58 "Wait on thy God continually" (HOSEA XII. 6). finally settled. It seemed to me a novel plan, and not at all a bad one. Possibly, now and then, a visitor might not be aware of the large expenditure he was incurring, and so might reduce it in time before the season for payment arrived. may But there may be an excellent lesson learned from this custom, which be useful for all. Let us think of the debt which, day by day, men incur by their sins and shortcomings. As we retire to rest, it were well for each one quietly to ponder the doings of the day. What have I done since I left my room this morning? What duties have I fulfilled, and what have I neglected? What temptations have crossed my path, and how have I resisted them? What words have I this day spoken? Have they been words of truth, of kindness, or have they been tainted by malice, deceit, or any other evil? What has been my temper in my home or elsewhere? Has it been and keep him henceforth watchful as to his course in life. more But there is a solemn lesson for the unsaved. It It may be, you never think of your sins, or care to seek pardon through Christ. The whole debt of a lifetime lies at your door. Oh, think of it! Who shall count the wrong thoughts, and words, and actions, of a single day! Then remember the days, and weeks, and years you have lived, and each one bears its witness against you. Remember also, that one single sin merits death and condemnation, for "The wages of sin is death." Whoso shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all." Will you not think of your present condition in God's sight? Will you not acknowledge your sin, and come humbly to the Saviour? How shall you stand before the great white throne, when the books will be opened, and the quick and dead be judged for all their sins? Therefore, let the great matter of salvation be settled now, before it is too late. Seek pardon through the finished work of Christ. kept in check by the thought of God's "Return, and come to God, George Everard, M.A., Wolver R "I am with you, saith the Lord" (HAGGAI I. 13). GOD IN ALL THINGS. In earth, in ocean, sky, and air, Seen, felt, or understood, The source and stream of good! JAMES MONTGOMERY. Do You Love Your Bible? EADER, love of the Word of God is one great mark of a true Christian. Give me leave to ask whether you know anything of this love? Is the Bible sweet and refreshing to your soul? Do you love the Bible? There never was a man or woman converted, from one end of the world to the other, who did not love the revealed will of God. Just as a child born into the world desires naturally the milk provided for its nourishment, so does a soul born again desire the sincere milk of the Word. This is a common mark of all the children of God -they "delight in the law of the Lord." How is it with you? 59 him than the Bible I cannot think he is a converted man. Tell me what the Bible is to a man, and I will generally tell you what he is. This is the pulse to try, this is the barometer to look at, if we would know the state of the heart. I have no notion of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a man, and not giving clear evidence of His presence. And I believe it to be a signal evidence of the Spirit's presence when the Word is really precious to a man's soul. When there is no appetite for the truths of Scripture, the soul cannot be in a state of health. There is some serious disease. Reader, what is the Bible to you? Is it your counsellor, your friend? Is it your rule of faith and practice? Is it your measure of truth and error, of right and It is given for wrong? It ought to be so. this purpose. If it is not, do you really To have our hearts weaned from the world is the way really to enjoy the world. WE take our little child in our arms out of the bright gas-lighted parlour to carry it to bed. The hall is dark, and almost unconsciously the tiny arms tighten, the head nestles closer in its trust, because we have come away from the light. So God, for the sake of having us cling to Him more closely, sometimes carries us into the dark. Perhaps it is a loss of property, or the coldness of those who have been valued friends. Perchance we have been misborn again. He may be zealous about forms judged, or harshly criticised, or unappreand ceremonies. He may be diligent in ciated. diligent in ciated. God is carrying us into the dark. attending sacraments and daily services. Do we cling closer to Him, and trust Him But if these things are more precious to more fully? Show me a person who despises Bible reading, or thinks little of Bible preaching, and I hold it to be a certain fact he is not 60 "Lord, all my desire is before Thee" (PSALM XXXVIII. 9). Am I Nearer Home To-Night? INKS the sun and fades the light, And another day is past, Let me make this solemn quest Since the dawning of the day, Sped me on my Homeward way? Am I nearer Home to-night? Have I, since the opening morn, Has my strength on God been stayed? Has my vision clearer grown Have I learned to feel how near And the Judge upon His throne Shall my destiny make known? Tell me, oh! my anxious soul,- -The Common People. Be Humble. F thou art a vessel of gold, and thy brother but of wood, be not highminded. It is God that maketh thee to differ. The more bounty God shows, the more humility He requires. Those mines that are richest are deepest; those stars that are highest are smallest; the goodliest buildings have the lowest foundations. The more God honoureth men, the more they should humble themselves; the more fruit, the lower the branches bend on which it grows. THE disciple of Jesus moves through this world always a stranger, nowhere tolerated, nowhere at home; and even should he settle anywhere, it is uncertain how long the world and his foes would allow him to remain. In such a case comfort comes from Christ.-Gossner. WOE to the world if it forgets Christ! Woe to the nation if it neglects thought and religion! Our halls of language and our halls of science will be hollow, and echo the chatterings of vanity, and will be inscribed, by the finger of God, with the sentence, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN,” unless Christ sits in the seat of the teacher and warms the heart of the people. There is no salvation to man or nation out of Christ. THE RIGHT WAY OF GIVING. A LETTER TO THE YOUNG, by the late PETER DRUMMOND. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, M ANY such as you spend much money on trifles, vain dress, useless ornaments, tobacco, and such like, while they give little or nothing to the Lord's cause. Is this right? Now, we want you to get into the habit of giving a portion of the money you may have from time to time, to help forward Christ's kingdom both at home and abroad. The silver and the gold are the Lord's ; and you are but His stewards or managers, and are answerable to Him at the great day. The religious objects requiring your pecuniary aid are numerous, and you can be at no loss to ascertain in what way to give some of your pennies, shillings, 62 "The Lord God will help me" (ISAIAH L. 7). or pounds. With a view to help to draw your attention to this most important duty, allow me to give you the following anecdote, telling how to give : At a missionary meeting, held among the negroes in the West Indies, these three resolutions were agreed upon, namely: 1st, We will all give something. 2nd, We will all give as God has enabled us. 3rd, We will all give willingly. As soon as the meeting was over, a leading negro took his seat at the table, with pen and ink, to put down what each came to give. Many came forward and gave, some more and some less. Amongst those that came was a rich old negro, almost as rich as all the others put together, and threw down upon the table a small silver coin. "Take dat back again," said the negro that received the money, "dat may be according to de first resolution, but it not according to de second." The rich old man accordingly took it up, and hobbled back to his seat again in a great rage. One after another came forward, and as almost all gave more than himself, he was fairly ashamed of himself, and again threw down a piece of money on the table, saying, "Dare! take dat!" It was a valuable piece of gold; but it was given so ill-temperedly, that the negro answered again, "No dat won't do yet! It may be according to de first and second resolutions, but it not according to de last;" and he was obliged to take up his coin again. Still angry at himself and all the rest, he sat a long time, till nearly all were gone, and then came up to the table, and with a smile on his face, and very willingly, gave a large sum to the treasurer. "Very well," said the negro, "dat will do; dat according to all de resolutions." Now, my young friends, seek to profit by the above story, and not allow the poor negro to outstrip you in doing good. You must all give something-as God has enabled you-and willingly too; but do not rest your claim to the favour of God, or to Heaven, on this, or on any good works whatever. Nothing short. of an interest in Christ will do. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus iii. 5).-Yours affectionately, PETER DRUMMOND. You Don't Believe there is a Hell! VERY likely not! If you did you would soon cease from Sabbath-breaking and every known sin. If you believed that "the wages of sin is death," and that for sin in this life men would be punished for ever in hell, you would not venture to live in sin. Many as brave as you have disbelieved it; but how does it happen that upon a death-bed the sinner shrinks from death? If there is no hereafter, what does he shrink from? If there is no future punishment, what is he afraid of? If he has no angry God to meet, why does he dread to die? It is far easier to call this "Trash!" and destroy this paper, than it is to settle these questions in your own breast. God's Word declares—“THE WICKED SHALL BE TURNED INTO HELL;" but you don't believe it. Your own conscience tells you that it is, after all, possible that it may be true; and also that, while the Bible has outlived every infidel opponent, and every scoffer who has denied its truths, it still declares that a Just and Holy God "will render to every man according to his works." The righteous shall inherit life, but "the wicked shall be driven away in his wickedness." Are you quite sure that on a death-bed you will believe there is no hell? "Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die." 'Knowing, therefore, the terrors of the Whosoever reLord, we persuade men." penteth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy. A CHRISTIAN believes things which his reason cannot comprehend. |