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diff --git a/old/13294.txt b/old/13294.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..464fca8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13294.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3793 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for Young +Christians, by Charles Ebert Orr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for Young Christians + +Author: Charles Ebert Orr + +Release Date: August 26, 2004 [EBook #13294] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOOD FOR THE LAMBS *** + + + + +Produced by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, Dave Macfarlane +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +FOOD FOR THE LAMBS; + +OR, + +HELPS FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS. + + +BY CHAS. E. ORR, + +Author of "Christian Conduct," "The Gospel Day," etc. + + * * * * * + +"Feed my lambs."--_Bible_. + + * * * * * + +Reprinted 1980 + + +PREFACE. + +There is much more I should like to write, but I do not think a large +book is accepted by the general reader as readily as a smaller one. So +lest this grows to too great a size, I have concluded to close it with +what I now have written. The selections I have made from other writers +are "Spiritual Declension," "Seek First the Kingdom of God," "Stirring +the Eagle's Nest," "The Little Foxes," "On Dress," "Victory," and the +poems "The Solitary Way," "Sometime," and the closing. + +I pray that the sayings of this little volume will animate many a soul +to a higher, nobler, holier life. Although it is written to young +Christians, it may do some good to older saints. I hope it will. I +commit it to the public with no other motive than to do good. + +CHAS. E. ORR. + +Federalsburg, Md., Sept. 15, 1904. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Introduction + +Mortality + +Feeding the Lambs + +Who Are Christ's Lambs + +Food for the Lambs + +On Fruit Bearing + +A Gazing-Stock + +The Will + +God Our Guide + + _The Word Our Guide_ + + _The Spirit's Impressions_ + + _God's Providences_ + +Fragrance + +Seek First the Kingdom + +Prayer + +Meditation + +Reverie (Poem) + +A Theater + +Rest of the Soul + +Happiness of Life (Poem) + +The Hidden Life + +Consciousness of God's Presence + +Reflection + +Becoming + +Love of Home + +Victory + +The First Love + +The Little Foxes + +Spiritual Declension + +Diligence + +Lowliness + +On Dress + +The Elixir of Life + +Rules for Every-Day Life + +A Holy Life + +A Solitary Way (Poem) + +Stirring the Eagle's Nest + +Some Things You Should Not Do + +Purity + +Means for Growth + +Lay Hold of Eternal Life + +Crucifixion of Self + +Love Not the World + +Have a Care (Poem) + +Affinities + +The Guardian Angel + +Fledging the Wings + +Some Time (Poem) + +The Precious Ointment + +The Tree of Life + +Eternity + +Nearer to Thee (Poem) + +Conclusion + +Closing Exhortation + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Out upon the sea of human life sails many a bark. But, alas! how few are +sailing tranquil waters. Ascend with me to some solitary height and let +us take a view of the innumerable human crafts as they sail out upon +life's broad ocean. Many are being tossed to and fro upon the angry +billows. Hope is almost gone. As they look forward into the distance all +is dark and uncertain. In the early days of their voyage all was +peaceful. They looked out over the broad expanse and saw only calm, +contented waters, and hope beamed bright. They fancied themselves +anchoring, in a ripe old age, in a beautiful haven of rest somewhere +behind the setting sun. But they sailed only in the strength of human +art. Storms unexpected arose, and winds adverse beat upon them. + +The high, wild, angry billows threaten their destruction, and they +despair of ever entering their fancied golden port. Above the blackness +of the raging storm there is extended a delivering hand, but they see it +not. Their eyes are not upward; they are upon the turbulent waves. Oh, +how sad! How pellucid would have been the waters and how serene in glory +their voyage, if they had embarked in the strength of Him who at their +request would have said to the angry waves, "Peace, be still," and all +would have been at rest. + +Yonder in the distance we see gay, glittering crafts sailing about in a +state of unrest. Some are sailing out upon the sea of worldly pleasure +in search of happiness. See them rush wildly about. Yonder they seem to +see bright, golden waters and hope that true pleasures are to be found +there. But, alas! just beneath the surface all is dark and murky and +bitter. Some are sailing out upon the highways of worldly fame and +honor, others upon the wild stream of worldly riches, all searching for +rest and finding none. See the surging, tossing mass of human barks and +hear their wail of disappointment as the sweet, golden waters turn to +bitter wormwood and gall. The rainbow-colored bubbles, from their +hoped-for fountain of joy, burst upon the air, leaving them empty-handed +and restless-hearted. Above the wild din of their clamor speaks a soft, +tender voice, saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are +heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." But their ears are not turned to +catch sounds from above; they hear only the siren song of an enchanting +goddess--the world. + +Down toward the setting sun we see many shattered vessels going down in +a wild vortex. The waters are closing over them. They found that human +strength was inadequate to life's voyage. They, having weathered many a +storm, hoped to gain the peaceful harbor. But, alas! they are overcome +at last, and, lamenting the day they ever set sail, they go down without +hope. From the ethereal heights of inspiration I hear a chiding voice +saying, "O had ye hearkened unto me, then had your peace been as a +river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea." + +You, my dear young Christian reader, have just embarked upon life's +untried ocean. You have laid hold upon One who is mighty to save and +strong to deliver. Underneath you are the everlasting arms. Push out, +then, boldly into the broad expanse, fearing nothing. You can escape the +perils of the deep, only by making God your refuge. Anchor your faith in +him and see to it that your faith never breaks anchor. The billows may +threaten, the storms may rage; but by faith you can beat them back, and +sail out on unruffled seas. God pity the one who attempts life's voyage +without the aid, cheer, and comfort that Heaven gives. + +Make the Word of God your compass, and obedience the rudder that steers +your little bark in all the ways God's commandments point you; and make +faith the mighty cable, and you will be towed safely past the dangerous +rocks and reefs and threatening billows into the peaceful haven of +eternal rest. + +Across the deep and wide unknown + The bark of life sails on: +Who thinks to trust to human art + Shall perish mid the storm. + +The other shore far distant lies, + Wild billows intervene, +And dangers little known arise + To try the strength of men. + +Man lays his purpose and his plan, + He fixes sail to-day; +But winds adverse sweep o'er the main + And turn him from his way. + +Man's wisdom can not know the end, + Nor future courses see: +Whoever sails in human strength + Sails mid uncertainty. + +Man has a strong inveterate foe, + So subtle in his art; +He tries the strength of human craft + And finds the weakest part. + +By human strength man can not sail + O'er ocean's troubled breast: +God's hand alone can e'er prevail + And bring him into rest. + + + + +MORTALITY. + + +In plant, animal, and spiritual life mortality is greatest in infancy. +The plant in the first few days of its existence is very tender and +delicate. It will succumb to the winds if they be slightly too cool, or +to the sun's rays if they be too warm. The smallest insect feeding upon +one of its tiny roots will cause it to die. After it has formed more +roots and they have gone deeper into the earth and the plant becomes +stronger and coarser it is far less liable to destruction. The chilly +winds may blow or the sun's rays may pour upon it; it now has the power +of resistance, and so lives on. + +The same is true of animal life. Mortality is far greatest among +children in the first few hours of life, and lessens as they grow older. +Only a slight current of cold air upon the newly born infant is likely +to cause its death. The new life is not yet able to resist opposing +elements, so it must be carefully guarded. As it grows stronger and +becomes capable of adapting itself to the elements of the outside world +it can with comparative safety be brought into contact with them. + +What is true in the plant and the animal world is also true in the +spiritual world. You who have but recently been born of the Spirit are +not as able to resist the cold winds of persecution or the heat of fiery +trials as those who have been deepening and widening in the grace of +God. Guard carefully the new-born life of Christ in your soul. Seek an +establishing grace in sanctification, and you will be strong in the Lord +and fully able to cope with the dark powers of sin, Satan, and the +world, and triumph over all in Jesus' name. In the days of your infancy +we offer you our help in this little volume, and assure you a frequent +remembrance in fervent prayer. + + + + +FEEDING THE LAMBS. + + +Some years ago when attending to the work to which the Lord had called +me in one of the sunny Southern States it was my happy privilege to +enjoy for a few days the kind hospitality of a generous Christian +farmer. One balmy afternoon while walking over the pleasant fields of +his large farm, with my heart in sweet communion with God, I came upon +the most beautiful flock of sheep it had ever been my privilege to +behold. They were quietly grazing in a rich green pasture, near by which +silently flowed a deep, broad river. To me it was a fair reminder of the +"still waters" the Good Shepherd gave promise to lead his sheep beside, +and the "green pastures" he promised to make them to "lie down in." + +From beholding this beautiful fleecy flock I learned a lesson which I +hope never to forget. The principal cause of their well-developed frame +and handsome appearance was, they were _well cared for when they were +lambs_. Since then I have often remembered, and felt the import of, the +command the Savior so tenderly gave his shepherds--"Feed my lambs." Over +and over has it in all its strength and beauty been breathed anew by the +Spirit in my soul, animating me to greater assiduity in caring for the +precious lambs of his fold. And, thus, I shall prove my love to him by +doing all I can in caring for his lambs. + +Lambs need something more than feed; they must be sheltered from the +cold wind and cruel storm. Feed them ever so well, but if you expose +them to the wintry storm, they will die. In John 21:15 the word _feed_ +is translated from the same Greek term as is the word _feed_ in the 17th +verse; but in the 16th verse the word _feed_ is translated from an +entirely different Greek term. In this verse the Greek does not mean +simply to feed, but to protect, to shelter, to tend. The shepherd's duty +is not only to feed the lambs, but also to guard them from the wolves +that are seeking to devour them. + + + + +WHO ARE CHRIST'S LAMBS. + + +It is those who are young in Christian experience whom the Savior calls +lambs. The shepherds that are to feed them are his ministers. A lamb is +one of the most meek, tender, and tractable of all the young animals, +and very fittingly represents one who has received the meek and tender +spirit of Christ. Christianity in its nature is meek and mild. It +converts the wolf into a lamb and the leopard into a kid. Young +Christians are, therefore, beautifully spoken of as lambs, whose nature +is mild and gentle. Christ's lambs are those who have received into +their hearts his lamb-like spirit. They are those whose hearts and souls +have been touched and thrilled with the mildness and tenderness of +divine life; those in whom the "hidden man of the heart" is robed in +righteousness and adorned with "a meek and quiet spirit," which is +precious before God. + +You might robe a wolf with a lamb's skin, but it would still be a wolf. +A person may profess to be a Christian: but unless he has a change of +heart and affection; unless he has been made meek and gentle by the +Spirit of the Lord coming into his heart, he is only a wolf, after all, +and not of the Savior's fold. Jesus speaks of some who put on "sheep's +clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." By "wolves" he means +men and women with wicked hearts. They profess to be Christians; but in +their hearts are envy, pride, hatred, jealousy, love of self, and love +of the world. They may appear quite lamb-like in public life, but in +their hearts no change has been wrought by the transforming power of +God's grace. To be "Jesus' little lamb" is not only to have a +profession of Christianity, but to have the heart cleansed by the blood +of Jesus from envy, pride, malice, love of the world, etc., and filled +with meekness, gentleness, and love. + +A good old prophet in olden time, looking forward to when Jesus should +come to save people from their sins and speak peace to troubled hearts, +said, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the +lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." When you were +wandering in the deserts and mountains of sin, Jesus, the true shepherd, +came seeking for you, and now that you have given yourself to his loving +care, always confide in him and yield to his guidance. Ever keep your +hand in his and follow where he leads, and your life will be full of joy +and terminate at last where there will be pleasures forevermore. + + + + +FOOD FOR THE LAMBS. + + +Of course, it is very important to know what foods are most conducive to +the growth of lambs. The apostle to whom Jesus gave the command "Feed my +lambs" has said to those lambs, "As new-born babes desire the sincere +milk of the Word that they may grow thereby." 1 Pet. 2:2. Milk is the +aliment which the nature of the newly born infant demands. The infant +instinctively receives it with a readiness. It is the natural and most +proper food. It is the food above all others for the sustaining of life +and the promotion of growth. So the glorious doctrines of the gospel are +the natural and most proper food for the Christian. The newly created +life in the regenerated soul instinctively turns to the word of God for +nourishment. It is the natural food for the new life. Nothing else can +be substituted for it and growth go on unhindered. Without this food the +Christian will die. "Man shall not live by bread alone," says the Great +Shepherd, "but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." + +[Illustration: "He shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them +in his bosom."] + +The Christian has a twofold life: he has both physical life and +spiritual life. As bread sustains physical life, so the word of God +sustains spiritual life. I beseech you most earnestly, my dear young +Christian reader, to ever remember that you can no more live a spiritual +life independently of the word of God than you can live a physical +life independently of bread. If growth in grace is worth anything to +you, and eternal blessedness in the sweet fields of heaven of any value, +keep this ever in mind and act accordingly. As with the physical being, +so it is with the spiritual. There must be appetite, eating, digestion, +and assimilation, that the word of God may impart life. + +Remember, it is the sincere milk of the Word that you need that you may +grow thereby. Sincere is from the Latin _sincerus_, which is derived +from _sine_, meaning without, and _cera_, meaning wax; honey separated +from the wax. Milk to which has been added chalked water may yet have +much the appearance of milk, but it has lost its nourishment. So the +word of God with the slightest adulteration will not meet the demands +for spiritual growth. The word of God, without modification or +exaggeration, without taking from or adding to, is the only wholesome +food for your soul, and may you "eat in plenty" and "grow up as calves +of the stall." + + + + +ON FRUIT BEARING. + + +The following beautiful language is found in Isa. 51:3: "For the Lord +shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will +make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the +Lord; joy and gladness shall he found therein, thanksgiving, and the +voice of melody." Zion is a metaphor signifying the church of God. It +is, therefore, the church which the Lord will comfort and whose +wilderness will be made an Eden. But what is the church of God? This is +a very important question; one which all people should fully understand, +and one which is very easily answered. You will learn at once by reading +Eph. 1:22,23 and Col. 1:18,24 that the church is the body of Christ, +and in 1 Cor. 12:27 we are plainly told that Christians are the body of +Christ; they are, therefore, the church of God. Dear reader, if you are +a Christian, you have been born of the Spirit; you have passed from +death unto life; you have been translated from the kingdom of darkness +into the kingdom of light; you have been created anew; you are, +therefore, a member of the body of Christ, and all such members make up +the church of God. + +The children of Israel were the church of God in the old dispensation, +and he dwelt in a tabernacle or temple they built for him. In this more +glorious gospel dispensation those who have been born of the Spirit and +made pure in heart are the church of God. In this Holy-Spirit +dispensation we do not build temples for the Lord to dwell in; for "know +ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God +dwelleth in you?" 1 Cor. 3:16. "What? know ye not that your body is the +temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye +are not your own?" 1 Cor. 6:19. In this blessed gospel day Christians +are the "habitation of God through the Spirit." If you are a Christian, +God dwells in your heart; your body is his glorious temple. This is a +most stupendous thought, but it is true. In your soul is the sweet +heavenly manna, the budding rod, and the ark of the covenant +overshadowed by the cherubim of glory. + +When God created man He placed him in a garden which He had planted +eastward in Eden. In this garden God made to grow every tree that was +pleasant to the sight and good for food; also, the tree of life and the +tree of knowledge of good and evil were in this garden, and a river to +water it. It is said that God "walked in the garden in the cool of the +day." That was in the day of literal things. We are now in the day of +spiritual things, when our bodies have become the temple of God through +the Spirit, and our hearts his lovely garden. It is in this garden he +dwells; it is there he walks. See 2 Cor. 6:16. When the south winds blow +and the spices flow out he comes into his garden to eat his pleasant +fruits; he gathers the myrrh and the spices, he eats honey and drinks +wine and milk. See Cant. 4:16 and 5:1. This is sweet language, and is +expressive of the purity of the Christian heart, where God dwells, and +where he walks in the gentleness of his Spirit, delighting himself in +the tender Christian graces that are budding and blooming all along the +peaceful avenues of the soul. Like as the gentle south wind blows upon +the flowers of the garden and scatters the fragrance; so the Spirit of +God fans the heavenly graces implanted in the heart, and a fragrance +flows out of the Christian life, awaking admiration in the minds of all +who come into its presence. + +The trees that were pleasant to the sight and good for food in the +literal garden of Eden symbolize the graces of the regenerated heart, +which are lovely to behold, which feed the souls of those who look upon +your noble Christian walk, and which become a "tree of life" to the +desert hearts of men. In the garden of the Lord blooms the rose of +Sharon and the lily-of-the-valley. These are beautiful emblems of the +Christ-life in the Christian soul. The river which flowed through Eden's +literal garden represents the deep, broad river of peace which flows in +the heart which has tasted of redeeming love. + +A young heart filled with the mild, meek spirit of Christ, and a young +life laden in rich profusion with kind words, generous deeds, and +gentle, modest ways, is the most beautiful object that ever graced this +mundane sphere. Angels look down and marvel, and throughout all heaven +is awakened songs of joy and praise. It is your privilege to be filled +with Jesus now; to be clothed in white and walk in purity. It is also +your privilege as you journey down life's way to grow more kindly; to be +more and more like Jesus; for the sweet graces of heaven to bloom more +beautifully in your heart and life; and the beauty of your young +Christian life to give way to more beauteous ripened age. If you attend +to all Christian duties and live in prayer and devotion to God, your +soul will become more and more weighted down with the riches of heaven, +and, looking out through the casement, your soul will hail with joy the +convoy that has come to bear it to its home of eternal rest. + +The Savior in speaking of himself said, "I am the vine," and in speaking +of Christians he said, "Ye are the branches," and speaking of God he +said, "My Father is the husbandman." This very clearly and strikingly +illustrates the duty of a Christian, and the position he occupies. +Christians sustain the same relation to Christ that the branches do to +the vine. As the branch receives life through the vine and bears fruit, +so the Christian receives life through Christ and bears fruit. The +object of fruit bearing is the glory of God. You should be desirous of +bearing as great an abundance of fruit as possible, and do all you can +to increase your fruitfulness, since "herein is God glorified, that you +bear much fruit." + +The apostle Paul in speaking of Christians said, "Ye are God's +husbandry," 1 Cor. 3:9. If you will examine the Greek text you will +find that a more proper rendering would be, "Ye are God's field." Greek +scholars tell us that the Greet term from which husbandry is translated +in our common version signifies a cultivated field. It answers to the +Hebrew word _sadeh_, which means a field sown and under cultivation. +From this you will be enabled to yet more fully understand the true +position you occupy under God. You are his fertile field, where he has +under cultivation the precious fruits of the kingdom of heaven. The +Husbandman has rooted up every plant that he has not planted, and sown +there the seeds of righteousness. + +Not only are your hearts the "garden of the Lord" where blooms the +"rose of Sharon" and the "lily-of-the-valley" in all the sweetness of +their fragrance and beauty, but they are also the Lord's fertile field, +where the amiable Christian graces are to bud, bloom, and bear fruit. +Your duty as a Christian is to bear fruit for God, that he may be +glorified. Every fruit-bearing branch, therefore, he purges, that it may +bring forth more fruit. The successful farmer carefully removes all the +foreign growth out of his field, and then cultivates his plants, that he +may reap the greatest possible harvest. + +Delicious fruits are brought from the tropical clime to this land of +ours, and they awaken in our hearts an admiration for that delightsome +country. We long to travel through those sunny lands. You are God's +fertile field. In your life has been placed the beautiful fruits of the +heavenly land. As this world looks upon your life and beholds these +fruits admiration will be awakened in their hearts for the fruitful +fields of heaven. They will be influenced by your life to seek the +kingdom of God and its riches, that they may taste of its fruits now and +forever. If you will walk with God and live devoted to him, those +precious fruits of the Spirit will become more plentiful and beautiful +in your life as you journey down the way, making you a greater blessing +to the hearts of others. To this end you must live. + + + + +A GAZING-STOCK. + + +In Heb. 10:33 it is said that Christians are a gazing-stock. The world +is looking upon your life. You have taken upon you the profession of +Christianity. If you live a pure and holy life, God will be honored; +others gazing at you will see that Christ lives in you, and many will +give to God the glory. You must be willing to be gazed at by the world. +You must let your light shine. + +Your holy life will be a savor of life or a savor of death unto those +before whom you live. So do not think you are living to no purpose. Some +one is looking on every day, and if you will walk uprightly, it will +tell for God. What a privilege you have of living a life that God will +use to the salvation of some and to the condemnation of others! You must +be interested in living a pure, clean life, and live your very best each +day, so that you will not be ashamed before God to be a gazing-stock for +the world. + + + + +THE WILL. + + +Among the different faculties which God gave to man in his creation is +one called the _will_. It is because you have this faculty that you +become a responsible being. Before the first man and woman in the garden +of Eden God placed two laws--one was the law of obedience, and the +other, the law of disobedience. These were subject to their choice. They +could will to obey God and live forever, or will to disobey and die. +Before all men are placed two ways--one is called the way of life, and +the other, the way of death. These are subject to their choice. +Therefore, the will is called that faculty of the soul by which we +choose or refuse things. + +The will is capable of cultivation. By the exercise of your will you can +refuse to do wrong things, and thus strengthen your will-power. Men have +attained extraordinary heights of morality by the exercise of the will +in right-doing and refusing to do wrong. This is noble and beautiful, +but there is something more noble still and more beautiful. The moral +man wills to do right because it is right, while the Christian wills to +do right because it is the will of God and pleases him. + +Although man can not by the exercise of his will-power in right-doing +evolve into a Christian, the will plays an important part in the +formation of Christian character. It is true, the will is most usually +led by the affections of the heart; therefore the writer of Proverbs +said, "Out of the heart are the issues of life." The heart must, +however, get consent of the will before its desires are fulfilled. Here +is a truth of vast importance to the Christian. + +Many people's wills have become so in bondage to the impure affections +and desires of their depraved hearts that they have no will to do right +and shun the wrong. The desires of the heart sway their scepter of power +over the will, and it acts to the granting the heart its wishes. This is +a sad picture. A human being created to be free, but now a wretched +slave. When he wills to do good evil is present with him; the good he +would do, he does not do; and the evil he would not do, that is what he +does. O miserable man! A person who has rejected the mercy of God and +has yielded to the inclinations of an unholy heart until he has no +power to accept the offers of mercy and shun the ways of sin, is an +object of the greatest pity. To him there is no hope of escaping the +damnation of hell. + +There is a time in the life of every rational young man and woman when +they can accept the blessed offers of salvation which God extends +through his Son, if they will. God gives the Holy Spirit to operate upon +the depraved heart, making it to feel something of the realities of a +Savior's love and goodness, and something of the awfulness of sin. The +Holy Spirit does not take hold upon the will and compel it to serve God, +or force it into right action. He just takes hold upon the heart, +suppressing its love for sin, and awakening desires for a better life, +thus removing the unrighteous scepter the heart swayed over the will, +giving the will freedom and power to accept or reject the mercies of +God. While the impure affections and unholy desires of a depraved heart +are being restrained by the power of the Holy Spirit, before the will is +set the way of life and the way of death, each subject to choice. Now is +the time for whosoever will to come and drink of the water of life +freely, and whosoever will now call upon the name of the Lord shall be +saved. + +Not only does the will act an important part in securing the salvation +of the soul through the offered mercies of God, but it is the purpose of +God that the will act an important part all along the Christian way. +After the Christian enters through the "strait gate" and steps out upon +the "narrow way" that leads to eternal golden glories, he is not carried +forward in a "chariot of fire" through the journey of life and crowned +at the end with eternal blessedness irrespective of his will. Often it +is true that the soul is carried blessedly onward in the way of life on +the wings of joy, without any apparent exercise of the will; but how +often Good seems to have deserted or forsaken us, Joy has hid her +smiling face, and Good Feelings have departed, and we are left to serve +God and attend to our Christian duties from choice of will. God wants +our life service to be a willing service. It is necessary, therefore, +that he apparently forsake us and permit dark powers to engage us. It is +that our wills may be exercised. The Psalmist says, "I _will_ go the way +of thy commandment; I _will_ keep thy testimonies," and let us all say +amen. + +The blessings and joys the Lord bestows upon us are the rewards of +willing service, for which things you should be very thankful; but never +let them influence you in your conduct toward God. There have been +those, who, in the hour of seeming desertion, refusing to use their +will-power, have turned back to the world. This is faint-heartedness and +cowardice, ignobleness and unmanliness. + +Every faculty of the body or soul that is unused or unexercised will +weaken and die. The muscles if unused will grow weak, the mind if unused +will weaken, and the will if unexercised will lose its power. Should God +always keep us soaring aloft on the wings of peace and joy and +blessings, without the exercise of the will, this important faculty +would degenerate into weakness and slavery. O may my young readers arise +in the strength of their manhood and womanhood and use, in choosing and +doing the right, the will God has given them. The tempter may come, yea, +will come, and endeavor to get some of the affections of the heart set +upon the world; but you must reject all such temptations, and by the +force of your will set your affections on things above. God does never +will for us, but he gives us power to will if we will but use the power +he gives us. + +You are exhorted by the Scriptures to "work out your own salvation with +fear and trembling." The "crown of life" lies at the end of the +Christian race. When we step over the boundary between time and eternity +our salvation is then eternally secured. Praises be to God! It is for +this crown of amaranthine glory, or blessed eternal salvation, that we +are to watch and labor with fear and trembling. O may you be very +careful! Be watchful, lest something should hinder you in your Christian +race, and you miss at last the blessedness of heaven. Guard the +affections of your heart with the strictest vigilance. + +I said above that God would always give us power to will, if we would +but make use of that power. For proof of this I shall refer you to Phil. +2:13, which in our common version is rendered thus: "For it is God which +worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." The meaning +of this text is not so readily comprehended by this version as it is by +some others. By Conybeare and Howson it is translated in these words: +"It is God who works in you both will and deed." Upon examination of the +different translations we find the meaning of this text to be this: "It +is God that gives us power _to will_ and _to do_ his good pleasure." In +the verse preceding this one the apostle tells us to "work out our +salvation with fear and trembling," and then he adds for our +encouragement, "God will work in you the power _to will_ and _to do_ +that which will secure your eternal salvation." Never say, "I can't." + +Here is something which will prove very valuable to you in your +Christian life if you can only get to fully comprehend it: You can do +nothing; your will is powerless without God and his grace, and God can +do nothing in you without the consent of your will. God does everything, +and we do everything: we are to purify our hearts, and yet it is God who +purifies our hearts; we are to make us a new heart, and yet it is God +who gives us a new heart; we are commanded to work out our salvation, +and God gives us power to do it. God furnishes the power; we are to do. +Do not think that God will act for you. He will give you power to act, +but he will not do the act for you. Do not, therefore, say, "I can't." +You can do "all things" through Christ, who strengthens you. You can +serve God in a way acceptable to him; you can keep your mind stayed on +him; you can pray; you can resist the devil and temptation and be an +overcomer; you can endure unto the end--you can do "all things" by the +grace and power of God, and he will always give you power to do his +pleasure. Do not serve and praise God only when he gives you blessings +and joy, but serve him and praise him when the way is dark. Have a fixed +decision of the will to serve God no matter what the feelings may be. Be +thankful to God for the will-power he has given you, and use it +manfully, nobly in his service. Do not cower and tremble before +temptation. You are to "fear and tremble" before God, but never before +trials, temptations, sin, nor the devil. God will cause you to triumph +by giving you power to will. Be steadfast, be faithful, fix your will +unswervingly to serve God, and in due season you shall reap if you faint +not. + + + + +GOD OUR GUIDE. + + +This is a dark world of sin, error, and uncertainties. It is weak and +transitory. Man, God's chief and highest work in the things of creation, +is weak, ignorant, and can of himself do absolutely nothing. Though he +may have a most scholarly mind, he can not peer with any degree of +certainty one hour into the future. Who knows what the morrow may have +in store? Life may run about the same as to-day, or fortune may come, or +misfortune. Man may plan for the future, but the plan may never be +carried into effect. It is not in man to direct his way. + +There is one, however, that knows all future things and shapes the +destiny of man. We are invited to commit our way unto him. He has +promised to guide us with his eye. Life lies before us like an unknown +sea, none know how many days' journey it is across, nor how much +sunshine and shadow there may be on the way. With the unknown expanse +before me, and I, in my ignorant finiteness, not knowing which way to +take, rejoice exceedingly in my heart to be permitted to commit my way +unto Him who makes the clouds his chariots, and rides upon the wings of +the wind, and stills the wave. He knows the best way and will direct in +tender care my every step. He guides me with his eye, and leads me by +his own right hand beside the still waters and into green pastures. + +Why are there so many anxious hearts, so much unrest, so many +discontentments and fears? It is because man is attempting to direct his +own way. He feels his weakness, and fears; he knows his ignorance, and +becomes anxious. How blessed to walk out upon life's way trusting in God +and casting every care upon him! The waves may sometimes dash around our +feet, but we are looking up unto Him who shall guide us continually. The +secret of a happy and successful life is to let God lead us. When we get +in a hurry and pass on ahead of the Lord, devising, contriving, planning +over our work and way, then come fears and failures. + +Many Christians find it difficult to know the will of God and understand +his leadings. Many hearts are longing to know God's will and way. You +may always know. Do not hurry, only wait, pray and trust, and God will +plainly and unmistakably teach you his way and give you a sweet +consciousness in your soul of his guidance. Sometimes it may require +long waiting. I have for months been almost daily praying and sometimes +rising a great while before day to seek God beneath the stars to know +his will in a certain matter. Sometimes it seems I must act, but God +whispers in sweet stillness, "Only wait." + + +The Word Our Guide. + + +In many affairs of life we need no guidance other than the Word of God. +"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psa. +119:105. Much reading of the Scripture will impart wisdom and knowledge, +and be a help to us in directing the affairs of life. You may have a +difficult matter to settle with your neighbor. Open your Bible and read: +"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." +Quite likely this will enable you to settle the matter in perfect +satisfaction to all. Some one may have done you much harm, now what must +you do? Open your book of guidance and read: "Dearly beloved, avenge not +yourselves ... vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Thus, +much of life's duties and affairs can be determined and decided by the +Word of God. + + +The Spirit's Impressions. + + +The Holy Spirit is given us for a guide. With respect to our conduct and +our duty, we often feel the impressions of the Spirit. The Word of God +tells us to give of our goods as the Lord has prospered us, but the +Spirit may often impress us as to where to give. + +We feel impressed by the Spirit to give, we feel impressed to go to a +certain place, we feel impressed to pray for such a one, we feel +impressed to fast and pray, etc. Many a precious soul that once was full +of joy and fatness is to-day in unrest and leanness because these +impressions have been resisted. But are there not impressions given by +an evil spirit? Most certainly, and these impressions have led many an +honest soul into the wildest of fanaticism. Thank God, by living very +humble, with all our motives very pure, and by acquaintance with the +Word of God, we may know the voice of the Spirit of God and that of the +evil spirit I have known people to receive and obey impressions to fast +and pray that were given by Satan. God's Word and God's Spirit favor +fasting and praying, but both are bounded by sound judgment; and in such +matters we should not follow a spirit beyond what common sense would +approve. + +It is blessed and beautiful to be led by the Spirit of God. If its +impressions are not resisted, but encouraged by cheerful obedience, they +will lead us into a blessed felicity with God and a deep acquaintance +with him. An evil spirit's whisperings can be very easily detected by +one who has much communion with the Lord. Recently while standing on a +steamer's deck it was whispered to me that the steamer was an ill-fated +vessel, and that I never should see home again. At first I did not know +but that it was the voice of God, but soon I felt attempts being made to +cast over me a tormenting fear; this aroused my suspicion that it was +not God speaking, and to be convinced I allowed the spirit to talk on. +For a while it tried to torment me with fears that I should never see +the dear ones at home again, and then said, "You may as well cast +yourself overboard into the deep." Ah! now I knew the Satanic spirit and +I rebuked it in Jesus' name. I reached my home in safety. Praise the +Lord! Try the spirits by the Word; Satan will soon expose himself. + + +God's Providences. + + +In the sure guidance of God we have his Word and his Spirit and also his +providences. Again, we would say, oh, how blessed to await the +providences of God! His providences are always in favor of the +righteous. "All things work together for good to them that love God." +How many can look back through their lives and see how the providences +of God have directed their ways. They may have planned, but God's +providence overthrew and brought better things to pass. Trust in the +providences of God, commit your way unto him, patiently wait, and he +will guide you into the way that is best. Never get in a hurry, but wait +on the Lord, and he will always make the way plain before you. I have +learned never to take a step until I know it is ordered of God. In the +providence of God, Joseph was sold to a company of Ishmaelites and cast +into prison and thus brought to be ruler over all Egypt. In the +providences of God, Kish's asses went astray and Saul being sent in +search of them was led to the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king +over Israel. You may meet with losses, all things may seem decidedly +against you; but be patient, trust in the providence of God, and in time +you will see his kind favor. + +If you value your happiness and success in life, wait on God. If you do +not know which way to go or what thing to do, wait until you do know. +God will surely guide you; he will open the way clear and plain before +you. When he has given you full assurance, then go forward in all +security. Mountains may rise before you, but he will pluck them up and +cast them into the sea. Rivers and seas may lie across your path, but he +will divide the waters and let you pass through. Live humbly and only +for the glory of God. Trust in him with all the strength of your soul. +See that all motives are as pure as heaven. Prayerfully seek a knowledge +of God's will, patiently wait on him, cheerfully and promptly obey when +his will is known, and he will lead you in the path of security, +strewing the way with blessings and glory, and make your life one golden +gleam of light across this dark world to lead others to the Lamb. + + + + +FRAGRANCE. + + +Every saintly life on earth, is a sweet fragrance unto God, and every +sinful life is a stench in his nostrils. As the rose scents the evening +air, so a pure life scatters a sweet Christian influence and a knowledge +of God throughout the world. The literal translation of 2 Cor. 2:14 +reads thus: "But thanks be to God, who leads me on from place to place +in the train of his triumph, to celebrate his victory over the enemies +of Christ, and by me sends forth the knowledge of him, a stream of +fragrant incense, throughout the world." A saintly life diffuses a +sweet, heavenly fragrance throughout the world, and brings a knowledge +of God and the nature of his salvation to the minds of men. Let me +exhort you, therefore, to a pure life, a life full of devotion and +reverence to God. You can make your life, by God's grace, a constant, +flowing stream of fragrant incense, whose sweetness will linger long on +the air after you have passed to higher realms. So may it be. + + + + +SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM. + + +"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all +these things shall be added unto you." Mat. 6:33. An injunction of much +importance is here given. Verses 24 to 34 of this chapter show how +beautifully it is in the plan of God to care for his own. We are taught +to have our trust in God for what we eat, for what we drink, for what we +wear--for all the necessities of this life. We are referred to the fowls +of the air and the lilies of the field, which take no thought for their +life, but live in their happy, independent way, without care or trouble. +These God cares for and says we are of more value than they. + +What a valuable lesson we are to learn from this! But is it really true +that we are to have the same degree of freedom from care or anxiety that +the fowls or the lilies have? We shall also ask, Is it really possible? +This lesson surely teaches that we are to have such a trust in our +Maker, and therefore it must be possible. The apostle Paul instructs us +in Phil. 4:6, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and +supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto +God." And in another place, "I would have you without carefulness." Our +lives are to be free from worry or anxiety about anything and +everything. This feature alone of the divine life, or this principle +alone in the economy of God's gracious plan, ought to represent +salvation as a thing greatly to be desired. But in the face of this +people fail to see anything desirable in it, because by their unbelief +they hold such a life to be impracticable. By this kind of unbelief the +enemy of souls deprives many of their privileges in Christ and hinders +the world from seeing the real nature of the salvation experience. + +How the world is estranged from the principles of righteousness! How it +holds light to be darkness and darkness to be light! Instead of +accounting that there is any reasonableness in such trust in God as is +shown in this lesson they would fain be selfishly taking upon themselves +the responsibility of maintaining their own existence, and thus every +one seek for his own gain. Thinking that they thus have an excuse for +not devoting their time to God's service and their spiritual welfare, +the things of the Lord are forgotten and neglected, and their souls +consequently are lost. When will individuals learn that they have a +spiritual as well as a physical existence, and that the spiritual is the +more important of the two? Seek first the kingdom. + +But the fact that we wish to bring out most prominently is that many +Christian professors, who are supposed to be examples of the Christian +life, do not comprehend the import of the test "Seek ye first the +kingdom of God." The mistake is made on the word _first_. They think to +obey this scripture by first gaining the profession of salvation, +presuming then that the blessings of the kingdom will follow, while they +live as selfishly as before and dig deep into the things concerning the +unrighteous mammon. In so doing they fail to experience the blessings of +the kingdom, and also misrepresent the kingdom to the world. The word +_first_ means not only first in time, but first in _importance_; and +this idea of _importance_ must ever be held before us, not only when we +enter the kingdom, but throughout our whole Christian life. We are to +hold the kingdom of righteousness _first_ in all our lives. If we hold +God first in everything and consider what will be to his glory before +we consider our own, we give God a chance to fulfil his word, and his +own good pleasure in us will be accomplished. We then place ourselves in +the order of his plan where it will be possible for him to do as he has +promised. + +The salvation life means an unselfish life. We are not to seek selfish +glory in anything, but seek the glory of God _first_--above everything +else. It has been remarked concerning certain ones who were struggling +for an earthly existence, that if they would only get saved "all these +things" (all earthly necessities) would be added unto them. But it is +not those who merely get saved that can claim this promise; it is those +who _keep saved_ and carry out the principles of the plan of +righteousness. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" in +everything. Lose your own individuality in God, consign your all to him, +live for his glory in all your life, then "all these things shall be +added unto you." + + + + +PRAYER. + + +Upon this subject and the one following I have written in other works +very similarly to this; but since these subjects are so well adapted to +a work of this nature I can hardly feel willing to leave them out. If +you have read very similar words to these in other productions of mine, +I hope the rereading of the subjects will not be time spent to no +profit. + +The value of prayer can hardly be estimated. Unless you are willing to +take up a life of prayer and keep it until the close, you had just as +well not take up the Christian profession. Without prayer you will die. +Some one has expressed it thus: + +"Prayer is our life, our soul's triumphant wings, +The arm that holds the shield and hand that takes the crown; +Along the line on which a thousand faithful prayers ascend, +Surely God doth send ten thousand blessings down." + +What an honor it is to have audience with the King of glory! He extends +the golden scepter to us, and we come hopefully, confidingly, into his +presence and tell him all that is in our hearts. It is only because we +comprehend something of his great love to us that we venture to come +into his presence. Who would not consider it a great honor and blessed +privilege to be admitted into the courts of the lords and the kings of +earth? The greatest honor bestowed upon man is the privilege of coming +into the presence of God and conversing with him. Alas! how few +appreciate the privilege of prayer! How few can properly estimate its +true worth! Jesus by his example has taught us something of the worth of +prayer. His rising a great while before it was day to hold communion +with the Father, and his spending all night in prayer to him, teach us +something of its importance. If it was necessary for Jesus to spend so +much time in prayer, how much more necessary for us. + +Prayer is the energy and life of the soul. It is the invincible armor +which shields the devoted Christian from the poisoned missles shot forth +from the batteries of hell. It is the mighty weapon in his hand with +which he fights life's battles unto victory. He who lives in prayer +reigns triumphant. His soul is filled with the peace of heaven. Power +is given him over sin and the world. By prayer all storm-clouds are +driven away, mountains of discouragement are cast into the sea, chasms +of difficulties are bridged, hope is given wings, faith increases, and +joys abound. Hell may rage and threaten, but he who is frequent and +fervent in prayer experiences no alarm. By prayer the windows of heaven +are opened, and showers of refreshing dews are rained upon the soul. It +is as a watered garden, a fertile spot where blooms the unfading rose of +Sharon and the lily-of-the-valley; where spread the undecaying, +unwithering branches of the tree of life. + +By prayer the soul is nourished and strengthened by the divine life. Do +you long for deeper joys? for a greater sense of the divine fulness? for +a sweeter balm of hope to be shed upon your soul? for a closer walk with +God? then live much in prayer. Do you desire to feel the holy flame of +love burning in all its intensity in your soul? then enkindle it often +at the golden altar of prayer. Without prayer, the inner being will +weaken, famish, and die; the fountain of love dry up; the spring of joy +cease to flow; the dews will fail to descend; and your heart will +become a parched and dreary desert waste. + +Look upon the character of Jesus. Behold his lowliness, his meekness, +gentleness, and tender compassion. Have they any beauty? and would you +love to have them grace your own soul? then draw them down from the +skies in all their glorious fulness by the fervent prayer of faith. As +through the process of assimilation food is transformed into an active, +living being; so through the medium of prayer the character of Jesus in +all its transcendent beauty and glory becomes the character of man. + +If you desire victory during the day, begin it with prayer. Not a few +hurried words, but minutes of deep, intimate communion with God. Linger +at the sacred altar of prayer until you feel particles of glory drop in +richness into your soul, scattering sweetness throughout the whole and +relating you to the world above. In the early morning hour, when the +still, balmy breath of nature plays around, let your soul fly away on +the wings of prayer with its message of love and praise to its Maker. +Jesus went out a great while before day to hold communion with God. +There is no time better suited for prayer. The world is hushed in +slumber. There is less sin being committed, and if the world ever is +innocent, it is in the early morning time. We thus get an advantage of +the devil and have sweet converse with God before the devil is aware. + +If you desire to be more deeply and sincerely pious, seek it in prayer. +If you desire heights in God's love, depths in his grace, fulness in his +joy, richness in his glory, seek it in prayer. Did you say you had not +time for prayer? What a pity! Your happiness and usefulness in life +depend upon it; your eternal welfare depends upon it--then, oh, what a +pity you have no time for it! But you must find time. You can not afford +to listen to Satan; there is too much at stake. This is an excuse that +many allow Satan to make for them. Time for rest, time for eating, time +for sleeping, time for friends, time for books; but no time for prayer. +This is a device of Satan to rob souls of the love of God. You must not +give him such an advantage of you. + +In love for your spiritual welfare I beseech you in Jesus' name, live +much in prayer. Go often into your closet, and then, with the loins of +your mind girded up, in all earnestness of soul pray until the love of +God and the light of heaven fills your being. Satan will try to make you +listless and indifferent; he will try to make your thoughts to wander; +he will tell you of many other things that need to be done that very +moment; and many other things will he tell you to deprive you of the +blessings of prayer. But you must resist him and go the more earnestly +in prayer; and continue to pray until a rapture from the skies sweeps +over your soul, making the place of prayer the dearest spot on earth to +you. + +When the shades of night come softly stealing, + Softly stealing o'er the window sill; +When the busy day is slowly ending, + Slowly ending peacefully and still,-- +Christian, with thy heart adoring Heaven, + Sweetest glories falling from above, +Go to God in secret, silent pleading, + Tell to him the wondrous tale of love. + +When the morning light is gently dawning, + Gently dawning in the eastern sky; +When the darkness fast away is fleeing, + Duties of the day are drawing nigh,-- + +Down before the sacred, hallowed altar, + Christian, bow before thy God in fervent prayer, +Giving thanks to him for life's sweet blessings, + For the day imploring his kind care. + +To be overcome to-day makes to-morrow's battles harder. + +If you would be a better Christian to-morrow, live your very best +to-day. + +Like as the warming rays of the autumn's sun melt the early frost, so +the warmth of Christian love in our hearts will melt the coldness in the +hearts of sinful men. + +Begin the day with prayer: it will fortify you against the tempter's +power. The result of neglecting prayer is to be tossed furiously about +upon the billows of temptation. + +Time is of too great worth to waste one precious moment. An hour lost is +that much of life lost. For all the time spent in idleness, you had just +as well not have lived at all. By rightly using each moment you will +build up a character that will stand a monument upon the tomb of the +dead past. Moments misspent are life and character gone, and no imprint +is left on the hearts of men to tell that we have lived. How many golden +moments are flying away into eternity unladen with any fruit from your +life? Learn to value time. Redeem it because these days are evil. Seize +upon each passing moment, and send it up to the glorious Author of time +laden with golden deeds. + + + + +MEDITATION. + + +The Scriptures invite Christians on to greater depths in the love of God +and greater heights in his joy as they journey on through life. It is +the will of God that you grow in grace and become more spiritual each +day of your life. That meditation does affect one's spirituality is an +undeniable fact. Meditating upon God and his law is an excellent means +of increasing spiritual life in the soul. Vagrant thoughts dull the +finer sensibilities of the spiritual being, thereby rendering it less +capable of impression by the Holy Ghost. + +"Keeping in touch with God" is an expression much used in these days by +people professing holiness, but what does it imply? We are all at sea +when not in touch with him. To be so kept is to have everything in us +fully alive to God. Every Christian grace must be in a perfect state of +health and vigorous growth. If there be any dwarfed condition of the +spiritual being in any part, it will be less sensible to God's touch. +The blind have been known to cultivate the sense of touch in the +physical being to the amazing acuteness of being able to distinguish +between colors. The sense of touch in the soul can by careful, earnest +cultivation be refined to such a degree as to make it susceptible to the +slightest impressions of the Spirit of God. + +By an electric cable America is brought in touch with Europe. Were this +to become divided, communication would cease. Sin divided the +life-giving cable from the presence of God to the souls of men. In Jesus +the divided cable is taken up and united, and man brought into communion +with God. So cultured may become the sensibilities of the inner being, +and so thoroughly impregnated by God's enlivening power, that one empty +thought causing the slightest ebbing of life's current flow is keenly +felt. To keep in perfect touch with God is to live where there is a +soul-consciousness that he is pleased with every act of your life, and +where there is a clear, definite witnessing of the Spirit to your inmost +soul that the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart are +acceptable unto him. + +Useless thought makes the soul coarse, and difficult of impression by +good influences. Pure and holy meditations are an excellent means for +the refinement of your moral being. Praying to God is talking to him, +telling him the desires of the heart; whereas meditating upon God is +contemplating his goodness, love, mercy, greatness, and wonderful works. +Meditation prepares the heart for that deeper communion with God called +prayer. Whoever gives attention to his meditations, and has learned to +fix his mind upon God; to whom "day unto day uttereth speech, and night +unto night showeth knowledge;" to whom "the heavens declare the glory of +God," and who hears God's voice in nature and sees the goodness of his +hand in all creation,--finds no difficulty in drawing to God in prayer. +If you allow your mind to wander vaguely about upon the vanities of the +world, you will find prayer a difficult and rather an unpleasant task. +Learn, therefore, I beseech you, to stay your mind upon the Lord, and +great will be the peace and quietness of your soul. Precious moments +spent in idle chit-chat with your companions or indulging vagrant +thoughts are time worse than wasted. As your mind acts once, so it is +disposed to act again. The mind forms habits of thinking. Then, how +careful you should be to direct it in proper and useful channels. + +[Illustration: THINKING OF THE LIFE BEYOND.] + +Some people have found it difficult to prevent their thoughts from +wandering while they were reading the Bible or in secret prayer. The +wonderful works of God hardly awaken any admiration within them; they +can not elevate the soul into a profound awe before his awful presence, +and there is but little conscious depths of inner reverence and devotion +to his name. There is a blessed and sure remedy for this serious +trouble. Carefully watch your meditations. Call the oftener upon God in +some silent, secret place. Select some secluded, hallowed place, where +nature is most inspiring for meditation. Isaac, the son of Abraham, went +into the field at eventide to meditate. The evening is a time well +suited to draw the soul out into deep, intimate communion with God. +The the setting of the sun is a reminder of life's setting sun. You will +be brought face to face with the fact that you must some day stand +before Him who created all things. Your meditations will become serious. +Oh, may you adore the Creator, and learn to admire his wondrous works! +Go forth in the starry evening, when Nature is most inviting, and +through her let your soul adore the Almighty, and let all within you be +awed to solemn stillness at his footfall. + +Idle, careless thoughts generate a stupidity that will rob you of joy. +The sensibilities of your inner nature will become deadened, and you can +no more hear the solemn footsteps of the Lord, nor the whispers of his +voice. Meditating upon pure and holy things and seeing God in all, will +elevate the soul to a plane all radiant with light and love, and put a +meekness and modesty in your life and a sweet gentleness in every +expression that will seem to make you akin to angels. + +Are you concerned about the peace of your soul? Is a happy life worth +anything to you? Do you have any desire to become more like Jesus? Do +you want to do all you can for him? Do you want to dwell in heaven with +him forever? Then let your meditation be upon him, and your soul sipping +at the fountain of Heaven's love as the flower drinks up the dew. I can +not be too earnest in my exhortation to you in this matter. I know how +important it is. I want to see you prosper and your soul increase in +God; therefore I exhort you to meditate upon his law day and night. + + + + +REVERIE. + + +Down beside the rippling river + 'Neath-the weeping willow-tree, +Viewing nature sweet and lovely, + Wond'ring what must heaven be. + +List'ning to the merry songsters + In the near-by leafy world; +Such sweet music seems to bear me + Nearer to the gates of gold. + +Breezes murm'ring through the branches, + Waters rippling o'er the stone, +What, oh, what must be the anthem + Ringing round the great white throne? + +Songs of birds and streamlet rippling, + Meadow, flowers, and leafy tree, +Make of earth a land of beauty-- + What indeed must heaven be? + +If you love scenes of great grandeur, + And to hear sweet music ring, +Come, oh! come with me to heaven, + To the land where Christ is king. + + + + +A THEATER. + + +A theater is a place where plays are performed before spectators. People +go to such a place to witness the acts of men. The apostle Paul says, +"We are made a spectacle unto the world." 1 Cor. 4:9. In the margin it +reads "theater" instead of "spectacle." In Conybeare and Howson's +translation this text reads thus: "To be gazed at in a theater by the +world." You as a Christian are here in this world on exhibition for God. +He is the character you are to represent in life's great play. You must +live in such a way as to do justice to his name. This world is looking +on. God has written the entire play in his book. You have a life-time +to play it in. If you will live in humble obedience to all the Word of +God, you will act your part well and faithfully represent his true +character. + + + + +REST OF THE SOUL. + + +"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give +you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and +lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Mat. 11:28,29. +Wonderful words of love and hope! Never did a sweeter nor richer +invitation than this reach mortal ears. A whole world of humankind +groaning under a burden, tossing in unrest, laboring under pain, sighing +with sorrow, roaming in discontent, filled with fear, sinking in +despair. But One appears upon the scene and says, "Come unto me, and I +will give you rest." Oh, may the humble followers of the lowly Nazarene +echo and reecho this invitation of love among the haunts of men as long +as time shall last! Amid a world of sin and trouble, a soul at rest; how +blessed! + +You remember the day you came to him. Your sins with all the burden of +guilt were taken away and you found rest. Later you dedicated yourself +fully and forever to the Lord and entered into the fulness of his rest. +Canaan's fair land is the soul's sweet home of rest. What heaven will be +we can not know now. Doubtless scenes and experiences will arise of such +a nature as to greatly enhance the felicity of our hearts; but the +revelation of heaven upon a sanctified soul and + + "The enjoyment of heavenly bliss + E'en in a world like this" + +can never be told. Storms will arise and threaten you; but if the cable +of faith remains unbroken and the anchor of hope unshaken, your little +bark can sail on sweetly at rest. Doubts are very destructive to +soul-rest; therefore they must be dispelled at their first approach. By +faith your soul can be kept in the precious realization of heavenly +enjoyments; you can have sweet walks with God and tastes of his love all +along your journey of life. By living in the vale of humble submission +to God, fully and freely yielded to his control, upon your soul the +sweets of heaven's graces will be distilled like the gentle siftings of +the evening dew upon the flower, transporting you to wondrous felicity +in God all along your pilgrim way. + +Behold the fowls of the air: + They sow not, neither do they reap; +Yet kings have not more healthful fare, + Nor rest in calmer, sweeter sleep. +They have no barns nor hoarded grain, +Yet all day long a soft, sweet strain +They warble forth from forest tree; +Ever happy and ever free, +Teaching a lesson dear to me. +So free from care, O sylvan band; +Fed by a heavenly Father's hand. +Your freedom, O ye fowls of heaven, +New courage to my soul hath given; +I no more can doubt or sorrow: +God will care for me to-morrow. + +Behold the lilies how they grow: + They toil not neither do they spin; +Yet kings in all their pomp and show + Are not arrayed like one of them; +Smiling and free in breezes sway, +Yet clothed by heavenly hand are they. +Meek lilies of the quiet fields, +Your growth instruction to me yields. +The One who clothes the lily fair +And gives it tender, earnest care-- +Will he not hear my fervent prayer? +The One who notes the sparrow's fall-- +Does he not love his creatures all? +If he so clothes each tuft and tree +And gives the birds such liberty, +Will he not clothe and care for me? +I no more can doubt or sorrow: +God will care for me to-morrow. + +A merry heart is a continual feast. + +It is the will of God that you be always happy. + +If you are not contented with such things as you have, you would not be +contented had you ever so much. + +Those who are always contented and happy are a most gracious +contribution from God to a discontented world. + +This sin-darkened world is dotted here and there by beautiful Christian +lives, which are to the world's weary wastes what the oasis is to the +parched desert. + +The Christian has the blessed privilege of proving to a covetous, +discontented world that man can by the grace of God he contented under +the most adverse circumstances. + +Oftentimes people conclude that they would be happy if their surrounding +circumstances were different. True happiness consists not so much in the +environments, as in the dispositions of the heart. + +After a day of labor, what a pleasure it is to meet at home the warmth +of hearts we love! After a life of toil, what will be the pleasure of +meeting all the loved in heaven? + +I am told that the language of the Algonquin Indians of North America +contained no word from which to translate the word _love_. When the +English missionaries translated the Bible into that language they were +obliged to coin a word for love. What must be a language without love? +and what must be the heart! + +The Christian out upon life's sea can, by faith, hope, and love, weather +the wildest storm that ever the winds of adversity blew. Hope is the +anchor fastened to the eternal word of God; faith is the cable attached +to the anchor hope. + +[Illustration: +My pathway of life is now paved with peace, +The flowers e'er bloom bright and gay; +A halo of light is shed around me +As I walk the beautiful way.] + + + + +HAPPINESS OF LIFE. + + +Down, down in the depths of infinite love, + Filled with all the fulness of God, +Joy's cup ev'ry moment filled from above, + As adown life's pathway I trod. + +No sin sways its scepter over my soul, + God's righteousness fills ev'ry part, +His fulness of glory keeping the whole, + And I love him with all my heart. + +Sing not to me of the pleasures of earth, + I have found a much happier way; +The joys of the Lord, of far greater worth, + Are filling my life ev'ry day. + +Sorrow and sighing have flown away, + From trouble and care I am free, +The peace of God over my heart holds sway; + I am as happy as I can be. + +You are tempted, you say, and sorely tried; + Of that I have nothing to say, +The victory is mine whate'er may betide; + I'm happy each hour of the day. + +My pathway of life is now paved with peace, + The flow'rs ever bloom bright and gay; +A halo of light is shed around me + As I walk the beautiful way. + + + + +THE HIDDEN LIFE. + + +You have experienced a resurrection. You once were dead in sin; now you +are alive unto God. You have been translated from the kingdom of +darkness into the kingdom of light. You are a new creation; you have a +new life. Though you have existence in this world, yet the world does +not discover your true life. With Christ it is hid in God. The world +knows nothing of you except as they see you in the life you live in the +flesh. You have a higher life to which they are as insensible as the +inanimate stone is to the life of the bird. You are one of God's "hidden +ones," and a stranger on the earth, because you are unknown. You are not +found in the halls of worldly pleasure, but instead are to be found by +the bedside of the sick, reading the Bible, praying, or speaking words +of cheer and comfort, and the world wonders how you can enjoy yourself +in such a way. You have a joy that is unknown to them, because you have +a life that is hidden from them. That life of yours which is hid with +Christ in God finds no enjoyment in the pleasures of the world. + +When adversity comes the world does not understand how it is that you +can rejoice; and when circumstances are very unfavorable, how you can be +happy is a mystery to them. It is because you do not live in the things +of the world, but in a much higher realm. If your life is hid with +Christ in God, your heart's longings will be for the things above; all +your affections will be on things above. Those who live upon earth are +seeking the things of earth; but those who live above in God seek the +things which are above. Nothing of earth has any charms for them. Christ +has won their hearts. They love him intensely. They live in him. They +are sojourning here upon earth for a time, but their hearts are with +Christ in heaven. Their home, their love, their treasures, their hopes, +their thoughts, their life,--all are there, and they are seeking with +eagerness for more of that sweet, precious life which is from above. +They walk here almost like one in a dream, as concerning this world; +they know but little of earth, but much of heaven. + +This earth is not my home, + I live above, +Where peace and joys abound-- + Sweet land of love. + +My life is hid in God + With Christ the Son, +Though here on earth I am + By earth unknown. + +I dwell in worlds above, + By thought and prayer-- +Oh, blest eternal home! + My heart is there. + + + + +CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE. + + +Happy and blessed is the soul that is conscious of God's sweet +indwelling presence. Being conscious of God's presence is what the +Psalmist meant when he said, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." +"Tasting God" is an expression incomprehensible to the unregenerate. +Those who have tasted him comprehend the meaning of this expression +better than they can tell it. When a bit of sugar is placed upon the +tongue there is experienced a sweetness in the sense of taste. When the +soul tastes of God there is experienced a sweetness in the spiritual +being. The sweetness of God's presence in the soul is as much more +glorious than the sweetness of sugar to the taste as spiritual and +heavenly things are above literal and earthly things. God and his word +are inseparable, or the word is God; therefore when the Psalmist says, +"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my +mouth," it is in reality tasting the sweetness of God. + +The awakened soul thirsts for this sweetness of the divine presence. +Nothing else can satisfy it. The wealth and pleasure of the world do not +contain a sweetness sufficient to satisfy the heart of man. It is only +God that can fill the hungry soul with goodness. The divine life sheds +peace and light and rest in the soul. Man receives the divine presence +into his spiritual being when he is quickened by the Spirit. In the Word +of God it is termed "passing from death unto life," and "being born +again." In sanctification when a revolution is effected in the nature of +man and he becomes a partaker of the divine nature, it is then he is +conscious of the fulness of the divine presence and is at rest. Glory be +to God! + +To possess the divine presence in its fulness is not the end of the +Christian race. There are certain conditions for man to meet in order to +possess this glorious inheritance, and there are certain conditions for +him to meet in order to retain it. Not only is man able, in the economy +of grace, to retain the sweet consciousness of the divine presence in +the soul, but in his hands are placed instruments that enable him to +cultivate and deepen this consciousness and thus add glory to glory and +cause his way to shine more and more unto the perfect day. Oh, how many +Christians would enjoy more of heaven's glory in their souls, if by +careful cultivation they would increase the sense of the divine +presence! Dear pilgrim, have you reached the land of "eternal weights of +glory" or the regions where "joy is unspeakable"? + +To cultivate or deepen the sense of the divine presence requires an +almost constant effort. Right at this point is where perhaps more +Christians have failed to do what was required of them than at any +other; and consequently experience less joy and power than formerly. +There are many things employed by Satan to weaken this consciousness of +God. Looseness of thought, moments of idleness, or yieldings to self, +serve to weaken the reverential feeling in our hearts toward him. A +little attention to the world, a little thought for the morrow, a little +anxiety, a little too much talking,--these things destroy the +consciousness of the divine presence in the soul, and rob us of +spiritual power and rest. Living before God in prayer, holy and pure +thoughts, the entertaining of right feelings toward God and man, acts of +benevolence and self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, develop and +fashion the soul more and more into the beauty of the divine life. + +It is the privilege of the saint so to walk in the presence of God and +live in holy communion with him as to draw God's glory and life into his +own, and give him a feature very distinguishing for ordinary natural +man. If we wish to be like Jesus and enjoy the sweet consciousness of +his presence, we must live with him in prayer. As we improve the health +and strength of our physical being by proper food and exercise, so we +improve the strength and beauty of our spiritual being by proper +meditation and prayer. + + + + +REFLECTION. + + +How often when walking down the country lane in the twilight of a +summer's evening you have looked upon the round, full moon and +exclaimed, "What a tender, beautiful light! how soft and mellow is the +glow!" But you must remember the light is not its own. Of itself it is a +cold, dark body. The great luminary that so recently sank behind the +western hills is the real light. It pours its brilliant rays upon the +moon and the moon reflects the sun's light upon your pathway. The moon, +therefore, is only a reflector. You stand before a mirror and behold +your face and form imaged in the glass. The glass acts as a reflector, +reproducing the objects that are placed before it and shine upon it. The +unregenerate heart is dark and reflects no light; but God can take it +and cleanse, purge, and polish it, and make it capable of reflecting the +virtues of heaven's grace. + +1 Cor. 13:12 is rendered thus by Conybeare and Howson: "So now we see +darkly, by a mirror; but then face to face." While here in this life we +can not see the real and true glories of the eternal world; but we can +see some of its beauties and glories mirrored in the face of nature and +the Bible. The starry worlds above us, the verdant hills, the swaying +forests, the waving grain, the fleeting cloud, the blooming flower, +dimly shadow forth the glory that awaits our expectant souls in that +bright world where angels dwell. + +The Greek text of 2 Cor. 3:18 is beautifully rendered in these words by +the above mentioned translators: "With face unveiled we behold in a +mirror the brightness of our Lord's glory, are ourselves transformed +into the same likeness; and the glory which shines upon us is reflected +by us, even as it proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit." These words are +full of grandeur to my soul. Their wondrous beauty and sublimity can not +fail to awaken admiration in every Spirit-quickened and purity-loving +heart. You will see, Christian reader, the position you occupy as a +follower of the Lamb of God. You are a reflector; you have no light of +yourself. God shines his glory upon you and you reflect it to the world, +and thus you become the light of the world. In one translation +"character" is used instead of "glory." God's character is shined into +your soul, and you are to reflect it to the world. + +There is another clause in the above quotation too full of riches and +too well adapted to this work to pass by unnoticed. It is this: "We +behold in a mirror the brightness of our Lord's glory, are ourselves +transformed into the same likeness." We do not grow into salvation, +neither do we grow into sanctification; but after we receive this +glorious experience there is still a continual transforming into a more +perfect likeness of Christ. While in the Museum of Art in one of our +large cities last spring I saw an artist reproducing on canvas a +painting which hung upon the wall. I looked upon the painting on the +wall and upon the reproduction before the artist. So far as I could see +the reproduction was in exact imitation of the original; but the eye of +the artist could see farther than mine. He kept on applying the brush, +giving a slight touch here and a slight touch there, and soon I +discovered that the features stood out in more perfect imitation. So let +us stand before the original and let the Holy Spirit work in us that +which is pleasing to God, and we shall be continually transformed into a +more perfect likeness of God. This must be your daily life. Attend +strictly to every Christian duty, be obedient to the Word and Spirit of +God, and you will become more and more like him and your soul will be +rich in grace. + + + + +BECOMING. + + +One translation has rendered Phil. 1:27 in these beautiful words: "Let +your manner of life be becoming the gospel of Christ." We speak of +anything being becoming when it gives a good appearance. An article of +clothing becomes you when it gives you a better or less awkward +appearance. So your life is to be becoming to the gospel of Christ. You +are to live so that your life will make the gospel of Christ more +beautiful to the hearts of men. You can do this only by living just as +the Bible reads. All the precious truths of the Bible are to read in +your life just as they do in the Bible, and thus your life will give a +better appearance to God's Word and make it more real and interesting to +the unsaved. + + + + +LOVE OF HOME. + + +[Illustration: A HAPPY HOME.] + +There are but few sweeter words in the English language than the word +_home_. I have thought the three sweetest words are _mother, home_, and +_heaven_. Home is the dearest place in all the world to the Christian +heart. To have a fond love for home is not at all injurious to Christian +character. Those who have but little love for home will never succeed +well in the Christian life. It may sometimes occur that some of the home +members are so disagreeable that the Christian for peace' sake will quit +the home roof; but he still loves home. Sometimes young people think +that to enjoy life they must get out from under parental rule and roof. +We have an instance of this nature recorded in the Bible. How soon we +learn of the prodigal's longing for the comforts of home. How often he +thought of his father's house, that place so dear to him now. The love +of home is a high mark of integrity. Show me one who has no love for +home, and I will show you one who has but little true manhood or +womanhood. The Bible command to young Christians is to be "chaste, +keepers at home." When our duty and service to God demand our absence +from home we submit and go in the strength of his grace, but lose not +our love for home, and return in joy at Father's will. + +You can nowhere find more of heaven upon earth than in a Christian home. +Look at the picture: A father with the Holy Bible, the mother and +children listening in reverence to the heavenly message. Where, I say, +can you find more of heaven? Such a scene is most sweet and sacred. +Methinks the angels bend low to catch the chants of praise that arise +from those devoted hearts to the gates of heaven. "Such a picture," you +may say, "is very beautiful and inspiring to look upon, but where is the +reality?" Thank God, such a home can be real in life, and it is your +duty as a Christian to help make it so. God is pleased with such a home. +It is much to his praise. Since such homes are so rare they are all the +more glorifying to God, and we should strive the more earnestly to have +them real. + +In your home is the place to shine for God. It is the place to shed +forth the radiant beams of Christian light from your grace-ladened soul. +If you hope to prosper in the divine life, be your best at home. Do not +think you can be careless at home and then shine in the splendor of +Christian virtue when before the public. Your life at home leaves its +mark upon you. Shine in Christian beauty at home, and you will shine in +beauty in public; but attempt away from home to be more than you are at +home, and you will miserably fail. A few years ago while in one of our +large Eastern cities laboring for Jesus and souls for whom he died I +wrote a few lines to the dear ones at home, which perhaps will not be +out of place to insert here. + +When the light of day is dying + And the shades of night steal on, +Voices to my mem'ry whisper + Of the dear loved ones at home. + +Ere the chandelier is lighted, + Ere the day's last ray is gone, +O'er me comes a fond remembrance + Of the dear loved ones at home. + +Far above in arch of heaven + Lamps are lighted one by one, +But I only see the bright eyes + Of the dear loved ones at home. + +Far away beyond the region + Where I see those shining stars, +Somewhere in the land of angels, + Dwells a little boy of ours. + +Years ago one wintry evening + Heaven's gate was opened wide, +And an angel swift descended, + With a sickle at his side. + +Paused he at our boy's low trundle + In the evening twilight hour, +Caught away his happy spirit + To its home beyond the stars. + +How my heart adores the Giver + Of all good o'er land and sea, +But I praise him more than ever + For the dear ones left to me. + +As I think of her he gave me + In my happy youthful time, +How he bound our hearts together + At love's pure and sacred shrine; + +As I think of her this moment, + Given me by love divine, +Seems I almost feel the pressure + Of her gentle hand in mine. + +In the arms of night I'm folded, + Soon in dreamland I shall roam; +Then I'll go and see the dear ones-- + See the dear loved ones at home. + + + + +VICTORY. + + +When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you +smile inwardly, glorying in the insult or the oversight, because thereby +counted worthy to suffer with Christ--that is victory. + +When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your +taste offended, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and +you take it all in patient, loving silence--that is victory. + +When you are content with any food, any raiment, any climate, any +society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God--that is +victory. + +When you can lovingly and patiently bear with any disorder, any +irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance--that is victory. + +When you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, +spiritual insensibility, and endure it all as Jesus endured it--that is +victory. + +When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record +your own good works, or to itch after commendation, when you can truly +love to be unknown--that is victory. + +When, like Paul, you can throw all your suffering on Jesus, thus +converting it into a means of knowing his overcoming grace, and can say +from a surrendered heart, "Most gladly," therefore, do "I take pleasure +in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in +distresses, for Christ's sake"--that is victory. 2 Cor. 12:7-11. + +When death and life are both alike to you through Christ, and to do his +perfect will, you delight not more in one than the other--that is +victory, for, through him, you may become able to say, "Christ shall be +magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death." Phil. 1:20. +"Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. 15:54. + +The perfect victory is to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and thus to +triumph over one's self. Rom. 13:14. + +"In all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." +Rom. 8:37. + + + + +THE FIRST LOVE. + + +You may wonder why we write so much about love. It is for the very best +reason in the world. Nothing is so great as love, and no way so +excellent. It is difficult to bind people together where love is +lacking. A religious people may resolve to live in peace and confidence +with one another; but this they will find to be very difficult if there +is a deficiency of love. Love solves the problem; it removes every +difficulty, and is the perfect bond of union. Nothing can separate +hearts that are full of love. Love must be suppressed before division +can be admitted. The most earnest exhortations and entreaties and the +strongest reprovings fail to get men to attend to every Christian duty +where love is wanting; but it is not difficult to persuade men to obey +God and do all they can to glorify him when they love him with all their +hearts. + +There was much in the life of the angel of the church at Ephesus that +was praiseworthy; but something was lacking. He had left his first love. +But, what is the first love? There is no difference between first love +and last love if it be love. Pure, genuine love is the same +always--first, last, and all the time. The overseers of this church, +and doubtless the church in general, had lost the ardor of the love +which they had at the first. Oh, the warmth, the sweetness, of first +love! Do you not remember it, dear reader? When you were so clearly and +wonderfully born of the Spirit of God, how ardent was the love in your +heart! It thrilled you with delight. There was a delicious, sweet taste +all through your soul. How gladly you would have taken wings and have +flown away to the arms of Him whom your heart loved. The word of God was +to your soul like honeyed dew upon your lips. How delightful it was to +labor for Jesus! How preciously sweet to make the greatest sacrifices +for his sake! and to go away into some secret place and pray was dearer +to you than can ever be told. You found the greatest pleasure in +attending to every Christian duty. I should be glad if I could describe +to you just what that first love was in your heart. I can not do this, +neither can you; but you know how it felt, and how joyful was your soul. +Oh, blessed happy day, when your sins were washed away, and love sang +its sweetest lay within your soul! + +Now, if you do not have the same ardor; the same warmth; the same sweet +relish for prayer, for the word of God, for a meeting; the same +thrilling sense of sweetness in your soul; that same precious drawing +toward God and toward the brethren; that same delight in laboring for +Jesus; that same joy and happiness in making sacrifices for him and for +your fellow man: if you do not feel those symptoms of love as deeply and +as delightfully, and if they are not in you as actively as they were at +the first,--you are like the church at Ephesus--you have left your first +love. In Wilson's excellent translation this text reads, "Thou hast +relaxed thy first love." They had lost the intensity of their first +love. It had relaxed, or lost tension, and had become languid. It does +not matter to what you testify, or who you are, if you have not the same +ardor and deep intensity of love that you had at the first, you have +relaxed love. + +Do not deceive yourself. Do not make any excuses. There is no necessity +of losing this fervency of love. The leaping, thrilling, bounding love +can be kept in the full blaze of its intensity in your soul as long as +you live. I can never encourage a cessation of love. No matter what the +circumstances, we can increase and abound more and more in love. You +may have works, you may have labor, you may have patience; so did the +church at Ephesus; but they had relaxed their first love. + +See to it, O beloved, that you do not lose the deep fervency of love. +Keep it burning in all its brightness and warmth; and the works and +labor and patience are sure to follow. But do not let your works, and +labor, and patience deceive you. See that there is an underlying +principle of love in all you do. If your works and labor and patience be +devoid of love, there will be a secret desire in your heart to attract +attention, and a longing for a bit of praise. But if all is done in +purest sincere godly love, the joy you will find in doing is a full and +sufficient reward. And, may the Lord give you understanding. + + + + +THE LITTLE FOXES. + + +One little fox is, "_Some other time_." If you track him up, you come to +his hole--_never._ + +Another little fox is, "_I can't."_ Just set on him a plucky little "_I +can_," and he will kill him for you. + +Another bad little fox is, "_Just a little_" pride, self-will, worldly +conformity, etc. That little mischief will strip the whole vine if left +go. + +Another malignant little fox is "_I haven't faith."_ He slips into the +vineyard through a knot-hole called _self_. You can shut him out by +removing the self-plank and filling up with Jesus only. + +Another bad little fox is, "_I haven't power."_ Be sure and catch him. +If you will take the pains to dig him up, you will find his nest some +where beyond the end of your present consecration. It will pay you to +take him, if you have to "dig deep" and work hard. + +Another devouring little fox is, "_My church_." "Salt" and "fire" is the +sure and only antidote for such nasty vermin. + +We will point out one more little fox, and he is able to devour all the +fruit of the vineyard and kill the very vines. His species is "_Fear_." +One good dose of "perfect love" will kill him stone-dead. And a constant +application of the blood of Christ will prevent this, with all other +little or big foxes, yea, and all other animals, ever coming to life +again. + + + + +SPIRITUAL DECLENSION. + + +A want of interest in the duties of secret devotion is a mark of +religious declension. It is well said that prayer is the Christian's +vital breath. A devout spirit is truly the life and soul of godliness. +The soul can not but delight in communion with what it loves with warm +affection. The disciple, when his graces are in exercise, does not enter +into his closet and shut the door, that he may pray to his Father who is +in secret, merely because it is a duty which must be done, but because +it is a service which he delights to render, a pleasure which he is +unwilling to forego. He goes to the mercy-seat as the thirsty hart goes +to the refreshing brook. The springs of his strength are there. There he +has blessed glimpses of his Savior's face, and unnumbered proofs of his +affection. + +But sometimes the professing Christian comes to regard the place of +secret intercourse with God with very different feelings. He loses, +perhaps by a process so gradual that he is scarcely conscious of it for +a time, the tenderness of heart, and the elevation and fervor of devout +affection that he had been used to feel in meeting God. There is less +and less of spirit and more and more of form in his religious exercises. +He retires at the accustomed time rather from force of habit than +because inclination draws him. He is enclined to curtail his seasons of +retirement or to neglect it altogether if a plausible pretext can be +found. He reproaches himself, perhaps, but hopes that the evil will cure +itself at length. And so he goes on from day to day, and week to week. +Prayer--if his heartless service deserves the name--affords him no +pleasure and adds nothing to his strength. Where such a state of things +exists it is evident that the pulses of spiritual life are ebbing fast. +If the case is yours, dear reader, it ought to fill you with alarm. +Satan is gaining an advantage of you and seducing you from God. + +A second sign of spiritual declension is indifference to the usual means +of grace. The spiritual life, not less than the natural life, requires +appropriate and continual nourishment. For this want God has made ample +provision in his Word. To the faithful-disciple the Scriptures are rich +in interest and profit. "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all +the day." To such a soul the preaching of the gospel is a joyful sound; +and the place where kindred spirits mingle in social praise and worship +is far more attractive than the scenes of worldly pleasure. But, alas! +from time to time it happens that some who bear the Christian name and +who have rejoiced in Christian hopes, insensibly lose their relish for +the Scriptures. If they continue to read them daily, it is no longer +with such appreciation of their power and beauty as makes them the bread +of life, refreshing and invigorating the soul. Their minds are occupied +no small portion of the time with thoughts of earthly things. They find +it easy to excuse themselves from frequenting the place of social +prayer, and even content themselves, perhaps, with an occasional +half-day attendance on the more public service of the sanctuary. And +when they are in the place of worship they feel listless, destitute of +spiritual affection, disposed to notice others or to attend to only mere +words and forms. They want, in a great measure, that preparation of the +heart, without which the means of grace are powerless and lacking in +pleasure or profit to the soul. Such indifference is conclusive proof +that the soul has departed from God; has grieved the Holy Spirit and +lost the vital power of godliness. If you, reader, are conscious of this +indifference, see in it an infallible sign of your backsliding. It +declares you have departed from the fountain of living waters and are a +wanderer from your God. + +A third indication of declension in the Christian life is a devotion to +the world. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the +world." Covetousness is idolatry. Christians are solemnly enjoined to +set their affections on things above, and to lay up treasures in heaven. +But look at yonder professed disciple. See how inordinately anxious he +is about gain. He is giving all his thoughts and time to business. He +enlarges his plans and extends his views. He suffers the hours of +worldly business to encroach upon the time which should be spent in +secret or in family worship or in the social prayer. He forgets that he +has no right to do this, and that he can not, without sin, permit the +claims of earth to crowd out the claims of God and his own immortal +nature. Look, too, at his compliance with the tastes and maxims of +worldly people. He appears to feel it is not best to be strict in his +adhesion to his principles. He doubts if there is any harm in this or +that or the other worldly indulgence. He does not see the need of being +so strenuous about little things. He is anxious to please everybody and +can not bear to thwart the wishes of the worldly-minded. If the world +dislikes any of the doctrines or the duties of religion he would have +little said about them. In a word, he is all things to all men, in a +very different sense from what Paul meant. In his sentiments, his +associations, his pleasures, his mode of doing business, his +conversation, his whole character, there is far too little that evinces +strength of holy principle and godliness. O reader, has your case been +described? You are then a backslider from the God whom you covenanted to +serve. + +A fourth sign of a state of declension in spirituality is an +unwillingness to receive Christian counsel or reproof. The Spirit of +Christ is a tender, gentle, docile Spirit. When the heart of the +disciple is full of holy affection he feels that he is frail and +insufficient. He seeks wisdom and strength from above and is thankful +for the kind suggestions of those whose experience and opportunities +have been greater than his own. If he errs and is admonished by some +faithful Christian brother, he receives it meekly and with a thankful +spirit. "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness," is the +language of his heart. Even though reproof in itself be painful, he +would not that it should be omitted when he has been in fault, for he +dreads nothing so much as doing wrong--as sinning against God and his +own soul. + +But the spirit that departs from God and duty is a self-willed spirit. +It is impatient of restraint. It is irritable and captious instead of +meek and willing to be taught. It can not brook any crossing of its +views, but esteems advice impertinent and meets admonition with +resentment. When he exhibits such a temper of mind; when he disregards +the opinions and feelings of fellow Christians; when he affects +independence and prides himself on doing as he pleases; when he keeps +out of the reach of Christian counsel, and justifies himself when +affectionately reproved; when he comes to regard the watchfulness of +others over him as an unwelcome and irksome thing; [when he charges you +with having a spirit of faultfinding, of having no charity, but that you +only discourage and press him down when you try to show him his lack of +spiritual life],--it is clear that he exhibits no more the fruits of the +Holy Spirit's influence on his soul. His piety has declined; he no +longer lives in intimacy with God and in the atmosphere of heaven. His +light is dim. His glory has departed. + +The last indication of religious declension that we shall now speak of +is a careless indifference to the danger arising from temptation. A +Christian whose piety is warm and vigorous has great tenderness of +conscience. He dreads the least approach of evil. Even the suggestions +of sin to the mind are painful. He therefore prays earnestly and daily, +"Lead me not into temptation," and carefully avoids placing himself in +dangerous circumstances. Sometimes, however, you will see professing +Christians who seem to want this instinctive sense of danger. They often +place themselves in circumstances when they might easily have foreseen +their strength of principle would be liable to be put to the severest +test. They keep company in which it is nearly impossible that their +moral feelings should not be defiled. They allow themselves to assort +with the idle, the frivolous, with those who are given to foolish +talking and jesting; they indulge idle thoughts, repeat amusing stories, +read hooks and papers that do not gender to piety, etc. But he who is +willing to go as far toward evil as he can with safety, has lost one of +the greatest safe-guards of virtue. He who is ready to tamper with +temptation is on dangerous ground and in a sad state of declension. O +reader, turn ye about, shake loose from the world, draw nigh to God, let +the deep breathings waft your soul upward and upward to greater heights +in God's joy and love, and this world will only be a dim specter in the +distance. + + + + +DILIGENCE. + + +"O for a closer walk with God!" This is the inward pleading of many a +precious blood-washed soul. I beg leave to tell you that that fulness of +God, that deep and perfect satisfaction of soul, that sweet feeling of +deep reverence, that hushed and sacred feeling of awe, that close walk +with God, is _obtained_ and _retained_ only by the _utmost_ diligence. +Slothfulness in the Christian life is a sure source of degeneration. +Too frequently when saints reach "fair Canaan's happy land" they think +they have nothing now to do but to sing and shout and praise God and go +to heaven "on flowery beds of ease." To every newly arrived Christian in +Canaan is given the command, "Go forward and possess the land." To do +this battles must be fought, giant foes must be defeated, and the +greatest diligence must be practised. God promised ancient Israel to +drive out all the nations of Canaan from before them, and that every +place whereon the soles of their feet should tread should be theirs, if +they would diligently keep all the commandments that the Lord commanded +them, to love the Lord, to walk in his ways, and to cleave unto him. See +Deut. 11:22-24. + +If we will diligently obey God and go forward at his command he will +lead us where the milk and honey flow, and where the pastures are green. +Our walk with him will be sweet and our souls perfectly satisfied. Since +the term _diligence_ is so frequently used in Scripture and such +emphasis placed upon it, it is well worth our time to learn its meaning. +We often, among the saints, hear testimonies like these: "I am living +up to all the Word of God"; or, "All the Bible requires of me, I am +doing"; "I love God and find delight in doing all his will," etc. Such +expressions are very full of meaning and may sometimes mean more than +the witness comprehends. Let me ask you, Are you as diligent in every +respect as the Bible commands you to be? + +Diligence implies an earnest and constant effort to accomplish a desired +end--a carefulness, a heedfulness, an industry, a close and fixed +attention. + +Many a heart has been robbed of the love of God because it was not kept +by diligence. Many a beloved saint can look back to a few years ago when +his soul was more fully satisfied and his heart abounded more in the +love of God, and all because diligence was not given to "keep the +heart." In Josh. 22:5 the commandment is to take diligent heed to love +God, to walk in his ways, to keep his commandments, to cleave unto him, +and to serve him with all the heart and with all the soul. May the Lord +help the reader to comprehend the strength of this commandment. O how +precious! To take diligent heed to love God, implies a careful avoidance +of everything that would have a tendency to suppress his love in our +hearts and to eagerly seek all possible means of increasing that love. +All company whose spirit and conversation have a tendency to destroy +love is avoided as far as possible without violating the command, "Be +courteous." Reading amusing stories; telling amusing, worldly incidents, +the happenings of bygone days; fondness for the general news of the day; +gossiping; admiration for the pomp and show of the world; careless, idle +thoughts; fondness for society,--all serve to extinguish the love of God +in our hearts. Talking with others about God and his works, reading his +Word, meditating upon him, praying, attending meetings, doing good to +all men, giving of our means to advance his cause,--all these increase +the love in our hearts toward him. To be diligent, to serve the Lord +with all the heart and with all the soul, is to be industrious in doing +all we can for him; seeking opportunities of doing good, carefulness in +obeying all his commands, testifying to the works of God, and showing +forth his praises continually. + +Your soul may long for a closer walk with God, and well that it does; +but if you do not keep your heart with all diligence from the world, you +will never enjoy the blessed experience. But by giving diligence you can +have such a walk with God as to fully satisfy your soul. + + + + +LOWLINESS. + + +But few traits of Christian character are more lovely than lowliness. +Humility, meekness, and lowliness are terms nearly synonymous, but not +wholly so. It is somewhat difficult for the mind to grasp the shades of +difference in their meaning. It appears, however, that lowliness is the +deepest depth of humility and meekness. Meekness is the opposite of +impatience, harshness, or irritability, and has for its fruit gentleness +and kindness. Humility is the opposite of pride, and has for its fruits +modesty, unforwardness, etc. Lowliness is simply the opposite of +highness in self in any respect, and has for its fruits meekness and +humility with their fruits. + +To us this command is given: 'Walk worthy of your vocation with all +lowliness.' If you have the experience of "all lowliness," you will go +on in your vocation without discouragement and disappointment, though +you are unnoticed and wholly ignored. And though God promotes others and +honors them and they are loved and praised by men, you are glad for them +and rejoice. If you have the experience of "all lowliness" in your soul, +you will not have the least disposition to lift up self. All you do and +say will be in godly sincerity. Now look closely. + +If God heals some one through your prayers, be careful when you tell of +the healing that it is to lift up the Lord only. If you have composed a +song, and sing it to a company who do not know that it is your song, +then you tell them the Lord gave you the song, what is your motive? Do +you want them to know how good and great the Lord is, and nothing more? +or do you want them to know that you are the author? I say, look closely +into your motive. If, from the lowliness of your heart, you desire in +all you do and say, only to exalt the Lord, it will be felt in the depth +of your speech, and God will be honored; but if there is the least +inclination or feeling to exalt self, it will be felt in the +gracelessness of your speech, and God will be dishonored. Go humbly on +in life attending to the work God has assigned to you, doing it well and +in all lowliness of heart before him, and be content. + + + + +ON DRESS. + + +If you could be as humble when you choose rich apparel (which I flatly +deny), yet you could not be as beneficent, as plenteous in good works. +Therefore every shilling that you needlessly spend on your apparel is in +effect _stolen from the poor_! For what end do you want these ornaments? +To please God? No!--but to please your own fancy or to gain the +admiration and applause of those who are no wiser than yourself. If so, +what you wear you are in effect tearing from the back of the naked; and +the costly and delicate food you eat, you are snatching from the mouth +of the hungry. For mercy, for pity, for Christ's sake, for the honor of +his gospel, stay your hand! Do not throw this money away. Do not lay out +on nothing, yea worse than nothing, what may clothe your poor, naked, +shivering fellow creatures. + +Many years ago, when I was at Oxford, on a cold winter's day, a young +maid (one of those we keep at school) called on me. I said, "You seem +half starved. Have you nothing to cover you but that thin gown?" She +said, "Sir, this is all I have." I put my hand in my pocket, but found +no money left, having just paid away all that I had. It struck me, "Will +thy Master say, 'Well done, good and faithful steward. Thou hast adorned +thy wall with the money which might have screened this poor creature +from the cold'? O justice! O mercy! Are not these pictures the blood of +the poor maid? See thy expensive apparel in the same light; thy gown, +hat, head-dress!" + +Everything about thee which costs more than Christian duty required thee +to lay on, is the blood of the poor! Oh, be wise for the time to come! +Be more merciful; more faithful to God and man; more abundantly clad +(like men and women professing godliness) _with good works_. + +It is _stark, staring nonsense_ to say, "Oh, I can _afford_ this or +that!" If you have regard to common sense, let that silly word never +come into your mouth. No man living can _afford_ to throw away any part +of that food or raiment into the sea which was lodged with him on +purpose to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. And it is far worse +than waste to spend any part of it in gay and costly apparel. For this +is no less than to turn wholesome food into deadly poison. It is giving +so much money to poison both yourself and others as far as your example +spreads, with pride, vanity, anger, lust, love of the world, and a +thousand "foolish and hurtful desires" which tend to "pierce them +through with many sorrows." O God, arise and maintain thy own cause! Let +not men and devils any longer put out our eyes and lead as blindfolded +into the pit of destruction. + +God demands of his people that they dress modestly as becomes people who +profess holiness. The putting on of apparel for adornment and the +wearing of jewelry are not consistent with Christian modesty. The nude +and lewd art of dressing which is becoming so prevalent among professors +of Christ is an abomination in the sight of God, and a practise which no +virtuous man or woman can countenance. If professors would stop and +consider the character of women who invent popular fashions of the age +they might well blush with shame at their eager attempts to follow the +modern styles of dress invented by the wicked leaders of fashion in +London and Paris, whence the latest styles of this country generally +emanate. It is indeed sad to behold the young of to-day making +themselves unfit to fulfil the sacred functions of wife and mother by +the use of the modern corset, as well as laying a foundation for years +of misery, dragged out in this life by diseases brought upon them by +catering to the creed of millions who worship at the shrine of Fashion. +The pride of their hearts, pampered and fed by the foolish practises of +the age, blinds them to their obligations to God as a Creator and +Savior; and amid the whirl of earthly vanity they hasten to the awful +doom that awaits all who fail to obey the gospel of Christ. + +The Word of God gives plain directions to Christians as to how they +should dress. In olden times God permitted his people to wear some +jewelry; that is, there was no law against it; but there came a time +when he promised that he would cleanse the hearts of his people from all +pride and vanity, and they should find no pleasure in putting on +ornamental dress and jewelry, and costly array. In Isa. 3:16-23 we have +a clear prophecy of the gospel age, and how God was going to have his +people dress modestly in accordance with their profession. We shall +quote from the LXX: "Thus saith the Lord, because the daughters of Sion +are haughty, and have walked with an outstretched neck, and with winking +of the eyes, and motion of the feet: ... therefore the Lord will humble +the chief daughters of Sion, and the Lord will expose their form in that +day; and the Lord will take away the glory of their raiment, the curls +and the fringes, and the crescents, and the chains, and the ornaments of +their faces, and the array of glorious ornaments, and the armlets, and +the bracelets, and the wreathed work, and the finger-rings, and the +ornaments for the right hand, and the earrings, and the garments with +scarlet borders, and the garments with purple grounds, and the shawls to +be worn in the house, and the Spartan transparent dresses, and those +made of fine linen, and the purple ones, and the scarlet ones, and the +fine linen, interwoven with gold and purple, and the light coverings for +couches." + +We shall now quote from the New Testament: "In like manner also, that +women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and +sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; +but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." 1 Tim. +2:9,10. + +"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any +obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the +conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation +coupled with fear, whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of +plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; +but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not +corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in +the sight of God of great price." 1 Pet. 3:1-4. + +The wearing of feathers, artificial flowers, frills, flounces, +unnecessary tucks and trimmings, is not in harmony with the gospel +standard of modest apparel. Queer-shaped hats, such as we see worn by +the people who follow the fashions of the world, should be avoided by +the saints as they would every other thing unbecoming to a Christian; +not fashioning themselves according to their former lusts in their +ignorance. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so he ye holy in +all manner of conversation." 1 Pet. 1:15. + +The all-wise God who gave these commands knows what is for the good of +his people, and if we love him, we will obey. When the heart is cleansed +from all pride there will be no difficulty in measuring up to the gospel +on the matter of modest apparel. We trust all who read this may realize +it is truth. + + + + +THE ELIXIR OF LIFE. + + +I have seen patent medicines bearing the above title. By the word +_elixir_ is meant length of days and happiness. The medical man by +labeling his cordial with this title offers to give to all who will take +it a long life of happiness. Such things have their sad failures; but I +will offer to you a prescription, which, if you will carefully follow, +will prove an unfailing elixir of life. "For he that will love life, and +see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that +they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek +peace, and ensue it." 1 Pet. 3:10,11. If the reader will follow these +directions strictly, making them practical in every-day life, we can +upon the authority God has given insure him a long and happy life. + + + + +RULES FOR EVERY-DAY LIFE. + + +"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt." Col. 4:6. + +"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power +of thine hand to do it." Prov. 3:27. + +"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without." Col. 4:5. + +"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Phil. 2:14. + +"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth." Prov. 27:2. + +"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks." Prov. 27:23. + +"Eat so much as is sufficient for thee." Prov. 25:16. + +"Be not wise in your own conceits." Rom. 12:16 + +"Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thes. 5:22. + +"See that none render evil for evil unto any man." 1 Thes. 5:15. + +"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." Rom. 12:10. + +"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom. 12:21. + +"Be content with such things as ye have." Heb. 13:5. + +"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Eccl. 9:10. + +"Let all things be done with charity." 1 Cor. 16:14. + +"Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Jas. 1:2. + +"Keep thyself pure." 1 Tim. 5:22. + +"In everything give thanks." I Thes. 5:18. + +"Keep yourselves in the love of God." Jude 21. + +"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and +watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all +saints." Eph. 6:18. + + + + +A HOLY LIFE. + + +What, in its true sense, is a holy life? It is the life of Jesus. His +whole manner of life was truly holy. His life is the ideal life. If we +would live holy, we must live as he lived. We must walk as he walked. +The artist has his ideal before him, and with touches of the brush here +and there upon his drawing he forms a picture in an exact image of the +ideal. The life of Jesus is what we are to imitate. He sets the example +of holy living and calls us to the same holy life. "As he which hath +called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." 1 Pet. +1:15. This text has a better rendering in the Revised Version: "Like as +he which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of +living." We, as Christians, are God's offspring and as such are like +him. + +Holiness in the life of Jesus is found not only in the greater miracles +which he performed, but also in the lesser happenings of his life. The +restoring of life to the dead is no more beautifully holy than the +laying of his hands upon the heads of children and blessing them. His +memorable Sermon on the Mount no more portrays the loveliness of his +character than the conversation with the woman by the wayside well. It +is the little things in every-day life, if attended to and kept in the +meekness and solemnity of the Spirit of Christ, that make life truly +beautiful and holy. It is not the eloquent sermon that makes a life so +sublime; but it is the tender smile, the kind word, the gentle look, +that is given to all. It is the patient manner in which all the little +trying and provoking things of life are met. + +You may preach or write ever so forcibly and eloquently, and bring out +the sublime truths of the Bible in great beauty; but if, in the privacy +of your own home, there are little frettings, a little peevishness, a +little crossness, a little levity, a little selfishness, a little +distrust, your life is not as truly holy as it should be. If you desire +God's holy image to be stamped upon your soul, your countenance, and +your life, carefully avoid the little sprigs of lightness, the little +bits of sloth and indolence, touches of forwardness, rudeness, +coarseness, and crossness, and acts of selfishness, etc. + +Pure words belong to a holy life. You should use the very choicest +words. Words that are wholly free from vulgarity, slang, and the spirit +of the world. Untidiness, uncleanness, carelessness, and shabbiness are +not at all beautiful ornaments in a holy life. But quietness, modesty, +and reticence are gems which sparkle in a holy life like diamond sets in +a band of gold. Give attention to your words, your thoughts, your tone +of voice, your feelings, the practise of self-denial, of little acts of +benevolence, of promptness, of method and order. These are auxiliaries +to holy living. Are there not many little things in your home life that +you can improve upon? Seek God for help and be truly holy. + + + + +A SOLITARY WAY. + + +There is a mystery in human hearts, +And though we be encircled by a host +Of those who love us well, and are beloved, +To ev'ry one of us, from time to time, +There comes a sense of utter loneliness. +Our dearest friend is "stranger" to our joy, +And can not realize our bitterness. +"There is not one who really understands, +Not one to enter into all I feel," +Such is the cry of each of us in turn. +We wander in "a solitary way," +No matter what or where our lot may be; +Each heart, mysterious even to itself, +Must live its inner life in solitude. +And would you know the reason why this is? +It is because the Lord desires our love. +In ev'ry heart he wishes to be first, +He therefore keeps the secret key himself, +To open all its chambers, and to bless +With perfect sympathy and holy peace +Each solitary soul which comes to him. +So when we feel this loneliness it is +The voice of Jesus saying, "Come to me"; +And ev'ry time we are "not understood," +It is a call to us to come again: +For Christ alone can satisfy the soul. +And those who walk with him from day to day +Can never have "a solitary way." +And when beneath some heavy cross you faint +And say, "I can not bear this load alone," +You say the truth. Christ made it purposely +So heavy that you must return to him. +The bitter grief, which "no one understands," +Conveys a secret message from the King, +Entreating you to come to him again. +The "Man of sorrows" understands it well, +"In all points tempted," he can feel with you; +You can not come too often, or too near. +The Son of God is infinite in grace, +His presence satisfies the longing soul; +And those who walk with him from day to day +Can never have "a solitary way." + + + + +STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST. + + +"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, that fluttereth over her young, he +spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bare them on his pinions." + +That picture is full of poetry, full of life and truth and beauty. Mark +it. Have you ever seen an eagle stir up her nest? You know what happens. +There in the nest, right upon the rocky heights, are the eaglets. The +mother eagle comes and, taking hold of them, flings them out of the +nest. They were so comfortable there, but she flings them right out of +the nest, high above the earth. They begin to fall straightway. They +never have been in air before; they have always been in the nest. + +Is not that mother bird cruel? Why does she disturb the eaglets? + +Watch her and you will understand. As long as you look upon the +struggling eaglets in the air you miss the point. Watch the eagle. +Having stirred up her nest, "she spreadeth abroad her pinions," the +pinions that beat the air behind her as she rises superior to it. Where +are the eaglets? Struggling, falling; she is superior; they are falling. +Then what does she do? "She beareth them on her pinions." She swoops +beneath them, catches them on her wings, and bears them up. What is she +doing? Teaching them to fly. She drops them again, and again they +struggle in the air, but this time not so helplessly. They are finding +out what she means. She spreads her pinions to show them how to fly, and +as they fall again, she catches them again. That is how God deals with +you and me. + +Has he been stirring up your nest? Has he flung you out until you feel +lost in an element that is new and strange? Look at him. He is not lost +in that element. He spreads out the wings of omnipotence to teach us how +to soar. What then? He comes beneath us and catches us on his wings. We +thought when he flung us out of the nest it was unkind. No; he was +teaching us to fly that we might enter into the spirit of the promise, +"They shall mount up with wings as eagles." He would teach us how to +use the gifts which he has bestowed on us, and which we can not use as +long as we are in the nest. + +Fancy keeping eaglets in the nest! It is contrary to their nature, +contrary to the purposes for which they are framed and fitted. There is +a purpose in the eagle. What is it! Flight upward. There is a purpose in +your life, new-born child of God! What is it? Flight Godward, sunward, +heavenward. If you stop in the nest you will never get there. God comes +into your life and disturbs you, breaks up your plans, and extinguishes +your hopes, the lights that have lured you on. He spoils everything; +what for? That he may get you on his wings and teach you the secret +forces of your own life, and lead you to the higher development and +higher purposes. The government of God is a disturbing element, but, +praise his name! it is a progressive element. + + + + +SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO. + + +Do not forget to pray. + +Do not waste any moments in idleness. + +Do not use slang words in your conversation. + +Do not build air-castles. + +Do not think evil nor speak evil of any one. + +Do not lack showing courtesy to all men. + +Do not be rude in manners. + +Do not think yourself to be something more than you are. + +Do not try to make others think you are better than you really are. + +Do not tell the faults of a friend to others. + +Do not wear what the Bible condemns. + +Do not dress slovenly. + +Do not work too much. + +Do not work too little. + +Do not talk too much. + +Do not eat too much. + +Do not sleep too much. + +Do not neglect going to meetings. + +Do not neglect giving all you can to the cause of Christ. + +Do not neglect reading the Bible. + +Do not do to others what you would not like for them to do to you. + +Do not forget to practise much self-denial. + +Do not neglect to be zealously affected in a good cause. + +Do not neglect to admonish your brother. + +Do not seek the praise of men. + +Do not do anything through strife or vain glory. + +Do not be afraid of the devil. + +Do not think your trials are greater than those of others. + +Do not neglect to bear the burdens of others. + +Do not neglect to bear your own burdens. + +Do not fret, worry, nor murmur. + +Do not testify to something you do not live. + +Do not let your thoughts wander idly about. + +Do not neglect to show meekness and kindness to all men. + +Do not compromise with sin to the least degree. + +Do not neglect your salvation. + +Do not weary in well-doing, knowing in due season you shall reap if you + +_Do not faint_. + + + + +PURITY. + + +There are but few words in the English language sweeter and more +beautiful than the word _purity_. What tender, mellow light beams out +from its depths through its crystal clearness! what a halo of glory +encircles it! what a sweet melody is contained in the sound, which, as +it falls upon the soul, awakens all that is manly, noble, and godly +there! Purity! who can repeat this word and not feel and hear a sweet +rythm reverberating through all the avenues of his spiritual being? +"_Keep thyself pure."_ Is there a soul so deep in slumber, so stupefied +by the opiates of sin, as to know no awakening by the sweet melodious +chimes that ring out from this heavenly command! Dismal, indeed, must be +the heart in which no aspirations for a pure, devoted life are awakened +by these glorious words. + +Listen, O my soul, to the sweet music, "_Keep thyself pure_." Tuned by +the Spirit and sung by the voice of inspiration, in the bright morning +of this glorious gospel day, it comes ringing down through the ages and +is awakening desires and aspirations for the truest nobility of manhood, +the deepest piety, and the highest plane of moral purity to which man +can attain through the redeeming grace of God. + +The command to you, young man, is, "_Keep thyself pure_"; and to you, +young lady, "_Keep thyself pure_"; and to all who are farther down the +stream of life and hastening on to the boundless ocean of eternity, +"_Keep thyself pure."_ If you desire to comprehend something of the true +meaning of purity, think of heaven: what purity is in heaven, so it is +on earth; what it is in the life of Christ, so it is in the life of man. +Here upon the shores of time we look away, by an eye of faith, and +behold the purity of heaven and its inhabitants. We behold the angels +and the great white throne, upon which sits the King of glory; but who, +of all mankind, will really be eye-witnesses of that fair scene? The +Lamb, who is the light over there, makes answer, "Blessed are the pure +in heart: for they shall see God." + +From that golden throne of God and the Lamb, the "beloved disciple," +from the land of visions, saw flowing a pure river of water of life, +clear as crystal; and he heard the Lord of heaven and earth saying, "I +will give unto him that is athirst of the water of life freely"; and the +Spirit and the bride repeat the invitation, saying, "Whosoever will, let +him come and take of the water of life freely." But what is this pure +river of water of life? It is the wonderful river of God's saving grace, +issuing forth from out his throne and flowing throughout all his +kingdom. The Son of God extended his Father's kingdom to this earth and +set the glorious stream of salvation flowing here. This wonderful stream +is just as pure and its waters just as sweet in their onward flowing +here, as they are when they come sparkling forth from out the throne. If +you will come and wash in this crystal stream; if you will drink of its +delicious waters,--they will make you as pure as the throne from which +they flow. If you will allow them to ripple over your soul, they will +cleanse you and make you pure, so that purity in your heart will not be +inferior to that purity which encircles the throne of God. Glory to his +name! + +The Psalmist says, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, +and I shall be whiter than snow." White is an emblem of purity. When +John beheld the multitude of all nations standing before the throne and +the Lamb, clothed in white robes, he asked whence they came. "These are +they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, +and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 7:14. + +Purity of soul and heart and mind and conscience and thought and life +is an experience to be attained to and enjoyed in this life. Peter says, +"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." 1 Pet. 1:22. +Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart." Mat. 5:8. Paul says, "I +thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience." 2 +Tim. 1:3. Peter says, "I stir up your pure minds." 2 Pet. 3:1. Paul +says, "Whatsoever things are pure, ... think on these things." See Phil. +4:8,9. Christ is the standard of purity. "And every man that hath this +hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1 John 3:3. Purity +in all the affections, in all the desires, in all the motives, and in +all the thoughts. The heart that is made pure in the light of God +reveals nothing contrary to heaven. Nothing can be more noble and +beautiful upon earth than a pure life. Oh, how many unclean and impure +thoughts and desires are filling the minds and hearts of men and women +in these awful iniquitous days! Dear reader, "Keep thyself pure." + + + + +MEANS FOR GROWTH. + + +You have started out fairly upon the Christian way. You have been "born +again"; you have been immersed in water, or buried with Christ in +baptism; you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. With such +an experience you are admitted to the contest for the "crown of life." +Now since you are thus started out upon the Christian way, it is a fact +that you must "grow in grace." + +There are certain means for you to use that will promote growth. If you +neglect these, you will not, you can not, grow. You must live much in +prayer; you must read the Bible; you must attend meetings that are +ordered of God; you must partake of the Lord's Supper as you have +opportunity; you must wash the saints' feet. You will be blest with +grace to your soul if you do these things as unto the Lord. You must +give of your means to God's cause freely and cheerfully; you must +diligently follow every good work; and you will be neither barren nor +unfruitful in the knowledge and grace of God. + + + + +LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. + + +The "crown of life" lies at the end of the race. Some run well for a +time, and then because of slight hindrances turn from the way. You must +endure unto the end. You must follow the example of the zealous apostle +who said, "I reach forth to the things that are before," and, "I press +toward the mark for the prize." The prize was the crown of life. He +bends forward in the race with all the energy of his soul. Down at the +end of the race he beholds the crown. Sin, Satan, nor the world shall +not hinder him in securing it. You must be just as much in earnest. You +must strive, and that lawfully, lest some one take your crown. + +Some years ago a number of boatmen off the coast of New England raced +for a prize in single boats. As they were nearing the end of the race it +was discovered by the spectators that a special favorite was a +half-boat's length ahead of all its competitors. His friends began to +cheer him, and he, animated by their cheers, gave a responsive cheer, +and, in doing so, lost a stroke of the oar; a competitor seeing his +opportunity bent to his oar with all energy, shot past him and won the +prize. + +The apostle Paul warns you against youthful lusts, and tells you to flee +from them; to follow peace, righteousness, godliness; to fight the good +fight of faith; and to lay hold upon eternal life. + +We are in days when the love of many is waxing cold because iniquity +abounds. You must keep the ardor of love glowing in your heart. Allow +not the world nor aught else to extinguish the tender flame. Everything +that has a tendency to suppress love, to cool its ardor, to dilute its +sweetness in your soul, to lessen the yearnings of your heart for more +of God, to deprive you of the sweet realization of constantly leaning on +his breast,--consider all such things your bitter foes and rout them at +any cost. + +Run life's race with all the energy of your soul, never relaxing effort +until the prize is in full possession. The dying testimony of the +apostle Paul may be yours. When he had come down to the end of his +journey he said as he stood, as it were, one foot upon time and the +other in eternity, "The time of my departure is at hand." Then taking a +last retrospective view of his life, he said, "I have fought a good +fight." Then taking a look at inward conditions, he said, "I am ready to +be offered up." Then looking out into the future's prospect, he said, +"Henceforth there is a crown of righteousness laid up for me." O beloved +young saints, run well your race. Keep your eyes upon the goal, fight +the good fight of faith, be in earnest, live every moment for God, and +you can have a dying testimony like the above. + + + + +CRUCIFIXION OF SELF. + + +It requires no little courage, coupled with the grace of God, to go to +Calvary. There are many Christians who will follow Jesus so long as it +is "Hosanna to the King of David," who fail to follow him to Calvary. +Most persons love the sweets of grace, and thus many follow the Lord for +the loaves and fishes; but when it comes to following him for his own +sake, even unto judgment, where our earthliness is revealed, then too +often we follow "afar off." Many will serve for reward, who refuse to +serve for righteousness' sake. Satan understood this in the case of +Job; so he said to the Lord, "Doth Job serve God for naught?" Job +endured even unto the end, and proved by actual test his devotion to God +and not to His gifts. + +Saints are like soldiers--many there be who enlist, but few who +fearlessly face death. All like life, though it be a life out of harmony +with God. Satan said of Job, "All that a man hath will he give for his +life." So Christians' last surrender is their own earthly life. They +love the earthly, the dust; and to die to all that is not divine is a +price that few will pay. + +Many talk of crucifixion, yea, claim to be crucified, who know hardly +the first step away from self. To let self, the flesh, and all evil +within perish; to draw the last drop of earthliness from our veins,--is +a price but few will pay for all the life of God. God through Moses gave +to the children of Israel a heritage; but never in their greatest +conquest did they attain all of that heritage. So with Christians: how +few ever attain all of that God-life offered them through our Lord Jesus +Christ. The Israelites made a league with certain of the inhabitants of +the land whom they should have destroyed. How many Christians spare +those enemies within which should die. They may force the death of many, +perhaps most of their earthliness; but somewhere there is that with +which they will not part. Of course, the earthliness may not be manifest +as before; "hewers of wood and drawers of water" they become, yet they +are there and live there. "I will be found of them when they seek me +with their whole heart." Wholehearted devotion to God is a rare quality, +and only the fewest of the few ever attain it. An idol somewhere, a +desire, a wish, a preference, a hope not born of God, but of man or of +the flesh, is the separation line. Yea, to cease from our labors as God +did from his, and thus reach true rest, is a haven but few ever reach. + +To literally cease, that Jehovah may be the beginning and the end, means +blood, and thorns, and nails in the hands. Yes, it means Calvary and the +tomb. This is too much for many who go part way with Jesus. How few +realize that perhaps the most of our religious aspirations are born not +of God, but of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of man; and this +is why our efforts are so barren, futile, and earthly. Yes, to hide away +so that every act, every purpose, every hope, centers in God and points +to him and away from man--what a rare spiritual attainment! Many who are +said to be very spiritual and leaders in the work of God, if robbed of +this glory, would cease. To work for the eyes of God alone is not a +sufficient reward for very many who have climbed well up the gospel +ladder. To know when we are dead in the highest light. Self-abnegation +can not be discerned so long as we want to live. If we never reach the +point where we literally "hate our own life," we shall never know how +much there is in us not divine. The flesh is ever the veil that +separates between the holy place and the holy of holies. Until we have +reached that place where we have lost sight of all that is human, and +hunger and thirst for all the life of God, Christian perfection is an +impossible attainment. + +This little book has been written for your success in the divine life. +We have hoped and prayed for your well being in the grace of God; but +unless you are dead to self our prayers are but in vain. Oh, the +beauties and the blessings and the rich glories, and happiness and +usefulness for you in life, if you are fully possessed with life of God! +Be dead indeed to self, and let God live in you to his praise. + + + + +LOVE NOT THE WORLD. + + +If you value your success in the Christian life, keep a wide gulf +between you and this world. By the expression _the world_ I mean its +amusements, its revelry, its praise, its fashions, its society, its +spirit. The present-day amusements or entertainments offered by secret +orders and sects and by others are very destructive to spiritual life. +Unless you are willing to walk alone with Jesus and let the blessedness +of his companionship suffice for you, you had as well quit the race now. +Mingle with worldly people, only to tell them of God's love. + +To love and enjoy the society of the world is to have a heart destitute +of grace. Therefore keep away from the world. Beware of it. It is a +bitter foe to grace. It is an enemy to God; and if you befriend it, you +make yourself an enemy to God. "Whosoever is a friend to the world is an +enemy to God," so says the Bible. To be a friend to the world is to help +it along in any sense--to encourage its spirit; to add to its pleasures, +to its levity, its fashion, its foolishness; or to abet it in any way. +You go into the world, only for the purpose of saving people from the +world, and thus you are the world's enemy; and so you must continue to +be, or miss heaven. + + + + +HAVE A CARE. + + +The world has many gaudy wings-- + Have a care! +She flits among the flow'rs and sings-- + Many a snare. + Beware +Of the hidden poisonous stings. + +Earth's pleasures are a golden cup-- + Have a care! +She bids you take one little sup-- + Many a snare. + Beware +Of the hidden sting in the cup. + +Earth's riches have a charm most rare-- + Have a care! +She bids you seek a goodly share-- + Many a snare. + Beware-- +She will sting with many a care. + +Vain worldly fame's a painted flow'r-- + Have a care! +She dwells in an enchanted bow'r-- + Many a snare. + Beware-- +She'll chide you in an evil hour. + +The world is but an empty show-- + Have a care! +Of true joys a dangerous foe-- + Many a snare. + Beware-- +Her greatest gain's oft deepest woe. + + + + +AFFINITIES. + + +By the term _affinity_ I mean that enamored feeling which arises in the +hearts of those of opposite sex for each other. This Satan may take +advantage of; and in this awful snare many a soul has gone down into the +darkness; many a heaven-born and happy soul has received its awful +blight, and gone down to an eternity of woe. Some one may ask, "Is not +marriage honorable? and does not God join hearts together in love?" He +certainly does; but when he does and all is kept in God's order the +parties in love will not suffer any loss of spirituality. Courtship can +be carried on in the will and order of God, and the parties engaged have +a constant growth in grace. But so many times they become silly-headed +and allow their love for each other to carry them out of God's order, +and consequently they will soon be graceless-hearted. + +Now I speak the truth when I say that by far the greater number of +saints who fall in love suffer spiritual loss. This need not be so. In +the first place, the love for each other must be genuine; but, though +God is calling two together and the love which springs up is in the +order of the Lord, this does not insure them against spiritual loss. If +they are not watchful they will lose their heads, so to speak, and step +away beyond the bonds of propriety. + +There is many a young man and young woman united in marriage these days, +even young saints, whom wisdom has not directed. Such may succeed in +getting through and escaping the damnation of hell, but they will have +trouble in the flesh. + +Now, dear young saint, if you desire to be successful in life and gain +heaven, if you will keep your senses you can keep clear from all the +meshes of unholy affinities. You desire to have a life companion if God +selects you one. I can not blame you for this, neither does the Bible +condemn you; but the utmost caution needs to be exercised. Be careful +your desire for companionship does not turn your head and render you +incapable of knowing or understanding the will of God. Whenever you find +yourself losing love for God, you had better beware. Whenever the object +of your affection is getting so upon your heart and mind that you think +less of God you are going beyond His ordering. If your last thoughts in +the evening and your earliest thoughts in the morning are of the loved +one, you are being estranged from God and losing spiritual life. I feel +like giving you warning and counsel you to move very cautiously and +prayerfully in these matters, lest you make a mistake and suffer a loss +that neither time nor eternity will ever make up. + +Young saints must not keep company with the unsaved. Those who do, lose +spirituality. If you love God and desire to live a spiritual life, wait +on God and let him select your life companion. + + + + +THE GUARDIAN ANGEL. + + +When you entered the Christian race God gave an angel to guard and guide +you in the way. You need have no fear of this world. + +Live in God's service and do his will, and this guardian angel will +keep you. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear +Him, and delivereth them." + +It was this angel that stood with Daniel in the den of lions and with +the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace. It was this angel that +led the weeping Hagar to the well of water when her child was dying of +thirst; and that led the righteous Lot out of the wicked city of Sodom +and saved him from its awful burning. When Elijah was hunted for his +life and sat down to weep and to starve under the juniper-tree, it was +this guardian angel that brought him a cake and a cruse of water. It was +this good angel that unbolted the prison doors and set Peter free. When +Paul and Silas were lying fast in the stocks singing praise to God at +midnight, it was the angel of the Lord that shook the earth and opened +the prison doors. + +[Illustration: LIFE.] + +You once were lost, but the Son of man came to save you. Now you are +saved; you have entered his fold; you have become one of his "little +ones." Once lost, but now saved. Jesus says to this cruel, mocking +world, "Take heed that ye cause not one of these _little ones_ to +stumble; for their angels do always behold the face of their Father +which is in heaven." As you journey along the way of life, Christian +reader, there is an angel of mercy guarding you by day and night. Naught +in all the world can harm you. 'Their angels do always behold the face +of God.' By this we understand that your guardian angel has constant +access into the presence of God to bear him an intelligence concerning +his _little one_ under his charge. Glory be to God! + +If you will but live holy and confide in God, he will guide you safely +and triumphantly through this world and bring you in a ripe old age to +an eternity of rest. Trust not in the world, trust not in man, trust not +in yourself; but give up all; give up your life to God and trust in him. +You are safe in his care; nothing can harm you. You need not have a +fear. What a blessed life to live! how peaceful! how secure! how full of +rest! And when the last hour has come those guardian angels will be +gathered round waiting for your spirit to come forth from the tomb of +clay, and they will waft it in rapture to the God who gave it. + + + + +FLEDGING THE WINGS. + + +The inspired Word of God abounds in evidences of the twofold nature of +man's being. Man, entire, consists of an outer physical being and an +inner spiritual being. The one is for time, the other for eternity. The +physical being is the transient home of the spiritual being, and is, +therefore, called an earthly house. "For we know that if our earthly +house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an +house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Cor. 5:1. When the +earthly house in which the soul is tabernacled comes to dissolution, we +(the spiritual beings) pass to our eternal home, a building not made +with hands, but builded by the Lord of heaven. + +The passport from the earthly house to the home in the heavens is spoken +of by the Psalmist as a "flying away." "The days of our years are +threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore +years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, +and we fly away." Psa. 90:10. The physical being is cut down, or comes +to dissolution, and we (the souls) fly away, when redeemed by the +blood, to our eternal home of rest. + +Since it is spoken of as a flying away, the idea of wings is suggested, +from which we derive our subject. The inspired apostle said, "Though our +outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. +4:16. As the outward, physical man, day by day, becomes more feeble, the +furrows on the brow grow deeper, the locks more silvery, the steps more +tottering, the voice weaker and more husky, the cheeks more sunken, the +ear more deaf, the eye more dim, and the heart-beats more slow; the +inward man is gathering strength, or fledging his wings, ready for his +upward flight to his beautiful mansion in the sky. Oh, how often the +redeemed soul, full of life, love, and hope, looks out through the +fading windows of the crumbling house of clay, to its fair home on the +Elysian shores eternal, and longs to take its flight! May you, dear +reader, and I, as we travel along life's swift journey, so live in +prayer and devotion to God, walk in such purity, so feed upon the divine +life, that we shall gather strength to our souls day by day and be ready +for the hour of our departure. Amen. + + + + +SOME TIME + + +Some time, when all life's lessons have been learned, + And sun and stars forevermore have set, +The things which our weak judgments here have spurned, + The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet, +Will flash before us out of life's dark night, + As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue; +And we shall see how all God's plans are right, + And how what seemed reproof was love most true. + +And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh, + God's plans go on as best for you and me; +How when we called, he heeded not our cry, + Because his wisdom to the end could see. +And e'en as prudent parents disallow + Too much of sweet to craving babyhood; +So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now + Life's sweetest things, because it seemeth good. + +And if, sometimes, commingled with life's wine, + We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink, +Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine + Pours out the potion for our lips to drink; +And if some friend we love is lying low, + Where human kisses can not reach his face, +Oh, do not blame the loving Father so, + But wear your sorrows with obedient grace. + +And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath + Is not the sweetest gift God sends his friend, +And that, sometimes, the sable pall of death + Conceals the fairest boon his love can send. +If we could push ajar the gates of life, + And stand within and all God's workings see, +We could interpret all this doubt and strife, + And for each mystery could find a key. + +But not to-day. Then be content, poor heart; + God's plans like lilies pure and white unfold; +We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart, + Time will unfold the calyces of gold. +And if, through patient toil, we reach the land + Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest +When we shall clearly know and understand, + I think that we shall say, "God knew the best!" + + + + +THE PRECIOUS OINTMENT. + + +In the Bible we learn of a woman who took "a pound of ointment of +spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus." This spikenard +was very rich in perfume. It was the very best gift she could bring to +Him whom she loved. This is a very beautiful symbol of the life work of +a Christian. We, as Christian, are a sweet odor unto God in Christ +Jesus. Everything you do for Jesus scents the air around the throne of +God with a sweet fragrance. + +Every prayer your offer in the Spirit perfumes the corridors of heaven. +I read somewhere of a little girl who told her mamma that God bade all +the angels in heaven keep quiet when she prayed; then all the angels +hushed their songs until she said amen. Amid all the songs and shouts +and playing of harps in heaven God hears the prayers of his humble ones +on earth. The odor of prayer from the hearts of God's children on earth +is as sweet to him as the songs of angels. The things the saints at +Philippi sent to Paul were an odor of a sweet smell to God. Cornelius' +alms-giving and prayers were kept in heaven as a memorial. So all your +gifts and doings and prayers are a rich perfume, which God keeps bottled +up in heaven as a memorial of you. + +Your whole life, dear young saint, in all of its giving and doing, its +sacrifices and prayers, its humble service and devotion, is to be +constantly sending forth a sweet smell to God. This is spoken of in a +beautiful figure in S. of Sol. 1:12: "While the king sitteth at his +table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." The king is +Jesus, who sits at the table of our hearts; the sweet spikenard is our +Christian lives. In Rev. 3:20 Jesus says, "I will come in to him, and +will sup with him, and he with me." The Christian's heart is the +dining-room; there is a table spread with the graces of the Spirit, the +fruits of the garden of the Lord. There Christ and the Christian sit +down to dine together. While the glory of the one lights up the room, +the holy life of the other perfumes it. O God, my soul doth magnify thee +for the preciousness of these thoughts. + +When Christ was born wise men came and presented him frankincense and +myrrh, and in after-years Mary came and poured upon his head the +precious ointment of spikenard. These things were literally done, and +now when we bring our very best gifts, in the fulness of love, to the +Lord, we are breaking the alabaster box of sweet ointment and pouring it +upon his head. You owe Christ the very best of your life; yea, you owe +him your life. He must have all the affections of your heart. Christ +must have the very best of everything out of your life. Do not use the +dollars for yourself and give him the pennies. Do not sip the honey from +the flower and give him the leaves. Do not eat the fresh bread yourself +and give him that which is stale. Do not give him the well-worn garment +and keep the best robe for yourself. + +But how can we now give to the Lord! "As oft as ye do it unto the least +of these ye do it unto me." As you go about your life work as a +Christian always do what you do as to the Lord. When you pray in public +talk to Jesus the same as if he were there in person, and not to be +heard of men. When you give money to the needy do it as if you were +giving it to Jesus himself, for such it really is. If Christ should come +to your door and ask for a drink, how eagerly you would get it for him! +You must remember that to give a cup of water to one of his little ones +is the same as giving it to him. When you visit a sick-chamber and are +invited to sing you should sing just as sweetly as if you were singing +purposely for the Savior, and all your words should be spoken as +tenderly as if you were talking to him. + +[Illustration: THE TREE OF LIFE.] + +Jesus has given you the purest love of heaven; he has clothed you with +the whitest robe; he gives you the very best heaven affords; and, O +beloved, will you not give him the very best life? Live with all your +soul for Jesus; serve him every moment. Bring the best of your life, its +love, its service, its perfume, and pour them upon the head and feet of +Jesus. + + + + +THE TREE OF LIFE. + + +"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life," says Proverbs. How +wonderful! how inspiring! The fruit borne by a Christian is a savor of +life to many. If you live a true Christian life all the way through, God +will use the fruit you bear to bring another soul to life. Your +Christian life will not be lived in vain. That "beloved disciple" said, +"On either side of the river was there the tree of life, which bare +twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month." Your life +is compared to a river; and if you travel along down its course in the +fulness of God's grace, upon its banks will grow the tree of life, of +which others may eat and live forever. Such thoughts are almost too +wonderful for me; they overwhelm my soul. + +Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," and, "He that eateth of this bread +shall live forever." This same Jesus has come into your life. You are +dead, but Jesus lives. He lives in you. The fruit you bear will be eaten +by others and be life to their souls. O my young reader, will you not be +watchful and prayerful and let God live in you and bring forth fruit to +his own glory? Cultivate the Christian graces, and see to it that there +is never a withered leaf on your life's tree, but be ever green and full +of fruit, scattering a holy influence everywhere. May your life stand +out upon the shores of time heavy laden with the fruits of the Spirit, +of which others may eat long after you are gone to your reward. You can +make it so. Will you do it? As for me, from the fulness of my soul I +answer, I WILL. + + + + +ETERNITY. + + +Did you ever attempt to look to the end of eternity? Have you endeavored +to comprehend its duration? Alas! it is something beyond the conception +of the finite mind. Look into it as far as you can and no less of it +lies beyond the end of your vision. Eternity is something never begun +and something that will never end. It is a circle which has no end of +beginning and no end of closing. It goes on and on and on until millions +upon millions of ages have passed away, and then on and on to other +millions upon millions of ages, and then still on, being no less in +duration than before. When you have been there ten million years you +will be no nearer the end than when you first entered this boundless +duration. + +What a vast and awful thought! Eternity! I stand upon the shore of ocean +and looking out upon the broad expanse I see nothing but ocean; I see no +other shore. I stand and look out upon the ocean of eternity, and see +nothing but eternity. I can see out for millions and billions and +trillions of years, and yet it is eternity. Where shall I spend it? My +soul answers, "In heaven through the blood." + + + + +NEARER TO THEE. + + +Nearer to thee, O my Savior, + Nearer I would be each day. +As I cross life's stormy ocean + Never from thee let me stray. + +Nearer, nearer, ever nearer, + Is the language of my soul +As I journey down life's pathway, + As I near bright heaven's goal. + +Lead me through this world of sorrow, + Let my hand in thine e'er be; +Throw thy arms of love around me, + Savior, let me walk with thee. + +When the storm-clouds round me gather + In the clefted Rock I hide; +When the surging billows threaten, + Fold me closer to thy side. + +There's a home for me in heaven, + By the crystal, silvered sea; +Some sweet morn the golden portals + Opened wide will be for me. + +There in amaranthine glory + I will sit at Jesus' feet; +There I'll sing the sweet old story + As I walk the golden street. + +O my heart, wait on in patience, + Each day brings me nearer the goal; +In some blissful dewy dawning + Heaven will receive my soul. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +Our introduction is upon the subject of Life; our conclusion is upon +Death. To many people the word _death_ is full of horror. Thank God, it +holds no horror to the pure in heart. Death has no sting for those whose +souls are in fellowship with God. Those who love God hail with joy the +hour in which they are to meet him. Death to a Christian is only his +removal from earth to the paradise of God. If some man of wealth were to +tell you he had a rich home prepared for you in a distant land, where +you could have all your heart could wish, and be happy as long as you +lived, if you had confidence in the man, you could say good-by and +cheerfully go to your new home. Death is nothing more. + +Some may shudder at the thought of the pain in death. How often we hear +remarks like this: "This pain is almost like death," or, "it's like +taking one's life." Have you not stood beside the infant's crib and +watched it go peacefully to sleep? Where was the pain? Death to a +Christian is only a going to sleep. You have had far more pain in life +than you will have in death. + +There may be pain just prior to death, but none in death. Death to a +saint is as peaceful as going to sleep. + +Have you not often been in some solitary place and given yourself into +the arms of Muse? You have fallen to thinking about heaven and the +angels and the Savior and your crown. You seemed as your soul was wafted +upward on the wings of meditation, to lose consciousness of all on +earth. Such will it be in death. Your soul will begin to see the glories +of heaven; you will hear the sweet strains of music; you will begin to +lose consciousness of earthly things and comprehend more of heaven. Then +soon you will draw your last breath on the shore of time and sound your +first note of praise on the shore of eternity. This is all there is in +death. It is precious to fond parents to see their little children, with +folded hands, go peacefully to sleep. So to our Father in heaven is the +death of his saints precious. + +In fancy I can see many of my young readers, after a well-spent life, +gathered in ripe old age on the banks of old Time's-river, waiting in +bright hope to be summoned over to their rich possessions in the verdant +fields of heaven. + +There is nothing more of death than this to a Christian. I pray that +the life of many of you will end like this. I believe it will be so. +Amen. + +A strange, sweet vision fills my soul, + A glimpse of glory and of God; +Am I not near life's final goal? + My feet scarce touch this mortal sod. + +The zephyrs blow divinely sweet, + With fragrance fill the balmy air; +Are heav'n and earth about to meet? + Who can this vision bright declare? + +I hear the notes of seraph song, + The rustle of an angel's wing; +Do signs like these to earth belong? + Do men and angels meet to sing? + +Life's journey seems about complete; + I con it well, yet know not why. +My heart with longings is replete, + And yet I do not long to die. + +A holy calm my bosom fills, + And silence like the hush of morn; +Such joy through all my being thrills + As swept men's hearts when Christ was born. + +Amid the crowds I look around + To see who bear love's fragrant flower; +I fain would walk on holy ground + Made sacred by the Spirit's power. + +God has the keeping of my ways, + His laws I rev'rence and obey; +My prayers seem almost turned to praise, + And yet I can not cease to pray. + +If this is death, I do not dread + To lay me down in peace to die-- +To be with all the sainted dead, + Far, far beyond the arching sky. + + + + +CLOSING EXHORTATION. + + +God has forgiven you all your sins; he has sanctified you wholly. You +stand to-day in the way of life; you are fully out upon the Christian +way. You have on the whole armor of God. You possess the power of God's +Spirit in your soul, the love of God is in your heart as a burning +flame. You are tasting the sweet joys that flow from heaven's throne. In +your soul is imprinted the image of Jesus. Your heart is a garden of +opening buds, which emit the sweet fragrance of heaven. But, +notwithstanding all this blessedness of experience, I want you to +remember you are just starting on the pilgrim's way. + +I thought of bringing this little work to a close with the preceding +letter, but it seems that I am loath to say the last word. I wonder if +there is one word more I can say to help you in your Christian race. It +is impossible for me to express how my heart yearns in love and +tenderness for you. + +God wants to use your life on earth to his glory. He wants you so to +shine in the glory and splendor of his grace that you may light others +in the way. He wants the opening buds of grace in your soul to burst +into full bloom. He wants to lead you higher up the mountain of joy, to +the very fount of blessings. He wants to lead you down into the lowly +vale where there are greater riches than gold. He wants his image in +your heart to stand out in greater beauty and perfection; the features +are yet too dim. + +While in this life your immortal soul is wrapped about with a veil of +mortality; but God wants to shine such a radiant light and amaranthine +glory into your soul that the veil of mortality will not be able wholly +to obscure it. It will shine out through the material part and glow in +transparent beauty upon the surface. + +If you will follow where he leads, he will lead you on from virtue to +deeper, truer virtue; he will lead you on to fountains of sweeter joy. +It may be through the vale of sorrow; but never fear nor distrust, and +you will find your joy rising higher in the cup. If you will follow, he +will lead you from peace on to broader, deeper rivers of peace. It may +be through angry billows and past rough rocks; but if you trust him and +follow on, he will bring you to yet calmer and more peaceful waters. If +you will stay in his presence, he will impart unto you his own lovely +character, and you will grow up into a holier life, into sweeter +fellowship with God, into richer beauty and greater usefulness. + +He will sometimes call you where the flowers are blooming and sweet +fragrance fills the air, where the birds sing sweetly and the zephyrs +blow gently; he will lead you along the rippling streams, and delight +your soul with the music of the wave; he will lead you through the shady +glens and leafy bowers,--until your soul will sing, "Is not this the +land of Beulah?" But he may sometimes lead you through the desert, or +over the rugged mountain, or across the stormy seas; he may lead you +away from all that is dear to your heart; he may lead you into paths +where the shadows lie deep, and thorns spring up on every side. He will +lead you on to duties that may oftentimes seem too hard for you to do; +but this one thing I assure you in Jesus' name: he will never call you +to a duty or a sacrifice but that will prove a blessing to your soul and +enrich you in his grace. You must follow on. + +To get the sweetness out of your life, he may sometimes bruise you. +There are flowers that emit but little fragrance until they are bruised. +Many trials, no doubt, are awaiting you; but do not live them until you +get to them, then his grace will be sufficient for you. + +In closing, I beseech you from the fulness of my heart to follow Jesus +all the way. Let nothing turn you back. Never mind the storms and cruel +winds. What if the thorns prick your feet? they pierced his brow. What +if the duties do seem hard and the way seems weary? Follow on, linger in +his presence, breathe in of his fulness, live in humble submission, +never murmur but in every sorrow draw the closer to him, never falter, +labor on, and you will find joys in every sorrow, blessings in every +sacrifice, and delights in every duty. He will perfume your life with +the odor of heaven and make you a blessing on earth to man. He will make +your life a well of water where many a weary traveler may drink and +thirst no more; he will make it a tree of life where they may eat and +hunger no more. And when life is done he will bring you with all your +golden sheaves through the gates of glory into the haven of eternal +rest, where I hope to meet you. With this, I will say farewell. + +[Illustration] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Food for the Lambs; or, Helps for +Young Christians, by Charles Ebert Orr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOOD FOR THE LAMBS *** + +***** This file should be named 13294.txt or 13294.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/2/9/13294/ + +Produced by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, Dave Macfarlane +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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