

1. “Be it known unto you,” etc. Acts 13:38.

2. “Neither is there salvation,” etc. “ 4:12.

3. “Who, when he came,” etc. “ 11:23.

4. “And now, brethren, I,” etc. “ 20:32.

5. “And when they had prayed,” etc. “ 4:31.

6. “And they said, Believe,” etc. “ 16:31.

7. “To Him give all the,” etc. “ 10:43.

Bible Questions for December

The answers are to be found in 1 Corinthians

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Make a way to escape.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Waiting for the coming.”

3. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Shall be raised.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “He that glorieth.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Stand fast in the faith.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Eat or drink.”

7. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Without charge.”

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 6

This chapter gives us another picture of the Christian, as God would have him. He is to be separated to God, not having a good time with worldly companions. The Lord Jesus was the only perfect Nazarite; He was always, as a man, “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from: sinners.” (Hebrews 7:26). As a child of twelve He said to His parents, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). He was ever the Holy One, as we see in the accounts in all of the four evangelists’ stories of Him—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus is the believer’s only perfect example.

But separating ourselves from, evil is not to be forever (verses 4, 5, 6, 8, 13), The believer who seeks to honor God, waits for the Lord’s coming when Nazariteship will be forever over. So the chapter closes with blessing, and joy. Separation from whatever we cannot take God into, must be ours now, but soon we shall be with our Lord in His home in the sky.

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

The Tall Soldier and the Little Tract Boy

ONE Sunday afternoon, as a very tall soldier was passing along a street, he was met by a little boy returning home from Sunday-school. This little boy was a worker for the Lord Jesus, and he held some tracts in his hand, one of which he offered: to the soldier, with the words,

“Please have a tract, sir.”

The soldier willingly took the tract, and after reading the title, “Post thou believe on the Son of God?” he began to say something to the little giver. But his voice sounded so deep and gruff that the little fellow was quite frightened; and took to his heels and ran off home.

Thoroughly amused, the tall soldier quickened his pace, and, keeping the boy in sight, saw him enter a house. Then he stepped up to the door himself and gave a rat-tat-tat. The door was soon opened by the father of the boy, and the soldier was invited to come inside.

Then an interesting talk took place about the tract and the little giver; and at the close the soldier was asked to come again and take tea.

On his second visit, the soldier’s manner was so gentle that his little friend was now not at all afraid of him, but sat on his knee and answered his questions about the Lord Jesus Christ. Almost the last one he asked was,

“Do you recollect the question which was on the tract you gave me?”

“Yes,” answered the little boy, “it was, `Dust thou believe on the Son of God?’ “

“Well,” said the soldier, “I wanted to tell you that on the day you met me I did not believe; for I knew nothing of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But now” (and as he spoke, tears welled up into the big man’s eyes), “now I do trust Him, and I have eternal life.”-

Soon afterwards the regiment was ordered away, and he had to say good-bye to his little fellow-believer in Christ. But the little boy’s friends learned some time later that the converted soldier, through the power of Christ’s constraining love, carried the gospel message wherever he went, pleading with his comrades to believe the good news of salvation which had been so greatly blessed to his own soul.

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

Children of China No. 2 "T'ien-Ch'ei", or "Heaven's Gift"

AS my last story was about Hei-Ling, certainly this story must be about “T’ien-Ch’ei”, or. in English, “Heaven’s Gift.”

When Hei-Ling was nearly two and a half years old, another little baby was brought to our door, in the hope that we would take it in, and we did. It was such a wee little thing, and nobody on earth wanted it, so we called it “Heaven’s Gift”. It is nice to think that the Lord Jesus loves these poor little outcast girls, even though their fathers and mothers don’t seem to. Yes, I am, sure He loves each one of them in just the same way that He loves you and me, and so when you hear about them, you must try and love them too, for Jesus’ sake.

“T’ien-Ch’ei” is still a tiny wee thing and I often call her “Deedeeco” which means “Tiny”, but she is so wise, and so strong, even though it has just seemed like a fight for her life ever since she came to us. She has such black eyes, and she looks at us in such a funny way as though she was wondering why we looked different from the other people about her. At first she was so frightened of “the foreigners”, they had such white faces, and such big ugly noses, but now she is getting more used to us, and is learning to love the one who saved her, and cares for her; but if you were to come along and pick her up, like you would a dear wee baby at home, I am afraid she would scream with terror until some friendly Chinese person came and rescued her.

These two dear little girls, Hei-Ling and T’ien- Ch’ei, live with us, two precious gifts from heaven, to bring up for the Lord Jesus. And now I want to ask you to pray that, if the Lord should still tarry, these little girls may grow up to be true and faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, and may in time take the story of a better Gift from heaven to their fellow countrymen, who have never heard of God’s unspeakable Gift.

How often you have heard the story of that little Baby who came into this world over nineteen hundred years ago, sent from heaven. A few people were so glad to see that Baby, but most people didn’t care, and couldn’t even find room or Him and His mother in the house, but they had to go out and stay in the stable. Some people hated this Baby, and tried hard to kill Him, but God took care of Him, and He grew up to be a man. This is an old, old story for you. You know well the name of that little Babe was JESUS, but out here, there are millions who have never heard that Precious Name.

Yes, JESUS is the best gift heaven could give. How often you have heard, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” We may well exclaim, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” But, dear children, let me ask you, “Have you ever accepted God’s gift?” T’ien-Ch’ei was heaven’s gift, (or God’s gift,) to my sister, not to you,—but the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s gift to you, to your very own self. What do we do with a gift? Why, the fire thing we do is to take it and say “Thank you.” It is not ours until we accept it. T’ien-Ch’ei did not belong to my sister until she accepted her, and took hey. There had been several babies whom we had been unable to accept, and they never belonged to us. But when we accepted T’ien Ch’ei, she became our own. So it is with the Lord Jesus. What have you done with Him? Have you accepted Him? or have you said in your heart, “O, there’s plenty of time, I’ll accept Him some other day.” If He is not your own dear Saviour today, will you not take Him now and trust Him, and let Him save you, and give you eternal life?

“The Gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

Even to Hoar Hairs Will I Carry You

DEAR children, I would like to make you acquainted with a dear aged Christian, one who has known the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour for many years. She accepted the message, when she was young, that was preached by three well-known evangelists, that Christ died to put away her sins, and that He is now in the glory with His Father, waiting for the moment to call all His redeemed ones up to be with Himself.

She is still rejoicing in the Lord, the One who loved and gave Himself for her, and is joyfully looking forward to the time when her blessed Lord will come to take her, and all His people home to Himself.

Dear children, you too, no doubt, have heard, many times, the same blessed message, that Christ has died to put away sins. Have you accepted Him as your own personal Saviour, and are you looking for Him to come and take you home to Himself? If so, you will have a happy path as long as you are in this world; and fulness of joy, and pleasures for ever more, throughout eternity with your blessed Lord and Saviour.

The next time you meet an elderly Christian, please ask him, or her, if they have ever regretted that they accepted Christ Jesus the Lord as their own Saviour when they were young? I know what the answer will be. They will tell you that having Him, and knowing Him as the loving and gracious Lord and Saviour, and walking in His ways, is the only path of happiness, and real profit.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD AND WHOSE HOPE THE LORD IS.” Jer. 17:7.

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

Closer Than a Brother

I have a Friend, a loving Friend,

He’s not like any other;

This Friend I’ve tried and proved Him, oft

He’s closer than a brother.

He never disappoints my hopes,

He never has deceived me,

I know He never will forsake,

He says He’ll never leave me.

I want you all to know this Friend,

And in Him to find favor;

To yield your hearts and lives to Him;

And let him be your Saviour.

And then whate’er your pathway be;

Through trial or temptation,

In danger or perplexity,

You’ll find in Him salvation.

He’ll save you from the guilt of sin,

He’ll save you from its power;

And having Jesus for your Friend,

You nothing then need fear.

Messages of God’s Love 12/2/1923

A Mother's Love

IS it not a pretty sight to see a dear little baby lying in his mother’s arms!

We often see it, and have, no doubt, noticed by the expression of the mother’s face, how much she loves her baby; but if we look at him, we see, not so much an expression of love, as, a picture of helplessness.

The little one cannot do anything for himself, but the mother must do everything for him; first, because she loves her little baby; second, he is not strong enough to take care of himself.

This reminds us of the-love that God has shown to us, for the Bible says:

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

This is beyond a mother’s love for her baby.

Have you ever thought that God really loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you, so that you may be saved through Him? He loved us when we were helpless, and could not do anything for ourselves in order to be saved. He looked upon us in love, and knew our helplessness, so He did everything for us.

“ WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.’, Roman 5:6.

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 7

Now God shows us how the hearts of the leaders of the people were moved to bring gifts of love—offerings of their ability to the Lord’s service. True, every one of the twelve offered exactly the same things, but God loves to tell in full detail what each one gave. Every act of true-hearted service—everything with Christ as its object—has notice in glory, and will not fail of remembrance in, the coming day. Day by day, the record is made, in full, of whatever is done out of love for the Lord. None of these gifts went to the sons of Kohath; they carried their burdens on their shoulders or in their hands. The sons of Merari and of Gershon, who had a lesser place in service, were given the oxen and the wagons. This is God’s gracious way. He will give us each one some little service to do for Him, and help us in the doing of it.

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

Two Kinds of Poison

“PAPA,” said Arthur W. one evening, “will you please give me the key to the bookcase in your study?”

“Why, my boy?”

“I want to take out a book.”

“Which book?”

“A book from the top shelf.”

“That is not answering my question.”

“A scarlet bound book, Papa; I am not sure of the name. I wish to read it this evening.”

“Who gave you that book, Arthur?”

“One of the boys at school. He said there were nice stories in it, and I began to read one of them. Was it you, Papa, who locked it up?”

“Yes”

“Why did you do so?”

“Because I did not wish you to read it. I have not read it myself, but I know the name of the writer well, he is a very bad man, one who writes things that it would be very wrong in me to allow you to read.” Arthur looked very much vexed.

“I am sure, Papa, that was a very nice story which I began last night, and I wish very much to finish it. Will you not give it to me just for this evening? I will pass over all that is wrong.” Mr. W. smiled.

“How will you know what to pass over till you have read it?”

“But, Papa, I am sure just reading it once, quite quickly, would do me no harm.”

“Arthur, why is your mother always so careful to keep the bottle of Laudanum locked up?”

“Because it is poison, of course.”

“So Laudanum is the only poison in the Drug Store?”

“No, Papa, there are many other ‘kinds.”

“Yes, and many kinds which may injure people in various ways. Some will bring on a deadly sleep; others may produce violent pains and convulsions. You may die from swallowing one kind; or allow another to touch an open scratch, and so get into your blood; or by breathing another kind into your lungs. A sensible man will handle them most cautiously. A sensible child will not touch them at all. But there are much more deadly poisons than any kept by the Druggist. Which are of most importance, my son, our soul, or our body?”

“Our soul, of course, Papa.”

“Why?”

“Because it must live forever in heaven or hell.”

“Then, is not the poison which would destroy our souls, to be more dreaded and avoided than that which would merely injure our poor, mortal bodies?”

“Yes, Papa.”

“Well, I believe fatal poison is contained in that scarlet book, which I have locked up from you. The writer of that book is poisoning the souls of his fellow creatures, and all this is done in the most deceiving way — under the form of interesting stories. My dear boy, be more afraid of reading poison than of swallowing it. Never begin with a new author until you have asked father or mother if the work is safe and suitable for you. Pray for the blessing of God upon all your studies to which we direct you, and above, all, Value the Book of Books, God’s own precious Word, “The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

“Where withal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed there unto according to Thy Word.” Psa. 119:9.

“Those that seek me early shall find me.” Prov. 8:17.

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

Children of China No. 3 "Ing," or Redeemed

TODAY I am going to tell you about “Ing,” the little daughter of the lady who teaches our little school.

Ing is seven years old, but not very big. She has a thin little brown face, and black eyes, and two little pigtails tied with red string. She has little brown feet that are nearly always bare, and a kind of a wistful look that makes one’s heart ache for her. But when you hear her story, you will understand better about that.

When Ing was little, her mother did not teach in our school, and she was very, very poor, and found it almost impossible to buy food for herself and her little family of two girls and a boy. At last she decided she could not try any longer, and would have to part with one of them. It could not, of course, be her only son, nor could she spare her eldest daughter, and so it came about that the youngest, little Ing, was given away. It was a hard trial to the mother, and it nearly broke the little one’s heart. Ah, dear children, you little know or appreciate the mercies that you have to thank God for, plenty of good food, a comfortable home, warm clothes, absolutely no fear of your father or mother selling you or giving you away. But, sad to say, all children are not so well off, and yet perhaps you have never even given it a thought or thanked the God Who made you, and put you where you are.

Well, the poor mother’s heart just bled for her little daughter, and the little one couldn’t be comforted. The mother was a Christian and the people to whom she had given her child were heathen, and as she thought of her little daughter being brought up to worship idols, without the knowledge of a Saviour and His love, without the hope of eternity in the glory, but shut outside, for God tells us that idolators shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. As the poor mother pondered these things, she couldn’t bear the thought any longer, and came in despair and told my sister all about it.

Now, just at that time a friend in America had sent my sister some money, and so with that money she was able to buy back, or REDEEM, little Ing. O, how that mother’s heart rejoiced as once again she took her darling little one in her arms, and knew that once more she was her very own; and the little child, how she clung to her mother, so glad to see her again, and at the same time with such terror for fear that once more she would be taken from her. Which joy do you think was the greater? I think perhaps it was the mother’s.

And now, do you know what this story makes me think of? Why, of myself, and of you. We were lost, “sold under sin,” under the devil’s power, we could do nothing to save ourselves from that eternity with him in hell. Then the Lord Jesus came and bought us back, or REDEEMED us, just like little Ing, only the Lord Jesus did not pay silver or gold for us, but His own precious blood. Have you ever thanked Him for it yet?

God tells us in His Word, “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in sour body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Yes, the price has all been paid, just as my sister paid all the price to buy back little Ing, so the Lord Jesus has already paid all the price to buy you back. If little Ing had said, “0, I don’t believe that the price has been paid for me; I can’t go back to my mother,” you would say “What a foolish child! She ought to believe it, the moment she hears who it was that paid it, and rejoice to go freely home again,” Yes, of course she ought to, and that is just what she did, but how about yourself? You are even worse off than little Ing, you are lost, under the devil’s power, but the price has all been paid, and God Himself, Who cannot tell a lie, sends you word that now you may be free, and freely come to the Lord Jesus. Won’t you just believe it, and right away joyfully come and thank Him?

It is many months since I wrote the story of little Ing for our little friends at home, and now I have to tell you that a little while ago I had a letter telling me that the Lord Jesus had called dear little Ing to come to His Home. He had redeemed her with His own precious blood, and now He has claimed His purchase. She was redeemed twice; once with the money from America, and -once with the blood of Jesus.

Has my little reader ever been redeemed?

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

Lost Katie

I MET her in a country lane crying bitterly. Poor child, she had missed the road leading to her companion’s home, where she was to have spent the day, and a big black dog had chased her a long way. I took her by the hand, and led her to the gate of the pretty cottage where Lily met her schoolmate. How glad and thankful she was to be found and led to the right path.

You are like Katie, lost and far from the way to heaven. if you know it as she did, you must be unhappy. Do you want to be brought back to the way, and reach the house of “many mansions,” where saved friends and companions are? Then come along. Jesus says,

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

“I am the way.” John 14:6.

Have you accepted Jesus for your Saviour?

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

Trust In Jesus

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus

Little children, while you’re young,

While your heart is soft and tender;

Jesus loves the little one.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

While you’re happy, young and gay,

Trust in Him who died to save you,—

Died to wash your sins away.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

Soon will pass your youthful days,

And your heart will grow still harder

If you go in evil ways.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

Yea, He bids you trust Him now;

With your little heart believe Him;

Low before His footstool bow.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

He is calling you today;

Gently calling little children,

None who come are turned away.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

Trust Him then with all your heart,

Then throughout eternal ages From.

Him you will never part.

Messages of God’s Love 12/9/1923

God Loveth a Cheerful Giveth

Dear children, have you any crumbs

You really do not need?

The little birds would be so glad

Of such a dainty feed.

They cannot speak, but if they could,

I know that they would say,

“O, what a treat you’re giving us

This cold and wintry day!

“We hop about from tree to tree,

But all the boughs are bare;

Somehow we never starve, though oft

We have a scanty fare.

“We look about with eager eyes,

In search of tiny seed,

But if we cannot find a grain

Your Father knows our need.

“He guides our wings, and tells us where

To take our feathered flight;

For though we’re small and very weak,

We’re precious in His sight.

“We are so very happy that

We chirrup all day long;

When summer comes we’ll thank you with

Our very sweetest song.”

Dear children, He who loves the birds

Much more He loveth you,

And He will make your wants His care

If you will trust Him, too.

“ BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS.” Psa. 103:2.

Messages of God’s Love 12/16/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 8

Aaron is a type of the Lord Jesus. He alone lights the lamp of testimony; not one of the priests his sons, nor one of the Levites. The light of God, we, who are believers, are to shine around in dark corners. Are we, dear reader, you and I, shining lights for Him? Now the Levites are separated from the people, and cleansed by water and blood. Though they belonged in a special sense to God, they were identified with all Israel. This double link, may all of us who belong to Jesus realize more than we do. We are His, and we belong to all who are His, too.

Messages of God’s Love 12/16/1923

The Life Boat

FINDING myself some time ago, on board a steam-boat which was plying to and fro at the mouth of the Clyde, in Scotland. I witnessed a scene there which made a great impression on me. It so strongly brought before me some of the precious truths of the Gospel, that I felt impelled to write an account of what I had seen, and the train of thought which it suggested to me. May the Lord bless these lines to my readers!

The steam-boat had collided with a fishing-boat, breaking in one of its sides, so that the water was pouring in rapidly. Soon the boat began to fill and to sink. There were two fishermen in it. One of them, an old man, had lost his hat in the shock; with his grey hair floating on the breeze, he stretched out his hands to us and implored our help with heart-breaking cries, while his companion used every effort to bail out the water.

It was truly a touching scene. A thread — as we might say — separated these two men from death. There was not a moment to be lost. Quick as lightning our sailors let down the life-boat, and rowed rapidly towards the unfortunates in distress. From the bridge of the steamboat, all there with palpitating hearts,, followed them with their eyes. Every moment seemed an hour to us. At last they reached them, just as they were on the point of sinking to the bottom. The two poor fishermen were drawn into the life-boat.

What a striking picture of what God has done for us in Christ! The God of all grace has seen poor sinners on the point of perishing, not in the waters of a river, but in the eternal waves of the lake of fire. “In vain they agitated and tormented themselves, the waters of death arose rapidly around them; no effort to escape succeeded. Death and judgement were before them.

What must be done in this desperate case? Love found a means. It made Him, who alone could save perishing sinners, come down from the throne of God. It was Jesus, who, in all the power of Divine Love, came down from the bosom of the Father, and lowered Himself down to lost and ruined man; Jesus, who has taken the place of the sinner on the cross, where he suffered death, and bore the curse due to sinners; where he paid His ransom and accomplished the work by which all who believe in His name, are saved for eternity.

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/16/1923

Children of China No. 4 "Ah Slou," or "The Price of the Ransom"

IT is many months since I wrote my last story for you, about little “Ing,” and how she was Redeemed. Since that time little Ing has been called Home and, many other sad things have happened. I think I must tell you one of these stories, because perhaps you will better understand what it costs to be redeemed. Ah Slou is a dear little girl of three and a half. She lived in a village about six or seven miles from us. Her father had a little farm, and though only a young man, was head of the family and responsible to provide rice for quite a few people. Ah Slou’s father is a Christian, but has not known the Lord Jesus for very long, and was not a very strong soldier of Jesus Christ. She has an old blind Grandmother, who lives with them, but who did not believe in Jesus, and still worshipped idols. Ah Slou takes care of her, and feeds her, even though she is such a little girl. For the last. six months the robbers have been very bad where we live. There are thousands of them, and they have guns, and come in armies, and attack towns and villages, steal all they can, burn the houses very often, and carry off all the men, women and children that they can find. The village where Ah Slou lives has been attacked several times, and for many nights, her father has had to take all his family out on to the hills to sleep, so that they might not be carried off. Everything that he had was stolen, and when he managed to get a few things together again, once more they were all carried off. At last, in despair, all the village turned robbers,—they had nothing to eat,, and no way of getting anything, and if they did succeed in getting anything, the robbers would only come and steal it again. I am sorry to say that little Ah Slou’s father turned robber with the others. It was very wrong of him, but if you and I had been in the same position, perhaps we wouldn’t have been any better. After he had been a robber about a week, he felt so badly that he decided he would stop this life, and come back to the city. (I am thankful to say, they had not attacked any villages while he was with the robbers.) On the way back to the city, he met some soldiers, who arrested him, and put him into prison. There were some others with him, and a few days afterwards, these were all taken out and shot. Ah Slou’s father was taken out to watch, so that he might know what to expect. It was very sad, and our hearts were very sore. Ah Slou’s old blind Granny threw herself into a big pond near their house, and tried to drown herself, but the neighbors saved her. The weeks went by, and Ah Slou’s poor father lay in prison, his feet fast in the stocks. Sometimes he was sick, but that did not make the soldiers any kinder to him. Other men. around him were shot, but still God took care of this poor man. At last we heard that if a large sum of money was paid, he might be set free. But where was the money to come from:? All he had, long since had been stolen. His friends ,tried to sell his lands, but nobody wanted land so infested with robbers. A little money was raised by his friends in different ways, but still there was not enough.

At last it was decided that little Ah Slou would have to be sold, to help make up the difference. It was a terrible blow to them all. The poor father dearly loved his little child,—the mother,—I need not tell you how she felt, and the old Granny’s heart was nearly broken, for the child was everything to her. Little Ah Slou understood quite well what it meant, and I can’t tell you how badly we all felt about it. She brought quite a good price, for a little girl, and that money made up enough to buy back, or REDEEM her father. But, O, what a cost! His own darling child! And all because of his own sin! Can you guess how that father felt when he came out of prison a free man, but with the awful duty before him., of delivering up his little girl? Those who saw him, will never forget his look as he held the little child’s hand, and gazed upon her, knowing that his freedom, was at the cost of his darling.

It was only one sin,—but what a penalty! Have you ever stopped to think what the penalty of your sins is? Perhaps you think you have not got very many. My children, ONE sin is enough to make you pay the penalty of eternal death. Yes, ONE sin, even though you had no more, will put you in the lake of fire forever. But what can we do? Is there no way out? What could Ah Slou’s father do, lying in prison with his feet in the stocks? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Nor can you do anything. You have sinned, and death, eternal death is your due. God says we are without strength. But outside that prison, somebody else was doing all in his power to save this man from death. His own child gave herself, and a ransom was paid for him. All he had to do was to believe it. The moment the Officer in charge accepted the money, that moment Ah Slou’s father was free. But suppose he said, “O, I can’t believe it, How do I know it means me?” Then he might have perished in the prison, even though the price was paid, and accepted, for his ransom. Even so is it with you and me. The price has been paid,—a more awful price than even a little child,—Yes, God’s only begotten Son has died that we might go free. He has paid the ransom. God has accepted the price, and all we need do is to believe it, and give Him thanks.

My story does not end here, I am thankful to say, Someone who loved the little child, and loved her father, came and bought back the child, at even a higher price, and returned her to her father. What joy! But a joy that does not equal the joy of the Lord Jesus when the old blind Granny believed Him, and at the cost of His own life, was set free from the power of the enemy. God has sent His only begotten Son. Christ has paid the ransom with His own blood. God has accepted the price paid. All is finished. Have you believed it?

“Redeemed. . . with the Precious Blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:19.

Messages of God’s Love 12/16/1923

God In Mercy Sent His Son

God in mercy sent His Son,

That He might for sin atone;

Little children He would save,

So for them His life He gave.

O the depths of sovereign grace,

Jesus took the sinner’s place;

Trust Him then, and you will be

Saved for all eternity.

‘Twas in love He left the sky,

For the little ones to die;

Suffered on the cruel tree—

Little child He died for thee.

On that resurrection day,

He the power of death did slay.

And the mighty victor rose

Conqueror over all His foes.

Now He lives in glory bright,

In those realms of cloudless light,

Bidding little children come,—

He would have you share His home.

Trust Him now while young and gay,

He will take your sins away;

And when life for you is past,

You will be with Him at last.

Messages of God’s Love 12/16/1923

The Intruder

It only takes a little thing sometimes to divert the attention even from that which is important. A little fly alighting on the child’s arm could cause him to stop taking his food. A fly is not as common a thing to the little child as to those who are older, therefore he likes to take a good look at it, and during all that time he has stopped eating. But some may say, that is not much time to take up. No, it would not be, because a fly is soon gone to another place; but the lesson to learn is this, if we have that which is important filling our minds, and allow other things to come in and divert our thoughts before we have finished the matter, we will never be successful. There is one thing of, great importance, and we should not allow anything to come in and hinder us in having it settled; that is, having our souls saved, and thus be able to come into God’s holy presence.

In order to dwell in God’s presence it is necessary to have our sins put away before Him, for He is more holy than to behold iniquity. It is therefore through Christ, and Him alone, that we can come to God, for He is the One who has stood in the sinner’s place. under the judgment that the sinner deserved, and has atoned for sin.

“NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.” John 14:6.

Messages of God’s Love 12/23/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 9

It is just a year since the people of Israel passed under the protecting power of the blood of the lamb in the stricken land of Egypt. What changes had taken place in that year! Then they were slaves, now they were free; then they had questioned if God heard their groans, now they had found deliverance; had seen His power for them, and against their enemies; had heard His voice from Mount Sinai, and finally He Himself had taken up His home among them. Was the passover then to be forgotten, or be only a memory? No, indeed, for God takes the first anniversary of that solemn night when the angel went through the land in judgment, to tell His people, “Ye shall keep it in His appointed season,” and not only so, but “according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.”

The remembrance of the judgment of God falling on a substitute, the slain lamb, was never to be separated from the eating of the roasted victim, nor from the bitter herbs, nor from the character God gave His people, as travelers to a better land, with everything ready to go, shoes on, dressed and even the staff in their hands. All of this is closely in keeping with the wish of the Lord Jesus that His loved ones should be found gathered together according to the Word of God, to remember Him in His death, for them.

But some were hindered from carrying out God’s Word that day; they wished to keep the passover, and God took the occasion to say that contact with defilement, or a journey, should not interfere. Even a “stranger” sojourning among them, if he wished, should be allowed to join in the solemn feast. All this shows the believer that the foundation of his blessing is the precious atoning death of Jesus, and that he needs the reminder of it from week to week. The Lord’s desire must be carried out. Much more on this subject will be found in 1 Corinthians 11, where a state of soul is required for the Lord’s supper, but even there the word is “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat.”

Verses 15-23. Day and night, God was among His people—their guard, their protector, their guide. If anything, we may say, that in the night His presence was more realized than in the day, because of the pillar of fire gleaming continuously through the hours of darkness and slumber. This is the night, as several scriptures tell us; the long, dark night of the Lord’s absence. Do we that love Him realize as we should the presence of God among us to cheer, to comfort, to bless and to guide? These people were to be guided by the cloud; if it moved, and where it moved, they went; if it stayed, they stayed. This is a word for Christians, too.

Messages of God’s Love 12/23/1923

The Danger Signal

WE were down at the seashore one Saturday with our Sunday-school children. It was a beautiful day; and we all enjoyed our outing. On the way back, our train suddenly came to a dead halt at a place where there is no station. We peeped out at the window, and saw nothing on the line. Our coach was next to the engine, and the engineer was a Christian man whom we knew. Some asked what was the cause of delay. Pointing to the signal, which indicated “Danger”, he said,

“There it is. I don’t know all that may be beyond that, but the simple sign is enough for me.”

While he was speaking, the signal fell, and, with a smile, he said,

“And that’s enough, too; I need no more.”

So, putting his hand on the whistle, it blew, and we were off. I thought these two signals were just like God’s Word. In that Word there is a “Danger Signal” standing against every unsaved sinner, barring the way, warning him of wrath to come, saying, “Escape for thy life.” To go on in the face of that is madness: it is to perish. But the gospel tells of an open way, opened by the death of Christ, and God signals that way “Clear” to every sinner who conies to Him by faith, believing in His Name. Yes, the way to God is clear. Sin has been put away; the great barrier has been removed by the death of Christ, and now “whosoever will” may come to God, and from Him receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation, without money and without price, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Messages of God’s Love 12/23/1923

Children of China No. 5. The Baby and HIS Redeemer

IN my last story I told you a little about the robbers that there are in some parts of China just now, and I also told you something about the Price that was paid for a Ransom there, to Redeem a man from death. We also spoke a little about the price that has been paid for your Ransom and for mine to Redeem us from eternal death. Today I want to tell you a little about one who provided the money to pay the Ransom to Redeem a dear little baby boy and his mother from some of these same robbers, —this person is called the REDEEMER.

Not many miles from where we live, is a prosperous market town called Daikow. In this town lived a woman of between forty-five and fifty years of age, called Slaam Shaan. Her son was a merchant in the town, and had a shop where he carried on a good business. His wife and three children lived with him here, though they were all natives of a fishing village, a few miles beyond the market town, situated in rather a secluded part of the sea coast. The country for many years had been more or less molested with robbers, but these parts had escaped, and some of the residents were very comfortably off,—amongst others, Slaam Shaan and her family.

About four or five months ago, robbers came to the district about Daikow. The son who kept the shop sent his mother, wife and family back to their native village, which was thought to be much safer than the town itself. He remained to care for his shop. It was not long before the robbers entered the town, robbing and burning. The son escaped from the shop, which was destroyed by the robbers, and started to make his way to the village where he had sent his family. On the way he was brutally murdered by the robbers.

From Daikow these robbers proceeded to the surrounding villages, and soon were at Slaam Shaan’s village, burning and robbing all before them. The people escaped into a high tower, hoping to be saved, but it was in vain. The tower was taken, some people were killed and the rest,—men, women and children were carried off by the robbers to be held for ransom,—all their possessions stolen, and the village left in ruins.

Slaam Shaan, her daughter-in-law and the children were amongst those carried off. After a short time Slaam Shaan and two of the children were released, so that they might go and arrange about the ransom to be paid for her daughter-in-law and the baby boy. A high price was asked for them, and though Slaam Shaan did all in her power to raise the money, pawning her fields, borrowing all she could, she was still unable to make up the amount. Her sister-in-law, an elderly widow, who had saved a little for her old age, parted with her last dollar, and indeed nothing was spared except the children, but even then the price could not be made up that the robbers asked for them. Just when everyone was in despair over the matter, the robbers suddenly greatly reduced the price bringing it within the means that Slaam Shaan had already raised. The poor mother and her little babe had got so thin, and looked so ill, that the robbers feared they would die, and they would lose everything, and so decided to reduce the price.

You can guess that it was not long before negotiations were made, but I think I will just let you read a little bit of the letter that told me the story, (for I was away when this. happened). The letter came a little while ago, and says, “Yesterday the ransom money was ready, and all afternoon Slaam Shaan sat at the door waiting for the summons to go to meet her daughter-in-law, who was coming down by boat from Haap Shaan with the ex-robbers. All afternoon she sat, first with a look of joyful expectancy, too happy to speak. Still no messenger, and she began to look anxious and disappointed; it grew dark, and she still sat there watching for the messenger. We could not but think of the Saviour, our blessed Lord, waiting and watching for souls, the ransom all ready. What must be the eagerness of His heart to receive such. It makes one feel, what is life worth, but to go after such souls for Christ’s sake, Who watches and waits for them.

At last the time came when the door must be shut, and still no messenger had arrived. You can imagine the sorrow of poor Slaam Shaan, as she had to turn sadly away still alone.

Have you ever thought, dear children, that soon, very soon, the Saviour Who now waits, so patiently, longing and pleading that you should come to Him, must rise up and shut to the door, and that many, many will be left outside, just because they would not come when He besought them to do so? What an awful thing it will be, if the blessed Saviour is compelled to sadly shut the door on you; YOU the one He has pleaded with so often; YOU the one He loves so well that He died for you; YOU the one with whom, even this moment He is pleading, “Turn ye, Turn ye, . . Why will ye die?” With Slaam Shaan there was the hope of another day before her, but when the door is shut for you, it means you are LOST, lost forever, and utterly without hope,—only the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in hell, for all eternity, How can you go on one day more without coming to that ONE Who is your RANSOM, as well as your REDEEMER; that One Who says, “I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

Well, I am thankful to be able to tell you that the next morning early, the messenger arrived, and Slaam Shaan and a friend started out, each with a basket of money, and in about two hours the happy party got back, Slaam Shaan and her daughter-in-law weeping for joy, and everyone else, sharing more or less. What a wonderful joy, the REDEEMER and the REDEEMED had to share! Who can tell which was the greater? I wonder if my reader has ever shared in that most wonderful of all joys, the joy of making glad the Saviour’s,—the REDEEMER’S, heart?

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10.

Messages of God’s Love 12/23/1923

The Winter

THE cold winter brings its sorrows, as well as its pleasures, and there are many of my young readers who have comfortable homes and warm, clothing, who rejoice to see the snow come and the hard frost, so they can have some fun with their sleds, just like the children in our picture.

It is very good to enjoy all that God has given to us, but may we all remember that sin, and the awful results, have come into this world, so there are many people suffering, and when the cold winter comes, there are many who do not have proper clothing and food, and are without comfortable homes, and, consequently, cannot enjoy these pleasures, but suffer and cry from being so cold.

Don’t you think we ought to consider those in need, and see what we can do to help them? Ah, that is what the Lord Jesus has done for us. He did not stay in the glory, and enjoy His wonderful bliss, and leave us down here to suffer in all our misery and sin, but He laid aside His glory and home above, and came into this world of sin, to suffer and die for us that we might never have to bear what we deserved; but that we may be brought to God, to be lifted from a scene of suffering and sin like this, and to share the glory with Himself. Do you believe He did all this for you—that He has so loved you If so, He would have you go and show that kindness to others, as well as receive it from His hand in connection with eternal things for yourself.

As the snow falls fast around us, and the frost bites our faces and fingers, may we then think of the sufferings of those around us, and seek to give relief, and above all take the opportunity to tell of Jesus and His love to poor sinners, and point them to Him as their Saviour.

“HE THAT HATH PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD; AND THAT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN WILL HE PAY HIM AGAIN.” Prov. 19:17.

Messages of God’s Love 12/30/1923

Bible Lessons

Numbers 10

Connected with the cloud that marked the presence of God among the people of Israel, of which we read in the latter part of the ninth chapter, we are told in the early part of the tenth chapter of two silver trumpets, which were to be used to call the people to meet at the door of the tabernacle; and for their journeyings; and for war.

Above the camp hung the cloud;— God was among His People; in their ears the trumpet sounded, so they learned the will of God and His care for them. Only the priests were to blow the trumpets (verse 8); they were a type of the believer who is in communion with God. By keeping near to God in our lives, we (Christians) may learn God’s mind, and tell it to others, too.

Verse 11 brings us to the moving of the camp from the foot of Mount Sinai. The cloud was taken up from, off the tabernacle,—then, and not till then, the people went on their journey. They went when God told them; where God directed them, and as God ordered them; for the order of going is exactly as given in chapter 2.

Moses, in verse 29, asks his brother-in-law, Hobab, to go with the camp, and in verses 31 and 32, presses him to go, because he would be a help to them. We are not told whether he did go with them or not, but it is good to notice, in the next verse, that God went with them,—went before them; indeed,-to search out a. resting place for them. It is better, a thousand times, to trust God, than any man.

Messages of God’s Love 12/30/1923

The Dying Boy

NOT long ago a missionary was speaking of the importance of texts of Scripture being impressed on the minds of the young, when he gave, as an illustration, an account of his own little boy.

This dear child was only six years of age, and though the father had reason to hope his child knew the way of salvation, and had received Christ as his Saviour, still, as the little one was dying, he thought he would speak to him about his sins, and the need of pardon. The child was very weak, so the father spoke as gently and quietly as possible to him. All the while the dear little boy was thus being spoken to, he lay calmly and quietly, without saying one ..word. Then, opening his eyes, and looking up, he said, “Father, I have no sins.” The poor father said these words went through him, and he inquired of himself,

“Am I mistaken? Is it possible that my child is still in the dark?” He then spoke to him thus:

“You have sinned against God, my child; and I have sinned too. The very best of us have sinned against God, and broken His commandments. The Bible tells us, ‘All have sinned, and come [or fall] short of the glory of God.”

The child again looked at his father, and said:

“Father, I have no sins. You have always told me that Jesus died that He might take away all our sins, and He has taken mine away. ‘He was wounded for our transgressions: He was bruised for our iniquities.’ And you know; father, in the first chapter of John, and the twenty-ninth verse, it says,

`Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ And again, in 1 Peter 2:24, ‘Who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ “ And several other texts he quoted.

This cheered the fond father, and well he could testify to the value of God’s Word.

Dear young friends, whoever you are, and wherever you may be, try to get one text of Scripture by heart every day. You do not know how soon you may need it, nor when it may be of use to comfort others with. David could say,

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/30/1923

Children of China No. 6 Ah Gun or "Almost"

THE last two stories that I have told you have been about the REDEEMER and what HE paid to REDEEM you, and today I want to tell you a story about a dear little boy who was ALMOST lost. If he had not had a SAVIOUR, he would have been lost, and I am afraid I would never have had the heart to tell you the story at all.

Two of my special friends in China are Ah Gun and Ah Lin. Ah Gun is a very fine little boy of four, (I am sorry to say, a little bit spoilt), and Ah Lin is his sister of six. I was going to say his big sister, but I think that Ah Gun is quite as big or bigger than Ah Lin. But Ah Lin is one of the finest little girls that I have ever met. I think that she is a real true Christian, and she is the best little mother that you ever saw. She has a wee baby brother, and she carries him about everywhere, tied on to her back with a square of pretty red cloth, with big strings from the corners, over her shoulders and under her arms. I think that she must get very tired, but she never says so.

Ah Lin and Ah Gun love to come over and visit me. They don’t live very far away, and Ah Lin takes Ah Gun’s hand to keep him quite safe, and they feel pretty sure there will be a bit of bread and jam waiting for them, and perhaps an orange. They don’t have any bread, or any jam in their house to eat, but, rice, —rice for breakfast, and rice for supper, —they don’t have any dinner,—and perhaps a little cabbage with it, or some spinach, or maybe a little fish. They don’t eat with a spoon or a knife and fork, like you do, but they use two long thin sticks, both in one hand between their fingers, these are called chop sticks, and they don’t have any plate like you, either, but only a little bowl, and they can eat so fast, you would be puzzled to know how they manage at all.

Ah Gun’s father is not rich, your Daddy would think he was very poor if he only had as much money as Mr. Taam has each month, and the little family have to go without lots. of things, you or I would think we must have, but Mr. Taam is a very happy man. A few years ago he was a very sad and unhappy man, he used to work in a gambling shop, and he had such a very sad life, but two or three years ago he believed in the Lord Jesus, and now all his sorrow has been turned into joy. I need hardly say that he doesn’t work in the gambling shop any more, but now he goes all over the country, giving away tracts, selling gospels, and books, and telling people about the Lord Jesus, Who has -loved him and washed him from his sins. Often he has to walk many weary miles with a heavy bag of books; often he has to go into dangerous places, but he is so, brave, and works so hard,—I love him very dearly.

Well, you will want to hear the story about little Ah Gun. One day when his father was away in the country giving away tracts, and selling books, his mother had to go out for a little while and leave the children alone. As she was walking home, quite near the big city gate, she met a soldier, (only a few weeks before he had been a robber, and I am afraid that his heart was not changed), and what else do you think she saw? She saw her own dear little boy, Ah Gun, and the big soldier was carrying him off. He was hurrying away outside the big gate with him, and meant to sell him. A fine boy like Ah Gun would bring perhaps $500.00. You can guess how his mother felt, and she went right up to the big man, and saved her little boy, rescued him, and brought him safely home. How glad Mrs. Taam must have been that she had come along just at that moment, for another minute, and she would have missed her child. He was almost lost, but not quite. He was saved just in time.

I would not like to be saved just in time, would you? It is better than being lost, but I would be afraid if I left it so long, I might not be saved at all, for you know that we have an enemy, a worse one than Ah Gun’s, who is going about trying to steal little children, not their bodies only, but body and soul, and make them live in that awful lake of fire with him forever. Yes, children, God tells us that Satan is a murderer from the beginning, and he wants your life. The Scripture tells us he goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and he would gladly devour you. But, 0! what good news, there is a Saviour, One who loves us even more than our mother does; One who is seeking to save these dear little ones, seeking to save you, dear child, and so willing to save you now.

Ah Gun was so nearly lost; he was saved only just in time.

I do hope that you may not wait to be saved “just in time”, because then I fear you will be too late, and never be saved at all, but O! dear children come NOW, when Jesus is calling you. He says, “NOW is the accepted time,” so you need have no fear, you need not wait one moment longer, but just right NOW come to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to save you from that enemy of yours, and I am sure that He will. But remember, HIS time is NOW, right NOW; not tomorrow, or next Sunday, or when you are older, but today, right NOW!

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/30/1923

The Saviour Is Coming

The Saviour is coming,

The moment is near;

The bright Star of Morning

Will quickly appear.

Then will His beloved ones

With swiftness arise,

And meet their blest Saviour,

With joy, in the skies.

With Him they together

To heaven will go,

Where rivers of pleasure

And peace ever flow;

They’ll shine in the likeness

Of Him whom they love,

And dwell in the brightness

Of glory above.

Who now trust the Saviour,

The sent One of God,

Are cleansed and forgiven

Through His precious blood;

And when all in heaven

To praise Him shall throng,

Each one, who here loved Him,

Will join in the song.

Messages of God’s Love 12/30/1923

Messages of God's Love: 1923

Table of Contents

Bible Questions for January

The New Year

Bible Lessons

Lovest Thou Me?

The First Lie

Come, Now!

The Guarded House

Bible Lessons

Escape for Thy Life

I'm a Sinner

A Saviour for the Perishing

Bible Lessons

A Happy Change

An Answered Prayer

Be At Rest

Baby's Bath

Bible Lessons

The Names of Three Places

The Lost Monkey

Are Your Names Written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

O Why, Dear Children?

Bible Questions for February

Bible Lessons

My Mother's Bible

JesusSays, "I am The Way"

Valuable Instruction

The Cricket

Bible Lessons

The Cabled Messages

Are You Ready?

Twas Love, Pure Love!

The Wood Gatherers: or a Lesson from the Trees

O, Won't You Be a Christian?

Bible Lessons

The Little Italian Christian

A School Clock and Its Lessons A Gospel Address to Young People

JesusDied Upon the Tree

Chased by Wolves

Bible Lessons

How Is It With You?

A Boy Among The Bears

Little Nellie

Search the Scriptures

Bible Questions for March

Bible Lessons

What Is Believing?

Her Precious Bible

The Book of Books

The Last Voyage

Bible Lessons

A Look for Salvation

Lessons in a Hospital

Daddy! Daddy! My Daddy!

The Crown of Glory

The Gleaners

Two Transgressors

Bible Lessons

Are You Forgiven?

Whiter Than Snow

God's Care for Little Children

Do You Love Jesus?

JesusCalls to You

Return of the Fishing Fleet

Bible Lessons

Behold, Now is the Accepted Time

The Love of a Mother

Bible Questions for April

Bible Lessons

Deliverance from the Paw of the Lion

Too Late

Children Dear Have Precious Souls

At Play

Bible Lessons

The Bible Tests You

Every Little Tangle

The Little Cup and the Gold Locket

Jesus Is the Children's Friend

Crowned Prince Frederick Entering Jerusalem