BROKEN BREADFROM ANEVANGELIST'S WALLET. 

BYTHOMAS CHAMPNESS. 

"JOYFUL NEWS" BOOK DEPOT, ROCHDALE. 

MDCCCLXXXVIII. 

B. Wrigley & Sons, Limited, Printers, Acker Street, Rochdale. 

To

ELIZA M. CHAMPNESS, MY WIFE AND TRUEST FRIEND, THIS

COLLECTION OF FRAGMENTS

IS OFFERED

BY HER YOKE-FELLOW IN THE GOSPEL. 

ROCHDALE, September, 1888. 

PREFACE. 

This is a book made up of fragments. The Master once said "Gather up thefragments that nothing be lost. " It may be that victuals will be foundhere that may feed those who cannot sit down to a meal. Many of thearticles have appeared in _Joyful News_ already, but, perhaps, are nonethe worse for that. We send out this little book in the hope that bothcrust and crumb will be eaten!

I. SPIRITUAL FARMING. --NO. 1. DRAINING. 

If the men who farmed England in the olden time could return, few thingswould surprise them more than the condition of the land. Many a fieldnow bearing good crops each year, was in "the good old times" moorland orfen. Sheep and cattle graze where once only wild birds could live. Drainage has made the change. The land, once too cold and wet to allowanything valuable to grow, has been by grips and drain pipes, made toproduce food for man and beast. 

Is it not so on God's farm? "Ye are His husbandry, " and just as thefarmer knows that if he cannot have his wet land drained, his seed willbe starved, or the young corn perish with the cold, so we who toil in theLord's fields need to learn that in many places the first thing to bedone is to

DRAIN THE LAND. 

Do any of our readers complain that they cannot get an answer to theirprayers for a revival, and that all the preaching and teaching seem to bewasted? Let us advise them to look under the surface. Are there not

CAUSES FOR THE FAILURE?

Would it not be well to try what draining the land would do? Are themost influential men cold and unresponsive to the call of the Spirit?What sort of people take the lead in the prayer meetings? Are they leftto the zealous poor? Does every man of wealth and culture hurry home andleave the preacher to shift for himself? Who are the stewards? Are theymen who will do their utmost to welcome strangers, or does their exampletell on others so much that a visitor never has a word of welcome or agrip of the hand? What is the singing like? Is it of the colourless, tame style, whose only sign of life is the rapid gallop which killsdevotion in so many places?

How is the Bible read by the preacher? Does he confine himself to thenarrow round which he has read so often in the ears of the people that ithas lost its charm--or does he seek out that which will be sure tointerest; and does he read as if he believed it?

We think our readers know some congregations in which there can be norevival until the drainer has been at work, and that which starves theseed removed. What we want is to have the question asked at the nextleader's or quarterly meeting. 

WHAT WILL IT COST TO GET SOME DRAIN-PIPES?

A GOOD SHILLING ISBETTER THANA BAD SOVEREIGN. 

II. LITTLE MOSES. SERVE THE CHILDREN FIRST. 

The story of Moses teaches us that LITTLE FOLKS ARE VERY HELPLESS. Therehe is in that basket. He cannot care for himself. He is in the power ofthe king's daughter. If she liked she could have had him killed, for itwas plain to be seen that he was one of the Hebrew children. When youwere in your cradle how weak you were, how helpless. If your mother hadnot cared for you, my dear boy, you would never have troubled the tailorto measure you for your new suit. Do you ever think how much you are inyour mother's debt? When you were hungry she fed you, when you were coldshe warmed you, when you were sick she nursed you. And you can pay herback. Not in money, for when you are old enough to earn gold you willnot be rich enough to do that; but you can reward her by obedience, bylove, and by letting her know by your kindness that you do not forgetwhat she did for you years ago. 

LITTLE FOLKS ARE WATCHED BY GOD. The crocodiles could have swallowed upthe little chap at one mouthful, but they never even saw him. Godsteered the little bark, and brought its voyage to an end in a safeharbour. If anyone but the kind-hearted lady who became his secondmother had seen him, the story of his life might have been very short. And the same God watches you, my dear child. 

There is an Eye which never sleeps; and in the night, when even yourmother has closed her eyes, God does not shut His. Do you ever thinkthat in the darkness the eye of God can see you just as well as in thedaylight? If it had not been so, you would not have grown in your sleep, as you have done every night. There have been many dangers near to youwhich you never knew, but God did, and has watched over you for good allyour life. Thank Him, for even your mother could not have helped you, ifGod had not done so. 

LITTLE FOLKS MAY BECOME GREAT MEN. That baby became one of the greatestmen in Old Testament history. And how was it? He stuck to his book. Weread that "Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. " Thiscould not have been if he had scamped his lessons, could it? Then heleft the company of the wicked, though it cost him a great deal, and hechose to be one of the people of God. The boy and girl who will followhis example will do well for themselves, for the life of Moses was one ofthe greatest honour, and, though he had to pay the price which must bepaid if we would win the smile of God, he has been rewarded. Honour hascome to him that never came to anyone else; for we learn from the Book ofRevelation that in heaven his name is greatest of the great, for thesaints sing "The song of Moses, the servant of God, " and

THE SONG OF THE LAMB. 

III. SPIRITUAL FARMING. --NO. 2. PLOUGHING. 

There have been during the last few years great improvements in theconstruction of the plough, but no one dreams of any substitute for it. Ploughing is as necessary as sowing; that is to say, the land must bestirred and prepared for the seed. In heavenly husbandry there are somewell-meaning folk who would dispense with the plough, and preach faithwithout repentance, but only to find that the birds of the air get mostof the seed! If there is to be an abiding work there must be convictionof sin, and knowledge of guilt, and for this end there is nothing betterthan a plough, made of Sinai steel and wood grown on Calvary. 

There are some directions given in the Old Book which it will pay ourploughmen to study. One is as to the choice of the team. Don't yoke anass with an ox (see Deut. Xxii, 10). In your motive power see to itthere is no mixture of vanity with duty. You will not succeed inconcealing the fact. A donkey is one of the worst of animals to hide. ITWILL TALK!

Let there be no stopping at home because the wind is in the east. "Thesluggard will not plough by reason of the cold. " If the ploughman meansto succeed he must count on suffering; and if the devil cannot findanyone on his side to oppose, he will raise up some imbecile Christian todo so, who by some sneer or cold criticism, will try to keep the ploughidle. Instead of looking which way the wind blows, get to work. 

There must be no looking back. Mark the Master's words in Luke ix, 62. Keep your eye on the mark, just as the ploughman looks at the staff hehas fixed as his guide. Keep looking unto Jesus. Many a preacher, whocould make hell tremble for its own, has, by looking back, becomerespectably commonplace. So the fine promise of his youth dies ignobly, and is laid in the grave of Demas! Whether it be a bag of gold, or afair face, or a pillow of down, thou art called to look back upon, do asthe Master did--set thy "face toward Jerusalem. "

Keep a good heart on it. "He that ploweth should plow in hope. " What iscalled success does not mean reaping only. The plough is as honourableas the sickle, though they may not make a feast, or dress thy team withflowers! Whistle at the plough, and in time thou shalt be bidden to theharvest supper. John Baptist was a ploughman, and that was all; yetthere are some reapers who would gladly exchange places with him, badlypaid as he was. In these days too often the honour is paid to thesuccessful evangelist, and those who ploughed and sowed are forgotten;but the time is coming when the promise shall be fulfilled--

"THE PLOUGHMAN SHALL OVERTAKE THE REAPER. "

IV. A SHORT HOME MISSION SERMON. 

 "_The Iron did swim_. "--2ND KINGS, vi, 6. 

DID IT? THEN SUNKEN THINGS MAY RISE. 

The axe had fallen into the river, to the great sorrow of the man who hadused it. He was an honest man, for he mourned over the fact that it wasborrowed. "It has sunk to rise no more;" and yet it swam! Why lose hopeof the fallen and degraded? They are no lower down than the axe head waswhen at the bottom of the Jordan. "The iron did swim. " How? for

SUNKEN THINGS DO NOT RAISE THEMSELVES. 

If the axe had been let alone, it might have been at the bottom of theriver now. The man who felt its loss called on a higher power than hisown. He told his sorrow to one who had sympathy for him. Do we cry untoGod about those who have sunk out of our reach? The lapsed masses, as wecall them, were not all born so. Many of them have been Sunday scholars, and some of them church members. How do we feel about them? Does thethought of their degradation ever bring an "alas!" from our hearts?Elisha's God is nearer to us than the prophet was to the man who lost theaxe. "Call on Him WHILE He is near. "

"The iron did swim. " How was it done?

SOMEBODY SHOWED IT THE WAY. 

An example was put before it. A stick was thrown in, and the ironimitated it. O, the power of a godly example! Let us who work among theungodly show them the way to live. Let the churches move over the placeswhere the degraded lie. We shall never lift them while we remain in ourbeautiful churches and chapels. Only this week we saw the iron made toswim, by the personal contact of ministers and well-dressed people takinghold of the street folk, and cheerily inviting them into God's house. Aman may be only "a stick" when in the pulpit; but in hearty personaldealing with the degraded, he may be one who can make the iron to swim. 

* * * * *

"LIVE IT. "

A good man, the other day, was advising Ministers to preach more on thedoctrine of "Entire Sanctification. " One of them replied, "LET US LIVE IT, THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREACH IT. "

Perhaps both were right; one thing is certain, that the way to make thedoctrine more popular is, to have more of those who believe it to "liveit. " We might greatly increase the number of preachers, for everyChristian might preach. Women as well as men, we might preach every day, for every duty would be a pulpit, and every trial an oration. No onewould complain the sermons were too long; for all people are willing thatyou should never cease to do them good. What say you reader! Will youenter the ranks of this Ministry?

V. THE BATTLE OF THE BEANFIELD. 2 SAMUEL, xxiii, 11, 12. 

What a picture is here! A field of ripe beans, just ready for theharvest, and then the leaves and pods all blood-stained or trampled down!Those Philistines liked to fight rather than to work, preferring plunderto ploughing, so they would cross the border and carry away the resultsof the farmer's toil. But they made a mistake in coming where Shammahlived!

HE STOOD!

Have not many of us to complain that the enemies of God's people stilllike to plunder our harvest fields? How Satan grasps at our elderscholars! He is not content with gutter-children. He likes to take ouryoung men and women, and so we hear drunken men quote scripture, andbloated women hum psalm tunes!

What shall we do? We read, "The people fled from the Philistines. " Shallwe leave the results of our Sunday school work in the hands of the enemy?Is it not time that we made a stand? The thing is becoming monotonous, so much so, that in some places it is thought not worth being grievedabout, that the young men and women, who have passed through our schools, never attend the chapel, and are lost to us for years, if not for ever!

 "Soldiers of Christ arise!"

If a lad enlists, and is sent to Aldershot, we soon put the chaplain onhis track, and shall we not do something for those who are carried awayby those sons of Anak which we call the theatre and racecourse? Would itnot pay us to have a holy band of men and women to hunt up our lapsedscholars, and to fight for the harvest we sowed and have waited for solong, only to see it carried away by the Philistines?

In all our large towns there are neighbourhoods where the enemy of Godand man is strongly entrenched. And yet there are churches and chapelsin those streets. The few who attend those places pass houses, oncerespectable, but now given up to vice. Homes where there was once familyworship, are now, to use the words of the Wise man, "The way of hell, going down to the chambers of death. "

What is to be done? "There are not many members now. " "There is no oneto work. " So it might have been said in the bean-field; the people weregone, all gone but Shammah. He stood, and God showed, then, as now, thatHe was prepared to stand by the minority, if it were loyal to Him, for Hewrought a great, not an ordinary one, but a great victory!

There are yet great victories to be won when we turn on our pursuers. Don't be carried away by bad example. We go with a multitude to do evil, when we refuse to fight for the results of past work done by ourselves orour fathers. Shammah seems to have said, "If I am to die, I will diehere among the beans. Better so than pine to death for want of them. " Isit not true that with the harvest of our toil they carry away our faithin God, and in His word? Much of the Bible is lost to those who fleerather than fight. A great deal of our hymn book is for

"BELIEVERS FIGHTING. "

Those battle songs cannot be enjoyed by men who never leave the barracks. No wonder the old tunes are not sung by craven hearts. Let those of uswho have left Shammah to fight alone, rejoin him, then we shall have thejoy of conquest, and the gladness of those who divide the spoil. 

* * * * *

WAITING AND READY. 

The other day, looking out of a train, as we stopped at a countrystation, I saw a row of buckets painted red, with the word FIRE on eachof them. There they were, waiting to be used, if occasion required, andI noticed that each of them was filled with water. Only a humble kind ofagent is a bucket, yet being full of water and near at hand, it is easyto see that in the event of fire breaking out there, it is more thanlikely it would be put out without doing much damage. 

Are we, --Ministers, Local Preachers, Sunday School Teachers, Class-leaders, and other workers--are we ready for use? It is not enoughthat people can tell by our appearance that we are separated forservice--are we ready? It did not suffice the man in charge of thatlittle station to have those buckets on the stand, and it is not enoughthat we are in the pulpit or the class-room. 

ARE WE FILLED?

We can be filled with that which will put out the fire, and if we are notfull, who is there to blame but ourselves? Those buckets might have beenneglected till the hoops dropped off, and the power to hold water wasgone, all because they were not kept full, and if so, they would be anapt illustration of some who have ceased to be the men they were, andonly that they fill the same place, we should not dream of them beingused at all. 

VI. "HIS CHAINS FELL OFF. "ACTS xii. 7. 

IN ANSWER TO PRAYER:--Do you know any one tied and bound? Have youprayed for them without ceasing? Are you conscious of the enemy puttingYOUR hands or feet in fetters? Are you unable to reach that purse whichwas at one time always within your grasp, so that now you do not give tothe poor as you once did? Are your feet prevented from going on errandsof mercy? Do the manacles keep you at home on Sundays, instead ofwalking muddy lanes to preach? If so, how do you like it? Do you notthink you should cry to God?

We know a godly and cultivated minister who got into Doubting Castle, some years ago. He was losing hold of God, and his duty was becomingirksome, so he cried unto the Lord in his trouble. "I let them all go tobed, " said he, "and had an all-night of prayer, " and his chains fell off. 

VERY QUIETLY. Not a single soldier was awakened. God can speak inloudest tones, as at Phillippi. He can bring His people out withoutanyone knowing, till they tell the tale themselves. It has often beenthe case, that some gentle, quiet preacher has been the instrument ofdeliverance to the Lord's chosen ones. There has been a revolution innature. What a blessed change! How the chains of winter have fallenoff, and that surly east-wind jailer been dismissed without noise orclamour. 

When free, Peter went to tell those who had prayed him out. He foundthem in a state of great surprise. How good of God not to limit oursuccess in prayer by our faith, or the want of it. In this also He does"exceeding abundantly. " Still they did not fail, depend on it, to praisethe Lord. Herod soon found it out, and was abashed. He would not dareto meet a Christian in the street, for the smile on the believer's facewould say, "His chains fell off. " Do not let us who can pray be everdiscouraged. We can touch the heart of God, so let us sing--

 "The Lion of Judah shall break every chain, And give us the victory again and again. "

ISAIAH I. 

I. --Feed an ass once, and he will know the place again. Feed a sinnerall his life, and you only make him more capable of rebellion (verses 2and 3. )

II. --There are no wounds smart like those given by God's rod (verses 6and 8. )

III. --Sin manufactures dunces so stupid, that even God's rod cannot mendthem (verse 5. )

IV. --Religion without piety sickens God (v. 11, 14. ) There are folk inchurch and chapel more hateful to God than those in the public-house. 

V. --Sin is dirt (verse 16. )

VI. --God can bleach even crimson-dyed hands (v. 18. )

VII. --Those who are strong to sin shall burn in a fire hotter than theirlusts, and more quenchless than their hatred to goodness (verses 28 and31. )

VII. LEAPING AND PRAISING. ACTS iii, 8. 

Little did the lame man's friends think that this was the last time theyshould ever carry their dear one to the spot where he begged his bread. Perhaps you have offered your last prayer to-day for some one'ssalvation. He may come home to say, "Carry me no more, but let me walkwith you to heaven. "

No one could blame the poor fellow for being excited. He had neverwalked before, and the delight he felt made him use his new foundstrength. You see he has dropped his crutches. Anyone could light thefire with them now, he needed them not. Reader, do you still usespiritual crutches? Why not look for the fulfilment of the prophet'swords, "Then shall the lame man leap as an hart. "

HE ENTERED WITH THEM. 

He could not have been persuaded to leave them; indeed, we read of himfurther on standing with the apostles when they were brought before themagistrates. It is a good sign when men stay with those who were made ablessing to them. If Methodism had with her to-day all she has liftedfrom poverty and degradation, she would need neither testimonials norbenefactors. 

VIII. "THE LORD HATH NEED OF HIM. "MARK xi, 3. 

What! of an Ass? Yes, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world. "He gets renown to Himself by "using things which are despised. " Let usnever despair of the most foolish of men, if he become the servant ofJesus. It is said of the great John Hunt, that when a young man, he gaveno promise of the talents he shewed in the work of the Ministry. We havespoken with one who knew him before his conversion, who made us smile ashe described his gait and style of life. Yet this ungainly ploughboybecame a man whom to know was to admire. It was in Christ's hands, though, he improved so greatly. 

DOES THE LORD REALLY NEED AN ASS? Yes. The Scriptures foretold thatJesus should come "riding upon an ass. " Is it not beautiful to think ofthe poor despised Ass fulfilling so grand a prophecy? "The knowledge ofthe Lord shall cover the earth. " We may help that on. Will the youngmen and women who read this bear in mind that no one ever used this asstill Jesus did? Why should He not be the first to use you? "What!" sayyou. "Do you compare us to an ass?" Well, if we do, the Bible is beforeus. "Man be born like a wild ass's colt. " And, if you have notremembered the claims God has upon you, the poor ass has the best of it, for the Lord says "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his Master'scrib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. " Have younoticed that unconverted men and women are pictured in Exodus xiii. 13, where you see a young ass with his neck broken? The Lord needs you thatHe may redeem you from your fate, and that you may be spared to bear hisyoke. 

Is not the best way to elevate men, to let the Lord have the use of them?However coarse and mean we are by nature, He can refine and elevate us. And any part of our life that is in danger of baseness may be lifted tobeauty and blessing by putting it under the Christ. What a change cameover this animal in one short day! An ass in the morning, but the

THRONE OF GOD

before the sun went down!

* * * * *

IN THE WILDERNESS SHALL WATERS BREAK OUT. 

Is not that good news for you? After being so long without a revival, would it not be welcome? Welcome you say--welcome as water in a desert. Yes, and that is just what is promised. A revival in THE MOST UNLIKELYPLACE IN THE CIRCUIT, where even the raciest of preachers seems to bedull, and where there is a monotony which would shame a prison. Yes, there, right there, look out for the water, not stagnant, but water that"breaks out. " "Then shall the lame man leap as the hart" that finds thestream it needs, and the "dumb shall sing, " for this living water shallquench his thirst, and loosen his dried-up tongue. When shall it be?Young local preacher, why not when thou preachest the next time? Lookfor it to the throne of God and the Lamb. --Rev. Xxii. , 1. 

IX. TWELVE BASKETS FULL OF FRAGMENTS GATHERED FROM THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTFEEDING THE MULTITUDE. 

1. --MAN NEEDS HELP. "They have nothing to eat. " (Mark vi. 36. )

2. --GOD IS BETTER THAN GOOD MEN. "Send them away, " said the disciples. (Mark vi. 36. ) "They need not depart, " the Lord replied. (Matt. Xiv. 16. )

3. --MINISTERS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR THE CHILDREN, THEYGIVE HELP AS WELL AS TROUBLE. Andrew said, "There is a lad here. " (Johnvi. 9. )

4. --YOUTH CAN GIVE TO JESUS WHAT NO ONE ELSE POSSESSES. "There is a ladhere which hath five barley loaves. " (John vi. 9. )

5. --UNBELIEF WOULD FAIN CRAMP THE LOVE OF JESUS. "What are they among somany. " (John vi. 9. )

6. --"ORDER IS HEAVEN'S FIRST LAW. " The crowd must sit down in companiesof fifty before Jesus would feed them. "He commanded them to make themall sit down by companies. " (Mark vi. 39. )

7. --CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE US EAT WITHOUT ASKING A BLESSING. "Looking upto heaven he blessed. " (Matt. Xiv. 19. )

8. --CHRIST'S HANDS CAN DO NO MORE THAN OURS. It was His touch thatmultiplied the loaves. If the disciples had kept the one basket, therewould have been many faint by the way. Faith is the truest economy. (Matt xiv. 19. )

9. --THE USE OF THE CHURCH IS TO PASS IT ON. "Gave the loaves to thedisciples, and the disciples to the multitude. " (Matt. Xiv. 19. )

10. --EAT WHAT GOD SENDS. You cannot be saved by knowing the doctrine anymore than looking at bread will satisfy hunger. "They did all eat, andwere filled. " (Matt. Xiv. 20. )

11. --WHEN GOD IS THE HOST THERE WILL BE PLENTY FOR EVERYBODY. "As muchas they would. " (John vi. 11. ) "Enough for each, enough for all, enoughfor evermore. "

12. --OMNIPOTENCE DISLIKES WASTE. "Gather up the fragments. " (John vi. 12. ) "And they took up of the fragments that remained twelve basketsfull. " (Matt. Xiv. 20. ) A basketful for each apostle. 

WAIT HERE FOR THIRD-CLASS. 

Passengers on the London "Underground" have often seen the sign-boards, telling the travellers where to wait for the class they mean to travelin. And there is sure to be a large group near one--the notice for third-class passengers. It is so in the road to heaven. Forgetting that theMaster has paid first-class fare for us, too many ride third, meaning, when they get to the station where tickets are collected, to change intothe first, for all want to die happy. Live holy. Be first-classChristians, and then God will see to it that you die so as to bringhonour to Him. 

X. SPIRITUAL FARMING. --NO. 3. CULTIVATION. 

We have already called the attention of our readers to the subject ofploughing, but we feel we have not pressed upon them with the force itdeserves, the necessity of what the Bible calls "breaking up the fallowground. " What the plough and spade do for the land we must have done forthe minds of those who sit in Methodist pews. Unsaved men and women mustbe compelled to look the truth in the face. Farmers know that so long asthe land is hard and cloddy, the seed has no chance to get thenourishment by which it lives; besides by turning it over, the ploughexposes that which has been hidden to the light of day, and it is byturning it up that it gets the benefit of the atmosphere. The nitrogencontained in the air is filled with that which the growing seed requiresto find in the land, if it is to do well for the worker. Have we notthirty-fold crops where we ought to have hundredfold, for want of betterploughs? The heathen who spoke of preaching as "turning the world upsidedown" hit on the truth; and those of us who fail to turn up the soil arenot likely to reap all we might do. The other day we heard anintelligent man tell the story of his conversion. He was awakened underthe preaching of Mr. Robinson Watson. He said, "I never used to listento sermons, I sat in the corner of the pew and thought of business, orany machine I was planning, and did not hear a word, but Mr. Robinsoncompelled me to think and act. "

Does not this man represent many? Are these people to be allowed to comeand go, without, in some way or other, being compelled to listen? Letevery one of us, from the top to the bottom of the Plan, say, God helpingme, I will break up the ground. Indifference shall become difficult. Some of us can remember listening to men whom we feared when they openedthe hymn book, for if they began the service with one of the hymns in"Exhorting sinners to return to God, " we knew there would be difficultyin getting to sleep, either in the pew then, or in bed, hours afterwards. Perhaps the greatest want of the church to-day is men who can, byhandling the Bible like a gardener does his spade, cause it to be said"The sinners in Zion are afraid, tearfulness hath surprised thehypocrites. "

BETTER FEED AFAT PIGTHAN A PUBLICAN. 

XI. SPIRITUAL FARMING--NO. 4. SOWING. 

Those of us who live in the country are reminded, as we see the springingcorn, that some one has been at work--the blade comes from the buriedseed. Honest work has been done before there can be seen the appearanceof good. 

Let those of us who work for the great harvest, be

MINDFUL OF WHAT WE SOW. 

Let us have nothing in the seed-basket that cannot be termed what Jesuscalled "The word of the kingdom. " There will be no difficulty inobtaining that. Farmers don't stint the sower, and God will not withholdseed from His labourers. Let the youthful preacher be encouraged, forjust as you have seen the sower fill his basket from the sack, so thereis, in the Bible, enough for each, enough for all, enough for evermore. 

Sow BIBLE IDEAS:--

"Put the Bible into them, my brother, " said an earnest Scotch divine tous many years ago, and there is nothing grows as well, or yields as much, as the Bible, used as seed. People may tell you that they want somethingelse, something more attractive and pleasing. Yes, but they won't say soin the time of harvest. You may plant your field with flower-seeds, sowtulips, marigolds, mignonette, &c. , those will look very well in June andJuly, but how about September? The very people that asked for them inspring will curse you for them in autumn. 

BIBLE IDEAS ABOUT GOD:--

His love of righteousness, His hatred of evil; His love of man, but Hisdislike to sin; His delight in benevolence, but His determined hostilityto wrong-doing. We need to show not only God's pity for sinners, but Hisinflexible justice, which did not spare His well-beloved Son, when Hebore our sins. 

BIBLE IDEAS ABOUT CONDUCT:--

Never mind being called legal, if you can back your preaching by theBible. Put the truth into the people about honesty, industry, and self-denial. Let others spend their time in talking of the angels with brightwings of gold; let us teach men how God means them to live in this world. Those of us who wish to learn how to sow, should study Jesus and Paul. They are examples of what sowers should be. 

BIBLE IDEAS ABOUT REPENTANCE:--

"These things teach and exhort. " One secret of the want of lastingsuccess, is that we do not preach repentance. Men need to have rightideas on this subject. Those who have not repented cannot believe untorighteousness; they can believe unto feeling, but not to right doing! Itis not a question so much of tears, as of turning away from sin. Thegreatest of penitents said, "I turned my feet unto thy testimonies. "

BIBLE IDEAS ABOUT JESUS:--

That He died for us according to the scriptures. When the Master wishedto take away the sadness from His disciples, as they walked to Emmaus, "He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerningHimself. " This is what we must do. Put the truth, as it is in Jesus, into the hearts of the people. Let us show from the word of God, that"By His stripes we are healed. " Nothing gives abiding peace like thethought, Christ has died for my sins. This will lead to loving Jesus, with the kind of affection which will not be tempted to grieve Him bydoing that which is evil. Let us see to it that we get the seed in. 

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET IT ON THE LAND, WE MUST PUT IT IN. 

No preacher has done his work thoroughly who does not use the harrow. There are some so-called teachers, who don't know what the gospel harrowis. This is why the catechism is not taught. The ancient plan ofcatechising in the church ought to be more general than it is. Whyshould we not hide the word of God in the hearts of our hearers, bycausing them to think over what we have said? We may not be able to getthem formally to answer questions, but we may make them think. Somepreaching is like raking with the teeth upwards. It may be easier andmore speedy, but it is not so likely to hide the seed. It is a goodpractice for those who have been listened to by others, to talk tothemselves after the sermon or lesson is over, and to say, Soul, whathast thou done to-day? How many Bible truths hast thou put into thehearts of the people?

DIDST THOU PUT THEM IN?

If thou didst, never fear but thou shalt see harvest some day. His worddoes not return void. This is not true of thy word, or of anyone else's, but "the word of the Lord abideth for ever!"

XII. "AND WE WILL--"

The prophet Micah was struck with the energy and devotion of the heathento their gods. He saw the grip these idols had of their votaries, how noexpense was spared, no sacrifice withheld, for the sake of a filthy lieembodied in a stone or golden image. While he listened to the songs ofthe heathen, his heart warmed as he thought of the greatness of Jehovah, and so he cried out--"All people will walk every one in the name of hisGod, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever andever. "--Micah iv. 5. 

Why should we not serve Jehovah with the same intensity that the heathenshew in their worship? Why should not holiness to the Lord be asenthusiastic and powerful in the lives of Christians as sin formerly was?Why should not men be as much moved by the indwelling Spirit, as theywere when full of drink? For instance, you may see, when a man is halfdrunk, how his pocket is opened; he will stand treat all round; every onein the room may have whatever he likes to order, "Give it a name!" saysthe drink-inspired heart. Now, we ask, why should not those who areunder the power of the Holy Ghost go to some poor widows and "stand treatall round, " by taking the fatherless children to some shop where theirpoor naked feet shall be well shod?

Shall we not have a shout over the perseverance and patient continuanceof the converts? See the worshippers of the race horse, as, whipped andspurred, the winner draws out from the ruck and passes the post first!How the mad votaries of the gambling idol make the air ring with theircries! And shall not we be as interested as we see men and women contendsuccessfully for "the prize?" Is not the cant sometimes on the side ofthose who are so anxious for what they call decorum? Let us like Micah, say, "WE WILL, " too. How hard it is to win the heathen over to leavetheir false gods! And shall we not walk for ever and ever in Jehovah'sname? Why should not Satan and all who help him regard efforts to makeapostates as a forlorn hope? O for a strong grip of God! Do some of ourreaders feel their weakness, and tremble lest they should go back to theassemblies of the heathen? Let us remind them of the promise--"I willstrengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in Hisname. " (Zech. X. 12. )

Most of those who serve the devil mean to forsake him before they die. They are self-deceived in many cases, and die as they live. Let usdetermine that "for ever and ever" shall be our motto. "Signed forlife, " as the teetotaler sometimes says. "This God is our God for everand ever. He will be our guide even unto death. " We need a guide allthe way, till we come to the other side of Jordan. After then, nopossibility of falling or loss; but though we shall need no guide, weshall delight in the Lord for ever. When this paper comes into the handsof our readers, the CONFERENCE will have begun its Sittings. Let everyMethodist, from Dan to Beersheba, say, "We will sustain the new Presidentwith our prayers, as we did the man of God who went before him. " And theLord whom our fathers served shall rejoice in the energy and patientcontinuance of His people. He shall not complain that we worked harderand sacrificed more for the Gods we served before, than we do for Him;but the heathen shall see signs of the greatness of Jehovah in theenthusiasm and perseverance of His people. 

"AS LONG AS HE LIVETH HE SHALL BE LENT TO THE LORD. "

Two things are worthy of notice here. First, Hannah brought her son toGod's house and left him there to minister. In this she kept the vow shehad made (see verse 11). If all promises made in days of trouble werekept as this woman kept hers, there would be some wondrous changes. Wemust not suppose that Hannah did not feel the removal of her beloved sonfrom her own home, but she made the sacrifice, and God honoured her toall time by recording her gratitude in the Book of books, and made herson a national blessing. 

SAMUEL STAYED WHERE HIS MOTHER PUT HIM. 

He began to be a minister when a child, and he continued to be so to theend of his life. Few lives have been so honourable and honoured as hiswas. But it would not have been so if he had not continued to serve theGod of his mother. Are there not some of our readers who are tempted toleave the Bible and Sunday school, and to turn their backs on thereligion of their parents? Remember that to turn your back on the God ofyour mother is to hoard up dishonour and misery for yourself and thosedear to you, for what Hannah sang is yet true, "THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH ARE THE LORD'S. "

XIII. "IT IS THE KING'S CHAPEL. "AMOS vii. 13. 

"Go somewhere else and preach, you ignorant peasant! What do you comehere for, spoiling our enjoyment, and keeping us awake at nights? Don'tyou know this is no common conventicle? It is the place where the kingsays his prayers! Away with you, or we will take off your head!" Sosaid Amaziah, the priest, and so says many a one to-day. Cannot you letus rest in the enjoyment of our sins? You seem to forget that our god ismade of

GOLD!

We are not common pot-house people! Preach against drunkenness, if youlike; that is a sin which increases the rates! Preach againstprostitution, for we are afraid our sons will be entrapped some of thesedays. Preach against love of dress, or anything else that costs money, for we have to pay sadly too much to tailors and milliners for ourchildren and wife; but let us alone, for our god is GOLD. 

Now, Amos, what do you say to that? Won't you go home to Tekoa, andspend the rest of your time looking after the cattle? "Nay, verily, buttill I die, I will make Jeroboam howl with rage and vexation of spirit, for he follows the sins of the man who made Israel to sin. " It is thework of the preacher to bring hell within sight of those, who, by theirselfish love of gold, make others to sin. Let the king know that I willmake him feel as though his crown was red hot. His honours shall burnhim, and his food shall scorch his tongue. It is in the king's chapelwhere I will preach as I never preach anywhere else, for it is Jeroboamagainst whom I am sent. 

O! Amos, lift up thy voice with strength against these worshippers ofgolden calves! Remember thy spiritual ancestry. Forget not the prophetthat came from Judah many a year ago. How he testified against thatgolden god, and how Jeroboam's arm was paralyzed when he would have hadthe prophet slain. Why are we so mealy-mouthed in denouncing thesegolden-idol men? Is not the worship of money the hidden nourisher ofpublic sin? Could the gin-palace exist but for the worship of Mammon?Could those streets of bad houses in London and other large towns flaunttheir shame, were it not for high rents? They pay well! As sure asthere is a God in heaven, shall these, who make money out of the sin ofothers, gnash their teeth in endless torment. Amos! He is in thycongregation! Do not preach to him of Heaven! but HELL! Thou art nottalking to the prodigal son, but to those who have got his portion intheir iron safe! Let them feel that hell is moved to meet them, and thatthey are listening to one who has the Word of the Lord in his lips, whichis--

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD!

And you who would stop Amos--Hear ye the Word of the Lord! There is anheritage of shame waiting for you. Amaziah! wouldest thou send the rough-tongued prophet away? "Thy wife shall be an harlot, and thou shalt die. "Shame while thou dost live, and a dishonoured grave, for this is theportion of those who would hinder faithful preachers from speaking theWord of the Lord to the men who are setting up GOLD FOR GOD. 

XIV. "ENCOURAGE HIM!"DEUT. I. 38. 

"Encourage" who? Why, your new Minister. He will need it. No one butGod knows how much some men suffer in leaving old friends and going amongstrangers. One of our most popular preachers told us that when he goesinto a new circuit, he feels like a tree that has been transplanted, andfor a time seems nearer death than life. And it is more than likely theman who has just come to your place is feeling acutely the separationfrom old friends, and the strangeness of everything around him. Do notbe surprised, then, if he is not as friendly at first, as the man was whohas gone away. 

"ENCOURAGE HIM!" for there will be plenty to do the other thing. Theenemy of souls, when he is not able to turn back God's soldier, will doall he can to wound him, and if he can hire some fool of a Christian todo it, all the better for his purpose. It will be easy to discourage byquarrels, jealousy and fault-finding. In fact, it requires so littlemental ability to find fault, there is no difficulty in finding someoneto do that, but don't let it be you. Someone else will see to it thatthe new Minister has not too easy a time of it. But do you try yourutmost to make him feel that he has come where all he does will beappreciated, and that he will never need to go out of his own circuit tofind those who will love him for his works' sake, till they know him wellenough to love him for his own. 

"ENCOURAGE HIM, "--by being at the services regularly, and in time, andespecially at the Prayer-Meeting. Stay to the Sunday night one, and goto the one held in the week. What a comfort for the Minister to see thevestry filled when he gets to the Weekly Prayer-Meeting! and when you arethere, or on your knees at home, pray for him; for if Paul needed theprayers of the Church, much more do the Preachers to-day. 

"ENCOURAGE HIM!" by taking the advice he gives you when he is in thepulpit. A doctor would feel it if his medicine was treated as manysermons are. What would the medical man think if he saw the bottle ofphysic poured down the sink, or left in the bottle untasted, till therewas a cupboard full of bottles? He would not feel like preparing anymore. How a preacher is encouraged to make fresh sermons, when he seesthat his last was taken into the heart and life of some of his hearers. 

"ENCOURAGE HIM!" by letting him know of anyone who has received good fromhis preaching or visits. You need not be afraid of making him proud. Hehas had enough of the other kind, or, as we sometimes say, he is sure tohave "a stone in the other pocket. " We remember visiting one of our sickclass-leaders one Monday, who said, "Who was the young man who preachedhere last night?" "Why, that was the new Minister!" "Well, you musttell him a woman was converted. " It will "ENCOURAGE HIM, " and Jamessays, "If one convert him, LET HIM KNOW!"

XV. "WE HAVE NO MIGHT. "2 CHRON. Xx. 12. 

YET WE NEED IT VERY MUCH. We are in great weakness, and we need power, for there is a great multitude come against us. It is not the wisestpolicy to ignore the strength of our enemy. Jehoshaphat did not. It iswell for us to know the strength of our foes, but let it not lead us todespair. Who shall number the host of the foes against whom we mustfight? They come to rob us of our inheritance, and if we submit, weshall be enslaved. 

WE have no might, but WE KNOW WHO HAS. The pious king said (verse 6), "In Thine hand is there not power and might, Art not Thou God?" Is theremore than one God? Some Christians talk as though the Lord had beenobliged to give up some of His power to Bradlaugh & Co. Where is thesign of a divided kingship? Could all the host of God's foes haveprevented the earthquakes? Do they know when the next will take place?It is still true that God "shaketh the earth and the pillars thereoftremble" (Job ix. 6)

 "This awful God is ours, Our Father and our love. "

WE KNOW HOW TO GET MIGHT, FOR WE CAN PRAY. Jehoshaphat did not first ofall review his troops, he called a meeting for prayer. The nation fastedand prayed, and the king led the devotions of his people. What a prayer!Have you noticed the four questions he puts to his God? And with whatpathos he says "Our eyes are upon Thee!" Shall not the people of Godimitate Judah? "They gathered themselves together to ask help of theLord. " Why should we not make this the motto of our weekly prayermeetings--

TO ASK HELP. 

Not only the men, but the women and children came to the meeting. Wouldnot the mothers and the little ones pray? They knew that their foeswould carry them away captive, if God did not help. Would it not be wellto encourage our children to cry to the Lord? Would He not hear them, think you?

Promise of the needed help soon came. The Holy Ghost fell upon one ofthe sons of Asaph, and he soon told his message:--

"THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD'S. "

He always makes His people's cause His own, when they trust Him. Shallwe not live so that our lives shall become part of the divine estate? Sothat we cannot be hurt without its injuring the Lord of heaven? "TheLord will be with you on the morrow. " Is some preacher reading this onthe Saturday night? It may be some young Minister, or Local Preacher, who is fearing for his reputation, or for the ark of God. Brother, readover with care this address of the Levite, v. 15-17. Then, like thegodly monarch, shew others how to praise the Lord. It is well to noticethat the people, led by their ministers, stood up to praise the Lord, andon the next day, before the victory, they praised the Lord. What a sceneit must have been! How the angels would keep time with their harps, asthe choir sang the anthem, "Praise the Lord! for His mercy endureth forever. "

THEY NEEDED NOT TO FIGHT. 

The Lord did that. He sent His hosts, and all that Judah needed to dowas to gather the spoil. When shall we spoil our foes? When shall weloot the devil? How one's fingers itch to take his goods! The time iscoming when we shall gather the wealth and power he now possesses, whenthe hosts of darkness shall come against the people of God only to beslain; and when there shall be no difficulty in raising money for goodobjects, for the devil's coffers shall be at our service. Let us notlose sight of the fact that the same week the great multitude cameagainst the Lord's inheritance, there were more precious jewels thancould be carried away, and the place where the foe was encamped came tobe called

"THE VALLEY OF BLESSING. "

POVERTY IS HARD, BUT IT MAKESA GOOD GRINDSTONE. 

XVI. "BE PERFECT. "2 COR. XIII. 11. 

Why not? What possible objection can there be to perfect Christianity?You like perfection in other things. You like your watch to keep"perfect time. " If you are measured for a coat, you like "a perfectfit. " You like other people to be perfect in their actions, so far asyou are concerned. You wish your children to obey you; your wife to loveyou without ever wavering; those who owe you money to pay up twentyshillings to the pound; your servants to do their work according toorder; in a word, if you served God as you wish everybody to serve you, you would be a perfect man. Is that so? Then why object to "ChristianPerfection?" You say, "I DON'T BELIEVE IN SINLESS PERFECTION. "

Well, we wish to be practical and to do you good, and so we will takelower ground. Do you believe that it is possible for God to make you avery much better man than you are? O yes! Then why not allow Him tohave His own way? Is this not the reason why some men are not strivingafter "Perfection?" They like to be as they are. Going forward meanssuffering, self-denial, a struggle, --"There are giants in the land. "

Some other time we will try to encourage those who are really anxious topossess the good land, by shewing that Joshua and Caleb were right insaying of the sons of Anak, "They are bread for us. " "The bigger theyare the more there is for us to eat;" but just now, we are anxious toshew these non-believers in perfection, that, till they are all God isprepared to make them, they must not say a word against our doctrine. 

May you not be speaking against God's power to heal, to make whole? Isit not a reflection on the Divine Workman, to say that he cannot restoreman to be so that He can say once more, "It is very good?" It behoves usto speak with bated breath here, but we may venture to say that the gracewhich made an Enoch, can make a nineteenth century saint, so lovely inhis character, that all men shall say, "This is God's own work, and islike all things which come from His hand. "

"BUT MANY OF THESE WHO PROFESS TO HAVE OBTAINED THIS BLESSING ARE SOMANIFESTLY MISTAKEN. "

Yes, we agree with you there. Before long we shall have something to sayto those who believe in "Christian Perfection, " but we are dealing nowwith those who do not. We think that those who are "perfect, " will oftenbe the last to profess it. Any way, they will have very little to sayabout themselves, though their mouths will be filled with the praise ofGod, who has done great things for them. We almost always suspect thosewho have too much to say, and wish we could make them to see how theirloud talk and small deeds tell against the doctrine. One proof that aman is not perfect, is his censoriousness concerning those who do not seethings as he does, or call them by the same name. But of these we willspeak at another time. What we are now concerned about is that we shouldstrive to be all that God has promised to make us, and thus become livingexpositions of the ability of the Lord to answer Paul's petition:--

"I PRAY GOD, YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS. "

XVII. "MAKE THIS VALLEY FULL OF DITCHES. "2 KINGS, iii. , 16. 

What for? To receive that without which they must perish. We read inverse 9 "There was no water. " Application was made to the prophetElisha, who declared that there should soon be plenty, but that the armymust at once make channels for it to flow in. This was done, and duringthe offering of the morning sacrifice, water came in abundance, andfilled the ditches. 

Let us be ready for great blessing. We need an outpouring of the Spirit, but are we ready for it? Would not a great revival surprise manyChristians? In London, Messrs. Moody and Sankey will soon begin theirwork, and the Christians of that city should be on the look-out for greatresults. Doubtless there are committee meetings, and much organizationis going on, but the work must not be left to organizations. Let everyChristian in London make a ditch to bring the living water to his ownhome. 

We hope to hear that in Liverpool, where Mr. Hughes is so soon to beginwork, and in the places where the other connexional evangelists arepreaching, the gospel channels will be dug by Methodists' hands. Allthree of these devoted men wish that our people should prepare the way, and thus have the stream of blessing flow to their hearts and homes. TheDistrict Missionaries also are needing help. Let us make it easier workfor them, by opening the way. We know digging means work, and someChristians are so very respectable, they would feel insulted if God askedthem to become one of His navvies. On the other hand, there arethousands of our people who would be glad to help if only some one wouldshow them the way. 

But what is laid upon our hearts most of all is, that something moreshould be done to assist Circuit Ministers and Local Preachers toevangelize. If nothing is effected besides what is done by the men setapart as evangelists, we shall have a large portion of the countryunwatered. "Make the valley full of ditches. " Let every Methodist feel, that till every impediment is taken out of the way, and every thing doneto help on a revival in his own circuit, and in his own chapel, his workis not finished. If each does his best, there will soon be a flowing ofwater. Do we hear some say, "There are so many among us who will notdig?" Just so, and therefore some of us must dig night and day. Get thespade called "Prayer, " and keep it bright. Let the prayer meeting become

A GANG OF EXCAVATORS!

Let us not be satisfied till we are sure that, when the revival comes, weshall be ready. 

Let our Class-leaders make enquiry how many of their members are prayingand working for a revival. Let everything be done to make our ordinaryservices very attractive. Let our Choirs, and those who have charge ofthe musical part of the services, do their part to make the singingpleasant and lively. It is a grievous thing to note how slovenly thispart of the service is in some places. For instance, in many chapelswhere they have a chant-book, the run is on three or four. It is asymptom of inertness when STELLA is sung as though it were the only 6-8'stune. Will someone see to it, that a ditch is dug to every singing pewin Methodism?

We repeat the question. Are we ready for an outpouring of the Spirit?Have we all the channels cleaned out which our fathers dug, and are wedigging fresh ones? Do we look as if a revival would be welcomed? Doesthe enemy know that he may expect an attack, or is he chuckling over ourrusty spades and swords?

A WORD TO PARENTS. 

Brother Moses Welsby was speaking with me at some Open-air Meetings atRadcliffe, the other day, and he told of seeing a lad being taken toprison, and as he was going his father called out, "Keep thy spirits up, lad, it will soon be over, " but the lad replied, "I SHOULD NOT BE GOING NOW IF YOU HAD SHEWED ME A BETTER EXAMPLE. "

What sort of a model are you? Can your children copy you with safety?Are your actions what you would like to see over again in your boys andgirls? Perhaps some who read this are in danger of being driven from Godat the last day. If so, shall you be chained to your children, and willyour punishment be all the greater because they say, "WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN HELL IF YOU HAD SET US A BETTER EXAMPLE?"

XVIII. "THERE IS A SOUND OF ABUNDANCE OF RAIN. "1 KINGS, xix. 41. 

So said the man of God. Rain was much needed, for famine stared them inthe face. Even Ahab himself had walked many weary miles to seek grassfor his horses; other men's cattle had perished, and if the drought hadcontinued, everything would have died. Still, it was not Ahab who heardthe sound of the rain. There was no sign of it. The heavens were asbrass, the sky was without a cloud, everything was burned up with dryheat, and yet, said Elijah, "There is a sound of abundance of rain. " Itis so in the spiritual world. There are those who know of a comingRevival long before there is any sign. They have felt their prayersbeing answered, and have heard the cry of the penitent sinner, though, asyet, he seems to be as hard and careless as ever. 

"So AHAB WENT UP TO EAT AND TO DRINK. " Not so Elijah, he went up to thetop of Carmel. The man of God "CAST HIMSELF DOWN ON THE EARTH, AND PUTHIS FACE BETWEEN HIS KNEES. " Those who would procure blessings must notexpect to win them at the table of luxury and ease, but by climbing thehill of difficulty, and in the humbling of self. If we would bring theblessing down, we must be prepared to say, "No, " to our own likings, andto refuse that which would gratify flesh and blood. If we would prevailin prayer, we must be alone with God. The priests who fed at Jezebel'stable could not bring rain, or they would have saved themselves from thesword of Elijah. We need not to look toward the sea till we have bowedbefore the Lord, then we may expect some sign of the coming Revival. 

We must not be discouraged if the servant tells us "THERE IS NOTHING!"Masters see more than servants can, or they would not be masters. "Goagain seven times, " as though he said "Do not interrupt me with thy'Nothings!'" Come and tell me when there is "Something;" and the seventhtime he saw the "little cloud. " Some of us have looked from the hill, over the sea, in a far off tropical land, and have seen that same littlecloud many a time, as it spread all over the sky, and soon there was rainenough to stop the traveller. 

AND SO SHALL IT BE IN METHODISM ERE LONG. 

If we mistake not, last Sunday's work among our young people is theresult of many earnest prayers, and the sign of coming prosperity. 

Some will be ready to say "It is nothing to make a stir about. They wereonly children. " "A little cloud!" Only the size of a man's hand. Yes, but what man? "The man Christ Jesus. " "Ahab, get thee down, that therain stop thee not. " We shall not be surprised to hear of Revivals likesome we have known, which turned other meetings into soul-convertingagencies. Tea Meetings, and Missionary Meetings, where the people havecome in crowds, not to applaud eloquence, but to ask--"What must we do tobe saved?" We expect news of this sort, and that, ere long. May thehand of the Lord be on Elijah, then shall he run before Ahab, and prayershall be mightier than the power which moves those who eat and drink!

XIX. A CLEAN TONGUE. 

One of the first things the doctor does when he comes to see you, is toask to look at your tongue, and one glance will tell him how muchdifficulty he has to contend with. If the tongue is foul, he knows thatthere is inward mischief, and he must lose no time in cleansing that ofwhich the tongue is but an indicator. 

As we pass along our streets our ears are assailed with language of themost horrid description. If one needed any information as to the stateof public morals, the foul-mouthed men and boys, aye, and we regret tosay, too often, women and girls, would tell of the state of heart intowhich many thousands of our country people have been corrupted. And inmany cases, this has become habitual, and what might be termed natural. 

Can nothing be done? Is the name of the Divine Being and that of ourSaviour to be profaned constantly without any check? If so, it will growworse and worse, until we may expect national sin to bring down nationalpunishment, and we shall have to say, "Because of swearing the landmourneth. "

Those who have charge of the education of our children might help, byconstantly speaking against bad language, and by punishing those whocontinue to offend. Parents, also, should check the slightest tendencyin this direction. We have heard of a good woman, who, overhearing oneof her boys using what she called "dirty words, " took him to the sink, and washed out his mouth, not sparing the soap! Sometimes when we haveheard men defiling their tongues with filthy talk, we have wished theirmothers had served them the same. 

Nor is this offence against God and good taste always confined to theignorant. There are those who have been well taught--men of ability, andsome who make a profession of religion, who indulge in unseemly language, and delight in stories which are termed "smutty. " We know how farmersdislike the "smut" in their wheat, how an otherwise good crop will belowered in value, because the black grain will, when ground, darken theflour. Is it not so with these men of unclean lips? The filthyallusions and improper stories which pollute their conversation maketheir life infectious, and their companionship dangerous. Let us reprovethem, or at least avoid them, as we would the plague. 

If we would keep a clean tongue, we must pray "Create in me a cleanheart, O God!" This can be done, and the Lord, who has told us that Hewill not admit into His heaven that which worketh abomination, willgladly cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of His holySpirit, then shall our tongue glorify Him continually. 

Should this fall into the hands of one of those whose foul tongue shewsthat his heart is corrupt, we would ask him how he would like to have hisconversation reported by a short-hand writer, and printed in the"Standard, " or "Daily News, " with his name attached? But is it not afact, that his words are being taken down, and when the books are openedbefore an assembled universe at the last day, will not his soul tremble, as he finds that God has listened all the time, and the language usedyears ago, is to control his destiny, for He who will come to be ourJudge has said to the swearer and filthy speaker--

"BY THY WORD THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED. "

A WORD TO FATHERS. 

Have you ever thought how it is that in the prayer we call our Lord's, God is spoken of as Father? Do you not see that your child calls you byone of the names--the Christ-chosen name of the Devine Being? Is therenot a sermon in that to everyone of us who has children of his own?Perhaps you have never given the matter a thought that for some of theearly years of you children you may be giving them a caricature of God inyour ungodly conduct. Let us lay this to heart, and strive, by God-likeactions, to teach our little ones what God is like. By long sufferingand gentleness towards ignorance and weakness;--by stern denunciation, inlife as well as word, of everything that is mean and deceitful;--bydelighting in mercy, and readiness to give to those who need, to ourchildren, "Our Father, " may become a stepping stone to the knowledge ofGod. 

XX. THE RED LAMP. 

Travelling by express train the other day, we found that we were stoppeda long distance from the station where we were timed to stop, and lookingout of the window, saw a red light ahead. That accounted for it, we knewthere was something in the way. The driver knew what he was about, andthough anxious to go on, did not move until the red light was changed towhite. 

Some of those who read this paper are living in sin. To such, the Biblespeaks out in plain terms, and, like the Red Light, would stop them. 

"THE END OF THESE THINGS IS DEATH. "

You cannot go any further without danger. Why run the risk? That RedLamp seems to say, "If you will come on, you will be slain. " What shouldwe think of any one who urged the driver to go on, in spite of thewarning? Would you not call him "fool" and "madman?" Just so, and youwill do well to call those who urge you to despise the warnings of theBible, by the same names. 

We should not think much of the wisdom of any one who said of the RedLamp, "Why take any notice of that old-fashioned thing? We have outgrownthese childish ideas!" Would not your reply be, "Danger is danger, andsafety is safety!" We have not outgrown death and the grave, and it isstill true, in spite of the march of science, that a train coming intocollision with another means suffering to those who are in it. Sin isyet sin, and we cannot break the Commandments of God without having tosuffer. And as for the Bible being old-fashioned, we feel, that whichkept our fathers from hell shall keep their sons also. 

Here is one of the Red Lamps of the Bible, which young men would do wellto consider--

"HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL!"

Young man, there is the Red Light! Stop! Do not go one step further!There are plenty of fools to tell you that

"THIS IS SEEING LIFE. "

The Bible says--"The dead are there, and her guests are in the depths ofhell. " If everything had to be called by its right name, just as sign-boards tell us what is to be procured within, like "Furniture Dealer, ""Boot and Shoe Maker, " fancy the sign-board that would have to be putover the house of the "strange woman. " Here is a suitable inscription, which we take from the Bible. --Prov. Ii. 19:--

"NONE THAT GO UNTO HER RETURN AGAIN. "

This is putting a Red Lamp over her door, is it not? Will you heed thewarning? Or do you mean to be one of those of whom the Bible speaks, "AND THOU SHALT MOURN AT THE LAST, WHEN THY FLESH AND THY BODY ARE CONSUMED, AND SAY, 'HOW HAVE I HATED INSTRUCTION AND MY HEART DESPISED REPROOF?'"

XXI. A SERMON ON THE BOAT RACE. 

In finding illustrations for our teaching at the river-side, we shall bein good company, for that manly preacher, Paul, had seen wrestlers andrace-runners. It is true that then, athletics had not been disgraced bybetting; and it is only of very late years that the struggle on theThames has been polluted by gamblers. 

There are not a few who read our paper, who will be on the lookout toknow as soon as possible, whether

DARK OR LIGHT BLUE

has won. For ourselves we care not, but we are anxious to make use ofthe contest as a parable, before the race is forgotten. 

If you would row as to obtain, you must mind certain things, and theseare pictures of what we must do, would we gain the heavenly prize. 

I. --WE MUST KEEP THE BODY UNDER. 

So thought Paul. --See 1st Cor. Ix, 25 and 27. Those sixteen youngfellows who will pull the oars in the race, have, for months, beenundergoing strict physical training. This means abstinence from all thatcould be said to weaken the frame, or lower the action of the heart. There are only certain things they may eat and drink. They must have theright amount of sleep, and no more. Exercise of the most bracing kindthey must take every day, and eschew every practice that could weaken thenerves or muscles in the slightest degree. 

And he that would win the heavenly race must say "No, " to self, and "fleeyouthful lusts, " and "endure hardness. " He whose soul can be mastered byhis body has lost the bridle, and cannot wonder if he lose the prize. 

II. --WE MUST SECURE A GOOD START. 

Just before the Starter gives the word to go, the men paddle till thecord which the coxswain holds at arm's length is tight, and every man hashis oar ready for the dash into the water and away. To lose time at thestart is to find that a chance has been thrown away. 

"Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. " "They that seek Meearly shall find Me. " He who would be a first-class Christian, mustbegin betimes. Time lost is lee-way, that cannot be recovered, strive aswe like. 

III. --WE MUST BE WELL STEERED. 

In the picture parable you can see who is steering. Don't let him comeaboard you! Proverbs iii. 6, tells you whom to trust with the tillerropes. 

"HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. "

If young men would only let the Bible "coach them, " they would be savedfrom many a blunder and defeat. It is important to have, as steersman, one who knows the currents, and just when to alter the course. Theyoungster who steers the University boat has been up and down the rivermany a time, till he has learned everything he needs to know. Let me askyou, "Who steers?" If SELF-WILL does, you are undone. 

IV. --NEVER CEASE STRIVING TILL YOU HAVE WON. 

Your adversary will not. He will pursue you till you have gained theprize. "He who to the end endures, " is the saved man. It is veryinstructive to note how many backsliders there are among professors ofmature age. The most grievous cases of falling away are not from theranks of young disciples, but from those who ought to have been safeexamples for them! If you have lived to be grey-headed, remember yoursilver hair may make a fool's cap yet! There are other lessons, but theywill keep till another year. We will end our Sermon with some lines ofCharles Wesley's, not known to all our readers:--

 "But did the great apostle fear He should not to the end endure, Should not hold out, and persevere, And make his own election sure? Could Paul believe it possible, When all his toils and griefs were past, Himself should of salvation fail, And die a reprobate at last?"

 "Who then art thou that dar'st reject The sacred terms, the humbling awe, As absolutely saved, --elect, -- And free from an abolished law? DOST THOU NO SELF-DENIAL NEED, NO WATCH, OR ABSTINENCE SEVERE; In one short moment perfected! An angel--an immortal here?"

XXII. GOOD-FRIDAY. 

One wonders how it came to have that name! We cannot help feeling, thatif other titles were as well-deserved, it would be a blessing to theworld. For instance, if Nobleman, Gentleman, Reverend, &c. , were asdescriptive as this day's name, there would be many happier people thanthere are. 

No wonder that it should be called "Good, " for it helps us to look backto the time when the best action the world has known, or can know, wasdone. We gaze upon the Cross, and we thank God for His unspeakable gift. One knows not which to admire the most: the Love that could smite theWell-beloved, or the Love that could, for the sake of enemies, bear theblow?

How do our readers mean to spend the day? We have no right to bind anyman's conscience, and seek to have others do as we do, except they areled in the same direction, and yet we wonder how those who observe theday at all, can allow themselves to spend it in dissipation. 

We are no admirer of those who make the day one of sadness and gloom. 

IT IS GOOD-FRIDAY, and we cannot understand how men can allow themselves to act as though itwere Bad Friday, as though they could hear the hammer nailing Christ tothe cross. A high churchman's conscience is a wonderful thing, and innothing is it so surprising as this, that it can allow itself to act asthough Jesus were slain and in His tomb! Has not the Lord Himselfspoken? Let us listen to Him who speaks in rebuke to those who woulddarken our homes and places of worship, and cheat themselves into asentimentality which again sees the corpse of Jesus laid in Joseph'sgrave. 

"I AM HE THAT LIVETH AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE. "

It cannot be pleasing to Jesus to be spoken of as though He was once morein the hands of His enemies. 

While we regret that so many people in our country should make this dayone of rioting and extravagance, we are sure that it is in some degree areaction from the usages of those who would have us spend the day insorrow. That which is unreal must in time become unsatisfactory, andthose who would compel us to live over again the sorrows of Calvary, maydrive us to football, or that which is worse! Let men once think thatthe church has turned actor, and they will say, "No, we will go to thetheatre, for there the acting is better done. "

EVERY DAY we should visit in spirit the cross of Jesus, for every day weneed the merit of the atonement, and the stimulus of that example of self-forgetfulness. Let us turn away from the so-called realism which wouldhang the world in black, and, at the same time let us avoid those whowould make this a day of revelry. There is a middle path, one upon whichChrist smiles, and a path we can tread any day, and thus make it GOOD--wemean the

PATHWAY OF SELF-SACRIFICE. 

For the joy of blessing others, let us be willing to endure shame orpain. There is always pleasure to be earned by those who are willing topay the price, --the pleasure of unselfishness, --but this cannot be tastedexcept by those who seek their highest joy in the wellbeing of others. Our risen and glorified Lord tastes this joy every day, Good-Friday notexcepted, and we think it will lead us to spend the day according to Hiswill, if we seek for ourselves all the blessings He purchased with Hisblood, and none more earnestly than that sanctifying Spirit who will helpus to follow His blessed example, and, by caring others, MAKE EVERY GOOD. 

THE CROWN CANNOT BEINDEPENDENTOF THE SPADE!

XXIII. PETER THE PREACHER. 

Yes! the Preacher! for it is in this way he has earned the right to beremembered. Perhaps his sermon at Pentecost was more remarkable in itsresults than any sermon has been since. The question arises in the mindsof thinking men, "Is there any reason why preaching now should be lesseffective than it was when men first began to preach the Gospel of JesusChrist?" One thing is certain, human nature has not improved, and hellis as great a fact now as then. God's love for men has not decreased. Heis still interested in the human race, and the promise, as Peter put it, is "to all that are afar off. "--Acts ii. 39. 

"WHY, THEN, DO WE NOT SEE THE SAME RESULTS?

We do in kind, but not in number. Why not in both? Is not the answer tobe found in Acts i. 14?

 "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. "

Is not the Church of to-day weak in the knee? Do we pray as the men andwomen did who waited for the promise of the Father in the upper room?Peter would pray. He had all the instinct of a preacher, and would feelhis heart bound at the thought that he was to be a witness of God'sreadiness to pardon. His prayer would differ from many others. How hewould plead for the power that would crown him with the diadem of apreacher! There was a time when he had prayed--"Depart from me, for I ama sinful man. " Now, his cry would be--"Come to me, let not my sins causeThee to stay, but come quickly. " There are many of us who feel we needto cry to Peter's Saviour and Lord, for we have allowed doubts to hideHis face, or self-indulgence to fence Him about. Let every preacher whoreads these words unite with us in pleading for a Pentecost that shallrenew our commission, and make all men to know that a risen Saviour isour King, and a promised Comforter our portion, WHAT A BLOW TO SOCINIANISM, BOTH OF IDEA AND WORD, WOULD A 'SECONDPENTECOST' BECOME!

We do not here mean to dwell on the example shewn to the Church by theaccord in prayer, the many pleading, so differently, and yet in harmony;we are writing now for preachers, knowing that hundreds of workers willread every line we write, and we are thus led to enquire further--

HOW FAR PETER'S SERMON IS LIKE THE SERMONS WE PREACH?

Some who have read it, as it is printed, have said, "We should not haveinvited such a preacher to our circuit:" but such people forget that theaccompaniments of preaching cannot be printed. Who can write down thespiritual atmosphere? Who can reproduce the tone of voice in which Peterspoke? How can he describe what some of us have felt--the unction--thenever-to-be-forgotten emotions of the soul? Depend upon it, these werepresent in a remarkable manner. 

But beside all this, there are the Bible facts. Peter knew his Bible andcould quote it. How familiar he must have been with the Old Testament!Could he have found, in any part of the book, passages more telling andmore suitable? If we knew our Bible better, we should not need to do asthe manner of some is, round off common-place ideas of our own, withpretty poetry of someone else's!

Then, the preacher was not afraid to tell the congregation what sins theyhad committed. Many of them were what is called "good sort of people, went to place of worship, and paid their way, " &c. But it was true, "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God, ye have taken, and by wickedhands have crucified and slain. " Let us who preach, cry to God to giveus His Spirit, that we may tell those who hear us of their sins. How arethey to be convinced of sins, if they are not told of them?

Nor was Peter satisfied with the good feeling, or even with seeing thepeople moved. It was not enough for him that his hearers were pricked inthe heart, he would have them do more. Would he not have said to many ofthose who have gone into the inquiry-room, "I am not satisfied that youare in earnest. You want God to save you in your sins. " Repentance isimpossible to those who are not conscious of guiltiness. And, withoutrepentance, faith holds the cup of water to one who was never thirsty. Doyou wonder that it is loathsome? He might drink if it were not so pure, BUT IT TAKES THIRST TO RELISH WATER!

This is a tempting subject, we could say much more, but we will only add, that the last word in the chapter, which tells of "Peter the Preacher, "gives the result of such sermons as his--

"SAVED!"

XXIV. "WHEN SOLOMON WAS OLD. "

 "_It came to pass when Solomon was old_, _that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods_. "

 1 KINGS xi. 4. 

Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it isoften so, for it is still true that

NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE WILL SAVE FROM BACKSLIDING THOSE WHO REFUSE TOLISTEN TO GOD. 

We learn from verse 10 that God had taken pains to save Solomon fromidolatry, (see 1 Kings vi. 12, and xi. 6). But what good is it for evenGod to try to save a man who will have his own way? And yet one wouldhave thought that a man who knew what Solomon knew, would have not boweddown to gods of wood and stone! It is not always at our weakest place wefail! It is well for us to be aware of this. Who would have expectedMoses to fail in his temper, or Elijah in his courage? Solomon must havehated himself when he bowed before these graven images, and must havelooked with loathing on those filthy idols before whom he was prostrate, and yet he went on in his evil way. How the priests who offered theidolatrous sacrifices would rejoice in their illustrious pervert! Willany of us ever give the foes of God cause for exultation? Do not tell methat you are too well instructed! Are you wiser than Solomon? "Let notthe wise man glory in his wisdom. Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me. "--Jer. Ix, 23-24. You are safeonly as you are willing to be led by the word of God. 

WHAT IS THE BIBLE TO YOU?

Is it a lamp to your feet? Not merely a lantern to keep you out of themire, but a treasure like that miner's lamp; a light by which he is notonly guided, but able to walk in the shadow of death. All around him isthe gas that would slay him, and yet by that lamp he walks to the placeof safety! This is what the Bible must be to you, or it is nothing. 

Mind you, it is not enough for you to know the Bible. We have hearddrunken men quote it with correctness, but it had not saved them from thedemon which haunted them. It is an instructive thought that the man whowrote some of the Bible, who is spoken of in the pulpit as "The WiseMan, " the author of the Book of Proverbs, was led away into sin andeternal disgrace. In fact, it matters not what we know, if we are notled of the Spirit we shall come to grief. The more deeply a ship isladen, if she gets aground, the more likely she is to become a wreck. Ittakes the wisest of men to make the fool Solomon became. Perhaps themost serious aspect of this story is, that it was not while the king wasyoung, but when grey-headed, that he wandered from God, and this leads meto say that

THE WORST CASES OF BACKSLIDING ARE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER YOUNG. 

We should not have been surprised if Solomon had been led away byyouthful passion or indiscretion, but we are shocked to find that it waswhen he ought to have been venerable that he became vicious--"WhenSolomon was old. " We should have expected history would have told us ofthe power he exerted over the people; how the nation saw in his silverlocks the crown of glory he had spoken of in his book. It would haveseemed natural to have read of great gatherings of the people ofdifferent nations, listening to his wondrously wise words. Instead ofthis, the news spread far and wide that the wise king had stooped tofolly of the worst degree. 

My brothers! what sort of old men shall we make? If we are allowed toremain among our fellows, shall we live the life that shall make menthank God for our length of days, or will they wish we had died in ouryouthful prime? There are men whose youth was like the mountain stream, which cheered everything it touched. Born among the mountains, andwedding other brooks and streamlets, uniting them in a river, clear andlovely, along whose banks children loved to play. But later on, as itbecame broad and deep, taking in pollution and garbage, until the clearand joyous river is changed into a great sewer, filling the air withnoxious smells, and defiling the face of nature with its liquidblackness. Such is life to some men--Solomon was one, perhaps the worst. 

One is ready to ask--Can this be the man to whom God spake in largepromise? Is this he whose prayer brought into the temple the manifestedpresence of the Almighty? Can it be possible that this hoary idolaterhad been the favourite of Jehovah? Alas! it is only too true. More thanonce we have known men whose prayers could bring heaven to earth, andlift earth to heaven, but who have lived too long, and ere they fell intoa dishonoured grave, brought shame to the cross of Jesus, and gave theenemies of God food for laughter. Let those among us who are no longeryoung, see to it that we are not among those who fall more deeply intosin than it is possible for young disciples to do. 

What should we think if Westminster Abbey became a gin-palace? If allaround its gates lewd men and dishonoured women stood and cracked theirfilthy jokes; if from its lovely choir the drunkard's song was heard?Verily, you say, "It is nigh to blasphemy to imagine such a thing. Wehad rather that it had been burned to ashes when the fire of Londondestroyed St. Paul's. Would that it had reached far enough West todestroy the ancient pile rather than it should be so polluted!" Aye, aye, you are right, and yet to see a man who, in his youth was aChristian, but in his old age has become an apostate, is a more sorrowfulsight still. Alas! that it should be so common. 

How did it come about? What scheme of hell led to this? Whatcombination of men and fiends accomplished this tragedy? It waslove--affection, infatuation, for that which ought not to have beenloved, "King Solomon loved many strange women, besides the daughter ofPharaoh, " as the margin puts it. And this leads me to say that

A MAN'S FEMALE FRIENDS FRAME HIS FORTUNES. 

Solomon began wrong; he allowed his affection to fasten itself on astranger--an Egyptian. It is a question worth considering, whether wepreachers say enough to the people on this question of matrimony. Aman's marriage is sure to tell on his history. He can never be the sameagain he was before. He may wed one who shall help him to be good, whosevoice shall be like church bells calling him to prayer. Or he may fastenhimself to one, who, like Jezebel, shall stir up her husband to deeds ofshame and cruelty. Sometimes we have felt, when we have seen somemarriages, that it would have been a fitting thing if a hearse had beenamong the carriages, for there lay DEAD HOPE on its way to a grave fromwhich there could be no resurrection!

Young man! what woman is it you like the best? Who is her god? Fashion?Pleasure? What is the name of the deity she worships? If it is anyonerather than Jehovah, beware! Before you die, she shall turn you asSolomon was turned. What is that you say? You are not such a fool!Well, that remains to be seen. Are you one of those who trust in his ownheart? If so, remember what he is called. See Prov. Xxviii. 26. Is notthe helm of your life in her hands now? Would you love her as you do, ifshe had not the reins of your soul in her grasp? If Solomon had knownall that was to follow when he first looked on the daughter of Pharaoh, he would have died before he would have made her his bride. Let not thissad story be in any way a prophecy of your future. There are plenty ofwomen whom to know is to be elevated, and whom to wed would be toforetaste the companionship of heaven. Wives are often the architectsand the husbands the builders. See to it, that the woman you love doesnot make you lay out the foundation of a jail. She may tell you it is apalace, but neither of you have yet seen the elevation. She only drawsthe ground-plan. 

There is yet another scene in this tragedy. Solomon, by his folly, losthis son's estate. God said, "I will surely rend the kingdom from thee. "Rehoboam was the poorer for his father's sin. 

OUR CHILDREN BECOME THE HEIRS OF OUR CRIMES. 

Some other day, it may be, we will take the story of the son. Let itsuffice to-day that we learn the lesson the Bible would teach us. Solomon's sun went down in a cloud. It is a disputed question whetherSolomon repented in time to save his soul. There ought to have been noquestion as to whether he was in heaven or no. As it is, we don't knowthat David has one of his children with him, except the baby boy who dieddespite his father's fasting and prayer. Surely no one more than Davidwill need to have that promise fulfilled--"God shall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes. " It may be that David has needed to be comforted, because the builder of the temple is among those who died in idolatry. 

Let every father among us bear in mind, that when we neglect prayer, orgive up devotion, because we want the time for seeking gold or any otheridol, we are mortgaging our children's future. Giving up religiousexercises is like cutting down the trees on an estate, the next heir willknow the want of them. No man can be said to be a good father, who, forthe sake of any worldly good, impoverishes the souls of his offspring. "Turned away his heart after other gods, " means turning away the kingdomof Israel. Sin cannot be separated from sorrow, and this is as true to-day as it was in the days of Solomon. 

XXV. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. GENESIS xxii. 

1. --"After these things. "

What things? See verse 33 in preceding chapter. After Abraham had givenhimself to prayer. It often happens that grace is given for grace. Godprepares his own for trial and suffering by revealing Himself. 

"GOD DID TEMPT. "--Like a workman who is conscious the work is well done, fears not the scrutiny which waits his labour. When the smith has putgood work into the iron cable, he does not then fear the strain of thetest put upon it, and God knew what He had done to Abraham in the groveat Beersheba. If we have a Beersheba, we need not fear Moriah. 

2. --"Isaac, whom thou lovest. "

God has a right to the best. He does not ask us to do what He has notdone Himself. "He gave his only begotten Son. "

3. "Rose up early. "

Abraham was prompt. Where there is a task to be performed, lose no time. Work does not grow easier by delay. Do not fritter away strength intrifles; begin at once upon the duties which call for instant obedience. We do not read that Abraham asked Sarah's advice, the command was plain. She might not have been willing. Never ask advice from those whom Goddoes not trust. 

"CLEAVE THE WOOD. "--He did not act as some do, take no pains inpreparation. The Holy Ghost is not to act as brains in an empty skull. Get ready, then go. Some would have climbed the hill, and then, becausethere was no one near from whom they could borrow an axe to cut the wood, would have come back with an excuse, and in so doing picture not a fewwho fail, because they are not able to sing--

 "READY for all Thy perfect will, My acts of faith and love repeat. "

5. --Abide ye here with the Ass. "

The young men would have hindered Abraham from binding his son on thealtar. Whatever would interfere with prayer, when we retire for thatpurpose, or with sacrifice, when we make the effort, should be leftbehind. Leave hinderers with the ass, they will be in congenial society!

6, 7, 8, 9. --"The Knife, " "The Fire, " "The Wood. "

Where is the lamb? Isaac's words would pierce his father's heart. Howcame it the young man yielded? Was there a struggle? Did Abraham bindhim by force? There is no indication in the story of any resistance. Dothe words of Jesus cast any light, "Abraham saw My day, and was glad?"Received him in a figure" (Heb. Xi. 19. ) Did father and son see what wasto occur in the distance?

10. --"Took the knife to slay his son. "

God tries us to the full. His tests are no shams. Before the Hall-markis put on the metal, the acid proves it genuine. 

11 and 12. --"Lay not thine hand on the lad. "

No one spoke to God when it pleased Him to bruise His Well-beloved. 

13. --"A ram caught in a thicket. "

God cleaves His wood, He is ready, always prepared. 

14. --"Call the name of that place, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. "

What would he have called it before his deliverance? Let us not be tooquick to name events. It may be we shall want to alter if we do. 

15-18. --"OBEYED. "

Obedience is the joyful mother of children, --children that are born tobless. He who can always obey will find every step leads to athrone. --Rev. Iii. 21. 

These are a few lessons which I shall not do more than name:

I. --GOD'S FRIENDSHIP DOES NOT EXCLUDE TRIAL. 

The man who is called the friend of God was told to slay his son. 

II. --GREAT JOYS CONTAIN GREAT SORROWS. 

The name of this son was Laughter. The more we enjoy a Gift of God, themore we shall feel it when we are called to part. Hold joys with a slackhand. 

III. --IN GREAT EXTREMITIES LOOK FOR GREAT DELIVERANCES. 

The ram is in the thicket all the time. 

IV. --GREAT TRIALS WILL YIELD SWEET MEMORIES. 

None of Abraham's journeys cost him so many tears as this, and none wereso pleasant to recall. 

PERHAPS CALVARY IS THE SWEETEST SPOT ON EARTH TO GOD. 

XXVI. OIL FOR LAMPS. MATTHEW xxv. 1-13. 

God's kingdom is imperfect as yet, for it is not said to be like five, but ten virgins. It is worthy of our careful thought that it is to bemade perfect by contraction, not expansion. The King is to say "Depart!"as well as "Come!"

We do not attempt anything like exposition of this solemn and yetcharming parable, but rather to notice some of the most easily perceivedtruths it discovers. 

I. --A Light is better than a Lamp. 

All the ten took their lamps. Very likely there was variety in the shapeand material of the lamp, but only five of them had lamps that keptalight, for some of them had no means of replenishment. For anything weknow, the lamps of the foolish were as good as the others, may-be better, but the flame and not the frame is the important matter. We cannot havethe power without the form. Grace must have the human material, but wemay have the human without the Divine. Our Bibles, our Prayers, ourHymns, all these are channels of grace, as the lamp and the wick areessential to the flame, but the lamp may not be lighted, or it may havegone out! It is not a question of John Keble, or General Booth, but isthe singing from the heart? The "Amen" may be shouted or intoned, but ifnot real, it is worse than smouldering wick. 

II. --We may as well be without oil as not have enough to endure to theend. 

All ten lamps were at one time burning. In the margin of verse 10, weread, "Our lamps are going out. " What a lesson to the backslider! Youonce were a burning and a shining light, but you did not seek grace tohelp in time of need, and your lamp is gone out. Better never have madea profession if there be not grace to sustain the flame. Aye, andperhaps you, with a lamp which has gone out, you have been a preacher, ora teacher, and have, before now, enforced this very lesson on yourhearers. If there is a sight in this world over which angels might weep, it is a preacher without a light. Better go to hell from a race-coursethan a pulpit!

III. --The gates or the palace may be shut while we are calling on the oilseller. 

"While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came. " There is an old saying, that "praying breath was never wasted. " But this parable does not teachthat lesson. There are not a few who think they can atone for the sinsof a long life by crying with their dying breath, "Lord, have mercy onme!" But the truth is, there may be the fear of punishment without anypenitence, and cries for dread of hell may not be the sacrifice of abroken and a contrite heart. 

Let us not put off our repentance too long, or while we are sending forthe minister to instruct us, death may claim us for his prey. Or whilewe are saying to the teacher of religion, "What must I do to escapehell?" the fetters may be fastened on our soul. The palace-gate mayswing to before we can make the oil-man hear. 

IV. --That which lets the five wise in to the palace, keeps out the fivefoolish. 

"The door was shut. " The five were in, and then came the other five, tofind the gate closed. Then they begin to cry "Open to us!" but in vain. The door makes all the difference. If you enter, it is by the door; ifyou are shut out, it is the door that closes against you. "I am thedoor, " said Jesus, and it is yet true. "No man cometh to the Father butby Me. " Yes, Jesus is the True and Living way, and the only one. But ifwe are lost, it will be the aspect of Jesus which will slay our lasthope. It is the wrath of the Lamb which is so dreadful. Have you everthought of it, my brother, that Christ is to be Life or Death to thee? Ifhe does not shut thee into heaven, He will shut thee out. Shall you everbe one of the group which cry, as their last prayer, "Lord! Lord! opento us!"

DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSEWHO PRAY LIKE ABELANDLIVE LIKE CAIN. 

XXVII. "CAST A STONE AT HER!"JOHN viii. 7. 

Cast a stone at whom? At a woman! Why not at a man?

THERE WAS A MAN, WHY NOT STONE HIM?

Just so, but then the Scribes and Pharisees did not bring him. It is soeasy to punish the woman, and yet it is not proved that she was worsethan her paramour. But is it not the way of the world to make the womanbear all the shame and all the suffering? We say, "She is a fallenwoman;" and yet we speak of a man who breaks the seventh commandment asone who is "sowing his wild oats!" Why is he not called a fallen man? Ifa woman falls, we put her outside our sympathies and our regard, and wemay be right is so doing. But at the same time we don't put the manoutside. He can come into our drawing-rooms. He may dine at the sametable with our daughters. If we saw them speak to the woman, we shouldcry out with loathing, "Come away from her!" but

WE DON'T CRY OUT WHEN THEY LAUGH AT THE JOKES OF A MAN WHO HAS FALLEN!

Why is this?

"Cast a stone at her!" Who shall stone her? "He that is without sin, let him be the first to pick up a stone. " Now, then, reader, why don'tyou throw a stone? Nay, but I have no right, say you, I am not withoutsin. Is this to be the rule, none are to punish the fallen but those whohave never tripped? Why, this would silence many who are very ready tospeak against these unhappy sisters. We make no apologies for the crimesof those who have yielded to temptation, but we do ask, is there room forour rebukes when we are not without sin?

Perhaps this book may be read by our sisters who have gone astray. Tosuch, we say, in the words of Jesus, (verse 11. )

"SIN NO MORE!"

You are not obliged to do so. No one is. There is always a way made forthose who truly repent. Call upon Jesus, the Friend of sinners, and Hewill open a door of hope for you. To persevere in sin, is only to ruinsoul and body too. Perhaps you have parents living, who long to see you, and who would be glad to take you to their hearts. Give them the joy ofhaving you near them once more. Is it not in your power to answer theirprayer--

"O GOD! GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER ONCE MORE!"

If you are absolutely friendless, so far as earth is concerned, you haveyour Heavenly Father. He is always within call, and He has said, in Hisword, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I willgive you rest. " On the other hand, there is the "Father of lies. " Hewho tempted the first woman, and led her astray, and taught her to leadthe man wrong. This evil one is whispering in your ear--"There is nohope. " "It is too late. " "Better have a short life and a merry one. "

HEED HIM NOT, SISTER!

He is a liar! He means thy destruction! God calls, and calls thee topardon and peace. Obey Him, and hope shall spring again, and LIGHTRETURN TO THY POOR HEART. 

XXVIII. "OFFER IT NOW UNTO THY GOVERNOR. "MALACHI i. 8. 

We beg to suggest to those who want a new text that will strike andstick, that they should look through MALACHI'S book. There are plenty oftexts like splinters therein. The words that head this article are partof an appeal to the people on the question of right service. The prophetwas indignant with his country people, who wished to combine prayer withparsimony, and worship with worldly policy. He complained that they darenot offer to their superiors what they sent as a sacrifice to God. Mightnot some Christians be asked the same questions? Would the "Governor"accept the present God was supposed to be glad to get? Who would thinkof trying to get into the good graces of any one by sending a spavinedhorse, or a cow with foot-and-mouth-disease, as a present?

In the matter of prayer, for instance. Take a congregation supposed tobe asking God to pardon their sins, and to give them all the blessingstheir souls and bodies need. Mind you, they are people who say theybelieve that "he that believeth not is condemned" already; that "thewages of sin is death, " and yet, listen how they pray! We will supposethe man in the pulpit is in earnest and means all he says. Look around, what do you see? Scores of people who dare not sit in the presence evenof the Squire, to say nothing of the Queen, but there they sit, as thoughthat was the proper position for prayer! One of them is taking thepattern of a new dress, or the trimming of a bonnet; while another iswondering, not whether there will be an answer to the prayer, but whetherthe man who is leading the worship will keep on much longer, and ask forsomething else, for already he has been praying ten minutes!

Supposing a petition is to be drawn up to the Queen, asking for a pardonfor one of the family, who for his crime, is under sentence of death;what thought would be given to it? Even the very paper, pens, and ink, would have to be of the best quality. But hear yonder father praying forhis children's conversion. His son is old enough to have rejected thegospel, and is condemned already; but how listless the prayer! "Offer itto thy Governor. " Would the Queen be expected to deign to notice such apetition? Is it any wonder such prayers are unanswered?

Look into this vestry! There is a meeting for prayer. It is held withgreat regularity, so that it is well known that a number of persons meetat a certain hour to ask blessings from One who has said "Knock and thedoor shall be opened. " Considering that this is the case, one would haveexpected the room would be too small; but no, there is never a largemeeting. You see it is only a prayer-meeting. If the Rev. TimothyFlowerpot was going to preach, there would be a crowd, for he is popular, and he says things which are supposed to be very superior to the Bible;besides his prayers are eloquent, very different to what are usually sentto the throne of grace. He is very sensitive, though, in the matter ofcongregations, he will not go a second time where there is only a handfulof people. His work is to speak to large audiences, and he would be verymuch offended if the vestry were prepared for his service. 

"Offer it to thy Governor. " If the Reverend Gentleman would not acceptthe congregation that meets for an audience with God, can it be expectedthat the Lord of heaven will be well pleased with those who care not tocome when prayer is made?

We shall be glad if these plain words cause some of our readers to lookat the sacrifice before they offer it, and ask, would this kind of thingbe acceptable to man? If not good enough for my equal, will my Superiorlook with favour on it? Listen once more to the rough, but sensiblewords of the Hebrew prophet:--

"IF YE OFFER THE BLIND FOR SACRIFICE, IS IT NOT EVIL?AND IF YE OFFER THE LAME AND SICK, IS IT NOT EVIL?OFFER IT NOW UNTO THY GOVERNOR; WILL HE BEPLEASED WITH THEE, OR ACCEPT THY PERSON?SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. "

FAITH MAKES THE GRAVEA CRADLE. 

XXIX. "WHAT MEAN THESE STONES?"JOSH. Iv. 21. 

[_Preached at a Sunday School Anniversary_. ]

This is a children's question. God does not wish the boy to be snubbedwhen he wants to know. There is a kind of curiosity which is like thescent in a hound--a Divine instinct--and must not be checked, for that iswaste. If you chill your child when he comes to ask, you may break thelink which binds him to you, and never be able to weld it again. Therewill be a time come when you will long to have the lad come to your side, but it will be too late. "When your children shall ask their fathers . . . Then ye shall let your children know" (21-22. )

OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMANDMENTS WILL CAUSE OURCHILDREN TO ASK QUESTIONS WHICH WILL BE ABLESSING TO THEIR LIFE. 

This is very different to what is called "questionable conduct. " Wedon't want your son to say "I cannot understand how my father makes hisledger square with the Bible;" or the girl to say, "How does mother makethis love of display harmonise with the class-meeting?" No, no! this isnot it; but, "What mean these stones?" As the little girl said to hersister, "What is it makes mother's face shine so after she has been inher chamber so long?" That mother had been praying to her Father whichseeth in secret, and He had rewarded her openly. If we live lives ofcheerful obedience, the children will say, "What is the Sacrament? Whatdo you do at the Class-meeting? &c. Why cannot I go with you?"

These stones are very suggestive. There are sermons in them. Somelessons which will occur to every one; others that need to be thoughtover again and again. For instance, there are twelve, A STONE FOR EACH TRIBE. 

They all came out of the bed of Jordan, and yet, there are no two alike!Judah's is not like Napthali's, and yet both came from the same place, and are in the same heap. We are not alike, though we be the children ofthe same Father. You and I are very different, yet it is "Our Father. "Yours as much as mine. John Bunyan knew this, for he makes his pilgrimband to consist of very great contrasts. Mr. Valiant for-the-truth, aswell as Mr. Despondency. And they all get across the stream. 

It has been a favourite dream, in all ages, to have a church of onepattern. Uniformity, that is, all of one shape. God does not make thetrees which bear the same kind of fruit of one shape. You can makeartificial flowers by the shipload, all one tint, but the bees won't comeround your ship when you unload it! In a town where I have preached manya time, there is a place of worship at each end. As you come from therailway station, there is one which begins the town--a Baptist Chapel, plain and convenient, but right on the street, with the busy traffic allround; while at the other end of the town there is a church with a spirethat makes you look up and think it is an anthem in stone! All aroundare old-fashioned houses, with gardens filled with flowers, and greenlawns, while beyond there is a real country lane, with May in the hedges, and the music of larks and blackbirds. What a contrast! Yet if the arkof God were in danger, there would be brave hearts come from both placesto die for the truth. No! let us have done with this wish to have allthe same. It will become monotony. Go down into the Jordan and fetchyour stone! Aye, aye, and one will pick the heaviest, one that will makehis knees totter; and another will choose the squarest, and yet anotherthe smoothest, but each man lays his in the heap, and it is well done!

"What mean these stones?"

WHY, THAT IT IS SAFE TO GO WHERE THE ARK GOES. 

That chest is the sign of God's presence. There is the blood on themercy-seat, and there are the angels of gold looking at that spot ofblood. All the time the ark stood still in the bed of the river, thepeople could pass in safety. There are many Jordans for some of us topass, but we need not to fear if God is there. There is the Jordan ofPOVERTY. It is a deep stream, and the water runs fast: yes, but if theark goes first, thou shalt not be overcome. Does Providence call on theeto go down in the world? Never fear! the Ark is there. "I will neverleave thee. " We are thinking now of a friend of ours, not sainted, butsaintly, who has seen great reverses of fortune, yet her life has been apsalm. She reminds me of a robin, for, like him, her song has beensweeter than ever in the dark days. You may have to cross the river ofPERSECUTION, but the Ark is there. When the three brave men preferredthe furnace to idolatry, they found the Son of Man in the flames waitingfor them, and so shall you. 

And when it comes to the Jordan of DEATH, we shall know the Ark has goneon before. Some of you lame ones will step it out bravely when you seethe Ark. Don't you remember, that good old "Ready to Halt" left hiscrutches on the bank? It was because he could see the Ark in the bed ofthe river. 

Do not these stones teach that

GOD HONOURS FAITH?

Brave Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry that Ark right intothe stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in thewater (ver. 15. ) God had not promised aught else. This is what isneeded--what Jabez Bunting was wont to call "Obstinate faith, " that thePROMISE sees and "looks to that alone. " You can fancy how the peoplewould watch these holy men march on, and some of the by-standers would besaying, "You would not catch me running the risk. Why, man, the ark willbe carried away?" Not so, "the priests stood firm on dry ground. "

We must not overlook the fact that Faith on our part helps God to carryout His plans. "Come up to the help of the Lord. " The Ark had stavesfor the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of itself, it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and labourers. Faithassists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence offire. It yet honours God, and God honours it. O for this faith thatwill go on, leaving God to fulfil His promise when He sees fit! Fellow-Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we werecarrying God's coffin. It is the Ark of the living God. Sing as youmarch towards the flood. 

These stones we can see, remind us of other stones we cannot see (verse9. ) "And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in theplace where the feet of the priests which bare the Ark of the Covenantstood, and they are there unto this day. " Will these stones ever befound? More unlikely things have happened. Any way, they serve us as alesson. There are things unseen as real as things we look on every day. 

ORDINANCES ARE SIGNS AS WELL AS REMEMBRANCERS. 

What do you call that piece of wood there? Why, the communion rail, tobe sure. Communion? what does that mean? It is only a piece of wood, and yet it makes us think of Him Who, the same night that He wasbetrayed, took bread, saying, "Do this in remembrance of Me. " Kneelingat that rail, we may, by faith, take hold of the Man who died for us. Rightly used, the Lord's Supper may be manna--angels' food. 

What is this day? The Sabbath. The Rest Day. The toils of life areo'er for a little time. Ah! this is another of the stones we see, whichtell of stones we cannot see. There is a Sabbath that has no week-day;there is a world where there is no toil, no anxiety, no tears!

 "O, long expected day begin!"

What do you call that sweet noise? Music? And what is that but anotherof these stones we can see, which tell of others we see not as yet. Dr. Watts said of sacred music--

 "Thus, Lord, while we remember Thee, We, blest and pious grow; By hymns of praise we learn to be Triumphant here below. "

While I hear those children's voices I seem to catch the sweeter strainsof my children in heaven, singing their joy. Those deep, manly bassvoices remind me of the psalms up yonder--like the sound of many waters. Why, the very crape some of you wear reminds me of some who sat by yourside, and who are now clad in garments "whiter than snow. "

XXX. "HE THAT SLEEPETH IN HARVEST IS A SON THAT CAUSETH SHAME. "PROVERBS x. 5. 

We shall always be in debt to Solomon for these wise sayings, and for thepains he took to have them preserved. The words which head this form apicture. It is harvest-time, and the old folks have been depending ontheir able-bodied son getting in all their corn, but they are doomed todisappointment. He sleeps when he should work. When others are toilinghe is snoring, and his corn rots in the field because he does not carryit while he has fine weather. How ashamed his father is! Other men havegot their corn well housed, but his is still where it grew, because theson he has reared is lazy and self-indulgent. One feels that no languageis too strong for this indolent young man. 

But what has this to do with us? some will ask. We reply--Is not thisthe harvest time of the church, when the days are closing and the nightslengthening? Have we not been used to hear of special efforts being madefor the rescue of perishing souls, and ingathering of those who are indanger of dying unready?

ARE YOU ASLEEP IN HARVEST?

Let every Methodist who reads this ask--What am I doing? Am I sleepingor harvesting? What am I doing to gather in the ripe corn? If I amindolent I shall cause shame to the people who count me one ofthemselves. If we sleep now that we should work, at the March QuarterlyMeeting our place will be down in numbers, and as there are others of thesame indolent sort, our circuit will be down at the District Meeting, andperhaps the District be down, and there will be the shame among thechurches if Methodism is down. 

Other churches are used to look to us to shew them how to do the reaping. O, let us be up and doing! How shall we dare to meet our Lord if wesleep when we should sweat? How shall we bear it, if the members ofother religious societies tell us that our bad example corrupted them?What will be our shame, if we find that those who expected us to gatherthem in accuse us of slothfulness, and destroying their souls by ourneglect?

CAN WE EXPECT TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN, IF THEY SEEOUR FARM POINTED OUT AS THE FIELD OFTHE SLUGGARD?

Will not very shame drive them from their own home to find one amongthose whom we once taught the way to reap?

We wish that we could do with all drowsy Methodists what Jonah's captaindid with him. We should dearly like to give them a good shake and say, "Awake, O sleeper!" We think of towns and villages, where, not very longago, there was the song of the reaper, but now, alas! he has gone fastasleep. Shame will be the inheritance of those who are drowsy when theyought to be at work. Why have contempt poured on thee, when glory is tobe won by work? Grasp the sickle and go out among the standing corn, orthe rust on thy reaping hook shall eat into thy soul for ever!

XXXI. "THE AXE IS LAID TO THE ROOT. "

 "_And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees_. _Therefore_, _every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire_. "

If we want to preach, it will be wise for us to study the examples ofpreaching given in the Bible. John was filled with the Holy Ghost, andtherefore taught of God: and it is easy to see that the man's nature wasallowed full play. The Holy Ghost does not destroy character, but usesit, and these words of the Baptist are natural to him. Rugged strengthis in every figure of the speech he uses. But I am not preaching topreachers, but to sinners, as John was, and in using the great Baptist'swords, I would have you to visit

THE DEVIL'S ORCHARD. 

This is not the only time in the Bible when wicked men are compared totrees. There is a notable example in Nebuchadnezzar, who, in his dream, saw a tree great and high, and saw an angel come down from heaven, lookat it and then cry out--

"HEW DOWN THE TREE!"

But in his case it was not said, "Cast it into the fire, " but leave thestump with a band of iron and brass. You will remember this dream wasfulfilled, and the king of Babylon lost his reason, and became like abeast, but the tree was allowed to grow again. Not so with these: Johnis speaking about the trees to be burned. 

But we may be asked--What are the trees in the devil's orchard? They aremen and women whose lives are wrong. You may see what Paul says in theletter he wrote to the Christians in Galatia--Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, Envying, Murders, Drunkenness, Revellings, and such like. 

NOW, DOES THIS LIST INCLUDE YOU?

Well, you say, I am not a murderer. But are you envious? Do you grievebecause someone more worthy than you is enjoying something you wouldlike? Do you not see that is like what the devil felt when he saw Adamin Paradise? You can, by envy, soon become a destroyer. You say you arenot an Adulterer, but are you lascivious? Do you like to think ofunclean things? Do you delight in filthy pictures or "bawdy" songs? Ifso, you are fitting yourself for the fire where the Sodomites are. Yousay you are not as bad as some; perhaps you have not been growing as longas they have. Hatred and Variance are the trees on which the devilgrafts Murders. Do you notice the last words in that sentence of Paul's--

"AND SUCH LIKE. "

If not a Drunkard or a Reveller, yet going in that direction; having aliking for evil companions and Sunday pleasuring. Am I looking on someof the saplings which Satan means to graft before next year? Christmasand New Year will soon be here. The dance and the ball-room are theplaces where

REVELLERS BECOME FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS!

Are you a tree in the devil's orchard? If so, you may see your future inthe words "Cast into the fire!"

In the crowds of people who listened to John, there were numbers ofreligious folk. Some of them were teachers. All the devil's trees don'tgrow on his estate, therefore I want you now to look at

THE DEVIL'S TREES WHICH GROW IN GOD'S ORCHARD. 

JUDAS was one. He had the advantage of Christ's friendship, and mighthave become one of the first missionaries, but he was covetous. DEMASwas the companion of PAUL, and might have been another SILAS, but he"loved this present world. " ANANIAS and SAPPHIRA were growing side byside among the beautiful trees in the early church, but they were selfishand deceitful, and after telling a lie, they were both cut down and castinto the fire. You notice it does not say every tree in the devil'sorchard shall be cut down, but "every tree which bringeth not forth goodfruit. " How is it with you? Judgment has begun at the house of God. What are you? What is the product of your life? Is your influencebeneficial? Does the result of your life shew that you are born of God?

A HOLY LIFE IS THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPETHE FIRE OF HELL. 

Do not say you do no harm; that is not enough, you are to bear fruit untoholiness. Your life must be profitable to God, or you cannot escape theaxe. A man does not plant apple trees to look at, but to gather fruitfrom. Have you paid God for all He has expended on you? Remember youare British, you live where there are Bibles, Ministers, Sunday Schools. Public opinion is on the side of right. It is easier to be good herethan anywhere else in the world. The husbandman will not be satisfiedwith leaves or blossoms, there must be

FRUIT OR FIRE!

 "The axe is laid to the root of the trees. "

Yes, you will do well to consider that there is a power of destructionwhich may be called into action any moment. 

Look, then, at

GOD'S WOODMAN. 

It is his duty to remove the trees when the time comes. Mark you, hedoes not cut all down. The trees which bear good fruit he transplants togrow for ever in THE PARADISE OF GOD. Yes, death differs in his action, and those of us who live a holy life need not to dread him. He is rough, but he means well by us, and though we may feel it when he pulls us up bythe roots, it is to grow in better soil, and under fairer skies. 

You, though, who bear evil fruit, YOU DO WELL TO FEAR DEATH. Keep goodfriends with the doctor, so that you may have no difficulty in gettinghim day or night, but remember that he is useless when the woodman aims ablow at the root. 

THE WISEST AND MOST SKILFUL OF MEDICAL MENCANNOT TAKE THE AXE OUT OF DEATH'S HAND!

There will be no escape when the woodman gets his orders. Mark you, theaxe is at the root this time. He has lopped off some of the branches. Isee in the graveyard, headstones with names of infants low down, andspace left for the father's and mother's names. Yes, he will come foryou next. What will you do then? THE TREE IS HELPLESS, IT CANNOT GETAWAY FROM THE AXE! Blow upon blow descends, there is no help for it, andso it will be with you. What is it that your heart says, --"I will sendfor praying people?" Yes, and if they come, what then? Perhaps God willhear, and say to the woodman, "Put up thy axe for another year or two. Let us see if he will keep his word and bear fruit. " One wonders at theforbearance of God! There are some in this place, who, when inaffliction, sent for the godly, and promised if only they were spared, they would bear good fruit. But alas! they are worse than ever now. Letsuch hardened sinners remember where the axe lies. The woodman can pickit up any moment, and it will be useless to pray then. Can you not hearthe step of the feller of trees? He is on his way with orders whichbrook no delay, thy hour is at hand, and thou shalt fall, to be cast intothe fire!

I look around, and ask the question--

"WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITH THE DEVOURINGFIRE? WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITHEVERLASTING BURNINGS?"

Dare you look at the fire? Come, be a man, and see thy future. The treeis in the blazing pit. It cannot get out of the fire, any more than itcould escape the axe. Did you ever think of the illustration of thetext--

WOOD TO FIRE. 

What more natural? It is true, it might have been somewhere else, but itwill burn as though it were made for the fire. Mark you, it isunquenchable! Who can extinguish that which God lights? You hear mensay, "God is too good to burn men in hell. " That is not the way to putit. The fire will go out when there is no fuel. 

MEN WHO SIN, BURN THEMSELVES. 

That drunkard, for instance. They say of him, "He has a spark in hisinside. " What the poor wretch suffers when he cannot get strong drink!How he begs and prays for a penny to get a gill of beer. Now don't blameGod for that! It is his own doing. Suppose now, God lets that man havehis own way, and die a drunkard, and he wakes up in hell with thatthirst, and no drink, not a drop, and never will be! And is the drunkardthe worst of men? Is he worse than the man who grows rich on the otherman's poverty? I would as soon have the drunkard's hell, as the eternityof those who took his money, and sold him that which is burning away hislife and chances of salvation. Do you see that wicked seducer, and thosewho dishonour their parents; and those who keep back that which they havein plenty, when they might feed the hungry and clothe the naked? "Theseshall go away into everlasting punishment. " Now what are you going todo? It is not the axe which is touching you now. It is the hand ofJesus, the hand which has been scorched with the fire of God's anger tosave us. Christ suffered (the just for the unjust) to bring us to God. Do not tire Him out, for if he calls for the axe, there is no hope. Justice may call, and when the woodman answers and takes up his axe, prayer may cause the axe to fall from his hand; but when Mercy says, "Cutit down, " all the men in the world may cry, but nothing can save him fromthe fire. 

NONE CAN STAND BEFORE THE WRATH OF THE LAMB?

WHEN FILIAL LOVE PICKSUP THE OAR, THE ALL-WISE FATHER PUTSHIS HAND ON THE HELM!

XXXII. JESUS AT THE WELL. A WORD TO PREACHERS. 

Jesus Christ travelled three years in a very poor circuit. There were nostewards to provide for His wants, and at times, we are told, He had notwhere to lay His head. But all the three years He was a perfect exampleto us, whether we are Locals or Itinerants, and, perhaps, never more thanwhen talking to the woman at the well of Samaria. From His conduct therewe may learn--

I. --Never be daunted by a small congregation. 

It is very nice to have a crowd, but then that is not the lot of us all, and we must not keep our best sermons for large audiences. It may bethat the few are able to appreciate our best efforts. Jesus Christ saidsome of His best things to individuals. John iii. 16 was not said to acrowd, but to one. Indeed, if we were to take out of the gospels whatJesus said to small audiences, we should rob them of their choicestportions. So, if, when we get to the chapel we find that there are morepews than people, let us preach to those who are there. Why grumble atthe few who have come, perhaps a long way? Let us feed these with thechoicest of the wheat. It may be an historic time for anything you know. There may be someone there whom your sermon may lead to Jesus, and whohimself may become a preacher. 

II. --Interest your Audience. 

How skilfully Jesus went to work to lay hold of this giddy woman! Hespoke of what to a native of the East must have been a surprise, and adelightful idea. He goes on to tell of being delivered from that plagueof those hot climates, thirst, and excites her wonder by speaking of awell of water springing up in a man!

To our younger brethren, let us say that it is not easy to succeed if wedo not make what we say interesting. We do not love sensationalism, butwe do love savouryness. Let all your sermons be seasoned with salt. Nota few of us fail because we forget to make what we say savoury. Let usexcite the imagination of those who listen to us, and then we may pourinto the attentive ear that which will be of solid benefit. Howshopkeepers strive to strike the eye of the passengers by skilfullydressing their windows, so as to catch the attention! Shall it be saidthat they take more pains to sell their goods than we do to get thegospel into the hearts of our hearers!

III. --Make your hearers conscious of the supernatural. 

"Sir, " said the woman, "I perceive thou art a prophet. " And this we canall do. We can every one be on such terms with heaven as to make thosewho listen to us know that we hold commerce with the skies. We may notbe eloquent or learned, but we may be prayerful and impassioned. Preaching is unlike all other kinds of speaking. We have no business inthe pulpit except when under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost. Weknew a man who, for some years of his ministry, was dull and unpractical, but there came upon him a baptism of power, and then we heard hispreaching described as "white heat. " Why should not this be in every oneof us? It is not possible for us to be alike, nor is it desirable, butwe may all make our hearers say, "This man comes from God. His prayersand his preaching convince us that he is owned by the God of Elijah. "

IV. --Set your converts to work. 

We read "The woman then left her waterpot, and went into the city, " andsoon there was a crowd round the Saviour. It is not said that Jesus toldher to do so, but she had heard words that were like fire in her bones. She had been convinced of sin, and knew that God had spoken to her. Isnot this the way to fill our chapels? Say things that wake up theconscience, and alarm the sinner, and he must tell about it. Or shew thecross so plainly that the anxious one finds the Lord, and is able torejoice, and very soon there will be an unpaid agency at work. Of courseit will not obtain to the same extent in every case. We are among thosewho have to mourn that our preaching is not as effective as it ought tobe, but we are taking our own physic, and can testify that since we haveacted on the lines we have laid down, God has been pleased to give usgreater power over our congregations, and we have seen greater resultsfollow the preaching, poor as it is. 

FOR PREACHERS WHO MAKE THEPEOPLE THINK. 

THE GRINDSTONE IS THE MOSTUSEFUL TOOL IN THECARPENTER'S SHOP. 

XXXIII. ANSWERED PRAYER. 

 "_And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah_. "--1 KINGS xvii. 22. 

Yes, and He will hear your voice if you are as much in earnest as he was!Why should not God hear the voice of William, or Robert, Sarah or Edith?He is no respecter of persons. Is it not written over the door of mercy, "Knock, and it shall be opened?" Aye, and the knocker is so low achild's hand may reach it. St. James tells us that Elijah was "a man oflike passions. " He was a human being like you and me, but he had faithin God. Why should we not believe in God as much as the prophet did? IsHe not God yet? Have any of these sceptics removed Him from His throne?If He is still there, let us come with boldness as Elijah did. 

This was not the first time God had heard the voice of His servant, andanswered his prayer, and there is no reason why we should not haverepeated and continuous replies in answer to our requests. Had Elijahthe same wealth of promise we have? JESUS CHRIST has spoken since thosetimes, and has said things which ought to fill us with hopefulnesswhenever we pray. What wonderful words of cheer He said in those lastfew days of His life, such as "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joymay be full. " Look up the references to that verse, and you will feelyou must kneel down and ask for something. 

But is there not suggested by that word "Ask, " the secret of so muchfailure? Do we ask? How often, in what is called prayer, there islittle or no supplication? We are to make our requests known. Listen toElijah: "Lord, let this child's soul come into him again. " Why should wenot pray in the same direct style? Our prayers would not weary others bytheir length, if, before we knelt down, we thought

WHAT IS NEEDED, AND NEEDED NOW. 

What a scene when the child began to breathe again! and when the anxiousmother was summoned to receive her boy from the dead. "Now, " said she, "I know thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouthis truth. " When the church fights its battles on its knees, it prevails. Only let us, who say we believe in God, put our faith into petition, andobtain answers, then Infidelity will hide its head. Mr. Finney tellsthat when he first began to attend a place of worship, it was as anhonest inquirer after truth. The members of the church noticed hiscoming to the prayer meetings with regularity, and presently it occurredto them that the young man might be anxious about his soul. Accordinglythey asked him if he would like them to pray for him. He somewhatroughly declined, for, said he, "You don't get any answers to yourprayers for yourselves. You have been for months praying to be revived, and you are not any better. " Perhaps he was right, though rude. We mayhave in our midst those who would believe the Bible if they saw that wehad only to ask to receive. 

Let every father bear this in mind when he leads the devotions of hisfamily. Nothing is so likely to save our children from infidelity astheir knowing that we receive when we ask, and that our knock brings anopen door. If only the family altar were the meeting place between Godand man, Atheists might sneer and chatter, but they would never be ableto cause our children to listen, for would not they say, "I know myfather is a man of God, and the word of the Lord in his mouth is true. "

Reader, is the family altar at your house a bridge from earth to heaven, or is it a sham, and a helper to those who say, Prayer is an explodedsuperstition?

PREACH REPENTANCE. 

Is there any truth in the allegation that we do not preach Repentance asmuch as we ought to do? There is a soft sort of preaching abroad whichwe Methodists should abhor, namely, a gospel which has no dread of hellin it. We do not say that we should spend much time in proving theeternity of punishment, but certainly the thought of the fate of theimpenitent should be in solution in the preacher's mind, and then, likethe bitter herbs eaten with the Paschal Lamb, penitence will make thegospel relishing. We have little doubt that

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS IS AND MUST BE, TASTELESS TO THOSE WHO DO NOTSORROW FOR SIN. 

Those who preach repentance are in good company. He who fails here doesnot tread in the steps of Jesus, who said, "Repent ye, and believe thegospel. " Is human nature any better now than it was then, that we shouldcease to say to the people what Christ said? Depend upon it, He knewwhat to preach. None of the New Testament preachers said as much abouthell as He did, and yet, forsooth! we are told that such preaching iscoarse, and behind the age. When the age is astray, the farther we arebehind it the better for us. It is sickening to hear men talk as thoughthey were more refined than was the Son of God! Such preaching is likeraking the garden with the teeth upwards. You may as well have no rakeat all, if you do not use the teeth. 

XXXIV. HOW DAVID PREVAILED. 

 "_So David prevailed over the Philistine_!"--1 SAMUEL xvii. 50. 

Yes, he did, but he would not have done so if he had remained as quiet asthe other Israelites. David was one of those who could not be easy solong as the enemies of his country were in the ascendant. To see aPhilistine strutting about, defying the armies of the living God, wasmore than he could bear. Is not this the spirit which should animateChristians to-day? It is not one GOLIATH merely, there are many. DRUNKENNESS, PROFANITY, SUPERSTITION, INFIDELITY, and a host of othersare not only defying us, but destroying us. Is it not true that thearmies of the alien are robbing our families and churches, plundering usof the results of years of toil? Think, in one department alone, how weare spoiled. We refer to the Sabbath school. What a small percentage ofthose who pass through our schools become stable members of the church!What crowds of our children become the slaves of sin! How long do wemean to bear it? When shall we, like David, say, "THY SERVANT WILL GOAND FIGHT WITH THIS PHILISTINE?"

We read that "David hasted, and ran towards the army to meet thePhilistine. " He was aggressive. There is a great deal to be said infavour of what is called "working on the old lines, " but

DAVID DESPISED THE OLD LINES. 

His countrymen had remained too long there; he would dare and do, therefore ran into the lines of the Philistines. Is it not too true thatwe stay in our entrenchments too long? Why should we not carry the warinto the enemy's country? WESLEY and his fellow-labourers would not havehad the success they had, if they had not, like David, run towards theenemy. It was time, for the sake of his country's prestige, that he ranwith his face towards the foe. Shall we not imitate him, and daresomething for God? Saul's army had too often showed their backs to theenemy. When a man runs towards his foe, he looks bigger every stride, while if he runs away, he looks less, and becomes more contemptible themore active he is!

David prevailed over the Philistine with very simple weapons, but

THEY WERE HIS OWN. 

If he had gone in Saul's armour, he might have perished. He was no matchfor the giant if it came to a sword fight. The long reach of the giant'sarm would have ended the conflict very soon. On the contrary, the slinggave David an immense advantage. He could strike a blow, and be out ofGoliath's reach. Have we not known some men more mighty, and more oftenvictorious when they were plain and unlettered, than they were afteryears of culture? How is it? Perhaps because they, knowing theirignorance, were more earnest in prayer. We know that some of us feel, when we have preached;--That was a good sermon, the arguments wereirresistible, the illustrations were beautiful, and so the people oughtto have yielded, but they did not! Did they?

If the pictures of this event we often see are to describe the future ofChristianity, we shall have to be as daring as though God did not fightthe battle, and as trustful as though we had never driven the alien armyback. When COURAGE is united to HUMILITY, the Philistine may getmeasured for his coffin (leaving out the head), and the damsels of Israelhave their timbrels tuned, for there will be a procession goodly to lookupon!

BURNING THE BOOKS AT EPHESUS. 

This was one of the results of faithful preaching. Paul had declared thewhole counsel of God, both in powerful addresses and in visiting fromdoor to door. Miracles were wrought, but what seems to have impressedthe writer of this account most of all, was not the healing of the sick, or the casting out of devils, but men parting with that which was worthso much money. 

"THEY BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN; ANDTHEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OFSILVER. 

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed!"

Has our religion been costly to us? Have we given up anything? Theseconverts gave up their money-making sins publicly; and their public andcostly repentance was made a great blessing. We wish every Christian whois engaged in any business that has made money for him at the expense ofanother's morals, would see it his duty to make a bonfire of it! We haveno doubt there are numbers of Christians whose consciences now and thengive them a goutlike twinge. We do not doubt their religion because theydo not obey their consciences; but we do say the word of God cannot growmightily, it is stunted, and in consequence they are religious dwarfs, when they might have been giants in righteousness and holy influence. 

XXXV. THE WAY TO PREACH TO THOSE WHO SLEEP IN SIN. 

 "_Nathan said to David_, _Thou art the Man_!"

But this was not the first thing he said. He approached the subject verycarefully. David would not have allowed anyone to bring that subjecthome to him without resenting it. It is more than likely that very fewwere in the secret. Crafty Joab was not the man to let that story getout. It gave him power over the king all the time it was his secret, sothat he could put pressure on David whenever he liked. We read, "TheLord sent Nathan unto David. " If we would know how to deal with ourcongregations, we must have the Lord's commission. 

MEN MAY BE ON THE CIRCUIT PLAN, AND GOD LEAVE THEM WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS!

Let us never set off to preach without a message from God to the people, then we shall make folks say, what a plain Yorkshire Methodist said ofStoner, "Yon David's varry thick with the Almighty. "

If the Lord send us, He will teach us how to talk, and most likely Hewill take us off the pulpit track. Some of us have given up the old"three-decker" style of preaching, feeling that it is as useless as lastyear's almanack. Our hearers often knew what was coming, they heard theheads of the discourse, and began to see the end before we got there, wrapping themselves in a habit of indifference which shielded them fromthe convictions we had hoped to produce. What "CALIFORNIAN TAYLOR" calls"Surprise Power, " ought to be in every discourse. David had no idea whatthe prophet meant to do before he had ended his story, and we should waitupon God until He has given us, not only the subject of our sermons, butthe skill we need to TAKE THE SINNER EITHER BY STORM OR HOLY SUBTILTY. 

The charming story with which Nathan began his address is instructive tothose who wish to succeed as preachers. How interested the King becameas he heard of the rich man's greed and the poor man's loss, until he wasso stirred that he threatened the death of the tyrant! May not wepreachers learn something here, that is, to interest our hearers, inorder that we may profit them? Do we sufficiently care for this matter?Would it not be well, in the preparation of our addresses and sermons, tomake sure that we are so interesting that our hearers cannot fail butlisten? We should not be content with soundness of faith, ortruthfulness of doctrine, but be so interesting as to command theattention of our audience. It is a question whether any man, who cannotmake the people listen, should not be content to take his place in a pew. It is better to be able to heat or light the chapel well, than to wearout the patience of a congregation by prosy preaching, and it will bemore to our eternal advantage to have been AN INDUSTRIOUS CHAPEL-KEEPERTHAN A DULL PREACHER!

Nathan brought David to a stand. The royal hearer fell before thefaithful preacher. He confessed his sin and deeply repented. Well mightthe prophet rejoice over his illustrious convert. It was indeed successto hear the king acknowledge his fault. We do not read that he praisedthe sermon, but he condemned himself. It is a small reward to hear itsaid that we have preached a beautiful sermon, but it is delightful tolearn that a sinner has been convinced of his guilt and danger. Let allof us who preach, determine that we will not call that service a successwhich either allowed our hearers to be drowsy, or won their applause, without causing a saint to be cheered on his pilgrimage, or an enemy ofGod to lay down his weapons and sue for peace. 

OLD FASHIONED DOCTRINE. JEREMIAH, viii. 21 to ix. 16. 

I. --He who is loyal to God is the truest patriot. --ch. Viii. , v. 21, ch. Ix. , v. 10. 

Jeremiah's distress disfigured him, and he felt that tears were notsufficient to mark his sorrow for his country. Sinners against Godshould never profess to be politicians; they are unworthy to be classedon either side. 

II. --Idolatry is the mother of all other sins. 

Count up the different crimes these Jewish idol-worshippers were guiltyof--as lying, slander, adultery, &c. He who breaks the first commandmenthas pulled down the fence, and can easily break the others. What anargument for Missions!

III. --If God acts consistently, He must punish sin. --ch. Ix. , v. 9, 10, 15, 16. 

Hell is as necessary as Heaven to a perfect God. Queen Victoria couldnot be safe in her palace but for prisons, where felons are bound!

He who fears to preach future punishment is either an ignorant man or acoward. 

XXXVI. SELFISHNESS AND PRAYER. A CONTRAST. 

 "_So Ahab went up to eat and to drink_. _And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel_, _and he cast himself down upon the earth_, _and put his face between his knees_. "--1 KINGS xviii. 42. 

WHAT A CONTRAST!

And yet, both men were perfectly consistent. It is in each case what youwould expect, and yet how differently it might have been. What adifferent story it would have been if only Ahab had listened to theteaching of God! How often we see men having chances of turning roundand beginning a new life; failing to do this, they seem to become theworse for the lesson of Providence and the advice of those who warn them!Has it ever been so with you? Can you remember a time when God stoppedyou, and made you think, thus giving you a chance of reformation?Wretched Ahab! he had just seen which is Master. How contemptible Baalseemed now! The heavenly fire, which leaped in answer to Elijah'sprayer, disdained to notice the victims on the altar of the idol, whilethe blood of the false priests dyed the waters of the brook Kishon, asacrifice to their own wickedness and deception. One would have thoughtAhab's good sense would have prevailed, and that he would have said, "Elijah, I will go with thee, and on Carmel's top will unite with thee inprayer. " Alas for the history that might have been!

But some of you will say, "Did not Elijah say to Ahab, 'Get thee up, eatand drink?'" Yes, he did. A few hours before, he had said, "If Baal, follow him. " Does not God allow us to be tempted continually? Did Henot, in His wisdom and goodness, place the tree which bare forbiddenfruit in the garden of Eden? Does He not say, by natural appetites andpropensities, enjoy yourself? There was nothing wrong in eating, but ifAhab had but

DENIED HIMSELF AND GONE WITH ELIJAH TO PRAY, the rest of his life would have been different, he might have beenconverted then. How often it happens that we hear a powerful sermon, perhaps on the first Sunday night of a Mission, but we have something toattend to on Monday, something that might be left without injury, or itmay be a party or a concert, and so we do not go to the meeting nextnight. If we had done so, our whole life might have been changed!

Eat and drink! One wonders it did not choke him, for were not hissubjects starving? The famine was sore in the land; men and women pined, children died of hunger, cattle and sheep perished in the fields, but allthis, what had it to do with the king? He was hungry, and would eat andwould be jolly, never mind about the poor people! Remember, my hearers, you cannot turn your back on God and be the same man you have been. Eachtime you say "No, " to God's grace, you become less fit for His kingdom. If men could but see their souls--

IF SOME OF YOU COULD HAVE A MIRROR THAT WOULD SHEW YOUR SOUL, You would look as though you had seen a ghost! We have portraits ofourselves years ago, and we look at them and wonder at the change. Couldyou have a portrait of what you were, spiritually, ten years since, itwould spoil your enjoyment. Beware, then, of eating and drinking whenothers are at prayer. It is better to be good than to be happy. Doright, though it may mean tears, for the smiles of selfishness are soresin the future. 

Look at the other man now. He climbs the hill. There is nothing to bewon from heaven by laziness. Climb to thy crown! Never mind thesteepness and ruggedness of the way. God's kings toil and sweat beforetheir coronation. How Elijah would laugh in his heart as he thought ofthe boon he was about to bring down on his country!

PAST VICTORIES ENCOURAGED HIM. 

He had prayed that it might not rain, and for many months the heavens hadbeen cloudless. Day by day the sun had scorched and burned on, as thoughthere was to be no more verdure, the trees are but the skeletons of theirformer selves, and the ground is cracked, and gapes for drink. Ah! it issoon to alter! The God who has answered by fire is about to speak in theshower, and all nature is to put on a new suit of green at the bidding ofprayer. 

Why should not the church of God climb the hill to bring down on theearth a shower of blessing? God had said to Elijah, "I send rain uponthe earth, " and therefore the man of God said, "I will call upon the nameof the Lord. " Have we no promise? What do these words mean--

"WHATSOEVER YE ASK IN MY NAME, THAT WILL I DO?"

Find the reference to these words, and then look on them as a legacy. Wemay receive whenever we apply. Why, then, do we hang down our heads? Letus climb Carmel, shouting as we go, "Hallelujah! The Lord reigneth!"Baal has not succeeded to the throne! Christ is there! But see, the manof God casts himself down on the ground. 

PAST SUCCESS HAS HUMBLED HIM. 

It is well when it is so. We always tremble when we see a church elatedover its success. A year or two ago, we Methodists saw a greatingathering of souls, and because we had harvest we have let our ploughrust. Is there any wonder that we fear a decrease? It is sure to followelation, and then we shall be told, "There is always a reaction after somuch excitement. " That is a text from the devil's bible. On the samehill top where Elijah won the fight, he falls down, to pray, with hisface between his knees, and so is most humbled when most triumphant. 

And now his servant is sent to look for the sign of success. Mark you, he sends him to

LOOK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, "Toward the sea. " Do not go towards the dry land if you want rain, or inother words, if you want success in soul-saving, look not for it fromthose who get up entertainments and seek to make money by gambling inbazaars. Do not expect conversions from mere eloquence or rhetoric. Large congregations do not always mean abiding success. Beautifulchapels are not always remarkable for attracting those who need aSaviour. Look at the place from whence Wesley, Whitfield, and the otherswho were to win souls derived their power. 

DO NOT LET FAITH BE CHILLED BY WAITING!

If you wait upon the Lord you have a right to be of good courage. "Theyshall not be ashamed that wait for Me, saith the Lord. " If our trust isin the Lord, we can afford to wait. The longer He keeps us waiting, themore He will give us. Never mind if the servant says, "There isnothing. " It is not the Master's voice. Go again. Don't talk to me ofnothing! Go again! Leave me to pray in peace till there is something topraise God for. 

I CAN PRAISE HIM FOR THE SMALLEST SIGN. 

Only "a man's hand, " sayest thou? but what Man? It is the same Hand thatwrote on the wall the sentence of Belshazzar. It is the Hand of whichDavid sang "Thou openest Thine Hand and satisfiest the desire of everyliving thing. " We who look for Jesus remember that when He left us Hedid not clench His fist at the world that had treated Him so ill. "Helifted up his hands and blessed them. " He has not closed them yet, butsends blessings on even the rebellious. Faith sees in the open hand ofJesus the promise of great gifts for those who wait upon Him. We read, directly, "the heaven was black, and there was a great rain. "

If we pass over a few years we see the end of these men, the end so faras this world is concerned. They both ride in chariots. He who rose upto eat and drink, rides disguised, but is not able to deceive the wingedmessengers of death. The murderer is found out, and dies in his chariot. 

GOES TO HELL IN HIS CHARIOT!

So perish those who prefer to eat when others starve, though they mightunite with those who bring blessings on the perishing!

A year afterwards, the man who prayed walks along the road; there is oneby his side who watches him with eager glance, and now comes the chariotof heaven. 

GOD SENDS HIS CARRIAGE TO MEET

the man who climbed the hill to pray, and soon he is parted from hisyoung friend; but see! his mantle falls. Which of us will pick it up andwear it? Elijah's garment will fit any of us, and will always be new ifwe pray. It grows threadbare and shabby when worn by those who preferthe table to the altar, and love the pleasures of the world better thanthe companionship of angels. 

My brothers, shall we not become mighty in prayer? This is a talent allhave received, put it out to interest at once. Lose no time in its use. Satan will gladly lend you a napkin, but then he will have your soul asthe pledge. To cease to pray is to drift towards hell. Is there not aneeds be for crying mightily to God? Can we look around ourcongregations and not feel that it is high time we went up the hill tocry to God for the rain that means revival? Let us each ask thequestion, Am I most like the man who lived to gratify his desires, or theman who lived to pray for others?

WITH WHOM SHALL I SPEND MY ETERNITY, WITH ELIJAH OF AHAB?

If the angels see us on our face, crying for rain, they will know thatsome day they will have to meet us and take us home in the chariot offire. If they see that we are those who eat and drink when they shouldpray, they will know that our possessions, like Ahab's chariot, willbecome a hearse, and that we are riding to hell in that which we havechosen for comfort. 

XXXVII. "THE WIDOW WOMAN WAS THERE. "I KINGS xvii. 10. 

Of course she was. All God's trains meet at the junction. They don'thave to wait for one another. Elijah had left Cherith because the brookhad dried up, and his first request shewed that he was in need of water. The poor widow seems to have been relieved that water was all the prophetasked, but he called to her to fetch a bit of bread as well. This brokeher down. "Ah, Master, we have not so much as a cake. I have only ahandful of meal, and I had come out to gather some sticks that I mightbake a little cake for me and the lad, and then we shall have to die ofhunger!"

"Never fear, God has sent me, and with His servant there shall come ablessing. 

MAKE ME A CAKE FIRST, and then make for thyself, and God will keep on supplying our wants. "

The woman did so, and never wanted. If she had gone on the principle of

TAKE CARE OF NUMBER ONE, she would soon have been in her grave, and the lad too, but the way tolive is to care for others. "He that loseth his life shall save it. "While we are writing this, we are thinking of the great number who allthrough these bad times have fed the Preachers and their horses. Godwill see to it that they do not lose by their unselfishness. 

Some will read this who are just on the point of leaving a place whereGod has cared for them, but they do not see their way in the future. Areyou going on God's errand? That is, are you in the path of duty? Thennever fear. Ravens can wait at table as well as any tailed-coated white-cravatted serving man. And widows with only a handful of meal, can keepopen house for God's servants. My God shall supply all your need, andthe less there is in the barrel, the more room for God's hand!

"IT IS THE BLOOD THAT SAVES. "EXODUS xii. 

The Israelites were not saved because they were children of Abraham, butbecause they followed the plan of salvation. Even Moses "kept thepassover and the sprinkling of blood, " or there would have been a deadman in the house. If you and I are saved, it must be by the blood of theLamb. The father who put the blood on his door posts was not ashamed toown his need of Divine protection, or that he trusted the word of God. 

There is a false sentimentality that is abroad to-day, which would makeus ashamed to speak of the atonement. We are told that it is sickeningto hear of such terms as "The Blood of Jesus. "

WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF TASTE?

We know of nothing higher than the word of God, and he whose finefeelings are shocked by Bible language, would find heaven notsufficiently aesthetic. May not such be said to count the blood of thecovenant an unholy thing? When the destroyer is abroad, we shall be safewho hide behind the blood. We rejoice in the blood of sprinkling, whenwe believe there is wrath for the sinner. The giving God the lie, whenHe declares He will punish His enemies, fits the mouth of him who is toorefined to speak of the precious blood of Jesus. 

XXXVIII. "DO MEN GATHER GRAPES OF THORNS?"

This question was asked by a man who knew more than any one else, and heknew very well what the answer would be. We should suspect a man ofinsanity who looked for grapes on a thorn bush. And yet we see numbersof both men and women looking for happiness and comfort in the PublicHouse, and judging from their appearance afterwards, we feel sure theywent for grapes and found festering thorns!

It was our duty, some time ago, to be part of a deputation to support amemorial to the Magistrates at what is called "The Brewster Sessions. "There was a number of Ministers and others who represent the Temperancemovement, with some ladies like-minded, and we took our places in thesame court where the publicans and their friends were. Some of these hadcome to transfer licenses, others to seek to have in-beershops, and powerto sell other kinds of drink. The Magistrates, however, refused both ofthe applications for new licenses, nor did we wonder, when we saw thosewho were waiting to be punished or pardoned, as the case might be. 

In the gallery were a number of the friends of those who were waiting tohave their names called upon, and then to appear in the dock. Besidesthese, were the usual loafers, many of whom have found, or will find workfor the police, after going to seek grapes where thorns grow: and thenothers, like the writer, who were on the lookout for a profitable way tospend an hour or two. It was a most instructive time, and one wondershow it is that long-headed Englishmen can, after seeing the results ofvisiting the publichouse, ever be persuaded that grapes are to be gotthere without trouble. 

The mistake many good people make is looking on drinking as a failing, and not as a crime. It must be a sin for any one to make himselfeligible for doing all sorts of mischief and wrong, as men do who take, as they say, "a sup of drink. " It is this sup of drink that gives themthe impetus towards cruelty and lust, and we must insist upon it that fora man to prepare himself for wickedness is a sin against himself and hisGod. If this be so, the social element in drinking makes it all the moredangerous. Men and women drink often because it is considered a kind andhospitable thing to offer it, and an ungenerous and churlish thing torefuse it. What is this but calling a thorn a vine?

While we were in the court, several cases came before theMagistrates--"Drunk and Disorderly, " varied by obscenity and quarrelling. One woman told the Bench that she had been teetotal for five and a halfyears, till she came into the town to pay a debt, and then she had aglass, "and it will be twenty years before I have any more. " "Ah!" said"His Worship, "

"LISTEN TO NO FRIEND THAT WANTS YOU TO TAKE DRINK. "

Another poor wretch was "Drunk and Incapable. " She told the Magistratesthat she had come to get a situation, that her box was at the station. She had evidently seen better days. The Chairman said how sorry he wasto see a woman like her, evidently a superior person, in such a case, andshe gladly promised to be a better woman, but she had been more than onceto the thorn for grapes, and we fear will go again. There was a youngfellow brought up for drunkenness and obscenity, whose fine was paid byhis mother. She looked a decent but poor woman, and one could not butwonder what she had parted with to raise the money, to keep what one ofthe Magistrates called a blackguard, out of prison. But what will not amother's love do! These are a few of the cases which made us wonder thatin our town we have so many places, licensed by the same Magistrates, tosell that which fits men and women to appear in the court to be punished. 

We wonder how long it will take to make the English people see that solong as we allow drinking shops to abound, there will be a necessity forpolice and lock-ups, and that it is as easy to gather grapes of thorns asto expect peace and quietness and facilities for drinking to existtogether?

GOD'S ANGER IS A FIRE THATIS AS DIFFICULTTO STOP AS TO START. 

XXXIX. NO BALLOT-BOX. 

We see that certain politicians are busy trying to convince those whohave any fear upon the matter, that it is easy for them to vote in such away that no one can possibly find out for which side they have given intheir vote. It is positively secret voting. Very likely this is as itshould be, still it is a sad disgrace that such a thing should be at allnecessary, and does not speak well for human nature. Why should it notbe possible for men to vote openly? Because some who have done so havehad to suffer loss. Is not this a blot upon our civilization, to saynothing of our Christianity?

But while it may be right that men should have the chance of votingsecretly in Parliamentary matters, whether they be Conservatives orLiberals, we contend there should be no ballot-box for the election inwhich men settle whether Jesus or Satan should govern the world. Thereare sadly too many, who are like Joseph of Arimathaea, disciples, butsecretly for fear. 

WE WANT NO SECRET VOTES. 

Say right out which side you are for. If this were the case, there wouldbe a large number of absentees from public worship next Sabbath; wholepews would be empty because there is not one of the usual tenants wholoves God, and yet they dare not say openly, I am for the Devil. On theother hand, if some were to say what is in their hearts, they would haveto leave the dinner-tables where filthy jokes are bandied about, therebeing no women present. And in some workshops and mills, men and womenwould have to speak out at the cost of ridicule and scorn. Yes, speakout, when they hear that which is opposed to truth and purity made thesubject of daily conversation. 

"STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS!"

we often sing in our meetings, and yet some who sing these words arecraven in the presence of the foe. We should do well to take the adviceof the same song when it says, "LET COURAGE RISE WITH DANGER, "

We should think that man unfit for a soldier's life who was not ready tounfurl his country's flag, and let it be known for whom he is fighting. What is the position of those who read this paper? Do you, in yourheart, believe that Jesus has the right to reign? Then shew it! Lose notime to put on Christ! Let all men see that you believe in therighteousness of our cause. Do not hide the love you have for Jesus. Letnot your chance of being honourably wounded pass by. In heaven, shouldyou reach it, there will be no opportunity of suffering for Him who lovedyou to the death. 

GIVE YOUR VOTE IN PUBLIC, then, when we have won the election, you will not have to regret that youcame out too late to be of use. 

XL. "WHAT CHRISTIANS MAY LEARN FROM POLITICIANS. "

Many a time, during an election, we have wished that we could see thechurch of God as much in earnest to send men to heaven as they are tosend those they vote for to Parliament. It must strike some of theungodly, when they have Christian men at them day and night

CANVASSING, not taking No as an answer, but doing their utmost to win them--How is itthat this Christian, who knows that I never attend a place of worship, has not shown one-hundredth part of this zeal to get me to go to chapelor to begin to pray? Is he not likely to think;--after all, he does notbelieve his Bible, or he could not be as careless about my soul as he is?

Men of business have no time to seek the souls of the lost; that isparson's work; that must be left to Sunday;--and yet, we have seen, during the election, keen, clever business men, up and down stairs, calling on their neighbours, and making sure that they have given theirvote on the right side, and this in addition to many a visit paid sincethe candidates were selected, and the time drew nigh for getting themreturned. 

How freely they bear ridicule! Men who would blush to talk of religiondo not hesitate to be sneered at for the sake of their party, wearingtheir colour and priding themselves on their opinions. We have nothingto say against this. Men ought to have the courage of their opinions, but why not own up and play the man for Jesus Christ?

We should like to know what the election has cost for

PRINTING. 

Many thousands of pounds have been spent, and spent freely, without agrudge, for placards and cartoons. Any man who had a new idea in theshape of a striking advertisement could have it adopted by his party, regardless of cost. All this, too, we don't object to, but we say thatif any of us Evangelists wanted to spend a small proportion of thisamount in trying to get men and women to come to God's house during aMission, there would be a tremendous outcry against his

EXTRAVAGANCE!

One interesting feature in this matter is the large number of

PRIVATE CARRIAGES

used to convey voters to the poll. It was very amusing to see some ofthe men riding in state, in the custody of the owner of the carriage! Itwas good to tell they had not been used to it, and felt that they were ontheir good behaviour. What struck some of us was the readiness of ladiesand gentlemen to lend their vehicles for this purpose. We can have nopossible objection to this, but we wonder what would be said to us if wecounselled them to send their carriages to bring the aged and feeble tothe house of God? We should be told that we had no idea of the fitnessof things. This would be true if heaven were less than earth, andpolitics of more importance than religion. 

It is a queer world, and we wonder sometimes if the time will ever comewhen men shall believe their Bibles as much as their newspapers? As wehave seen during the last few days, professing Christians of the mostapathetic order, going half wild about Whigs and Tories, we have said toourselves, WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

DON'T FLATTER THE DEVIL!ACTS, xvii. 

We read that the Apostle "was grieved" to hear this possessed womanspeaking favourably of him and his companion. He could not bear for itto be even suspected that his mission was tolerated by the devil. Hermasters made money by her wrongdoing, and he would not have theirpatronage. He and Silas were happier in the cell, sore and hungry asthey were, than in listening to the praise given by the evil one!

It is better to have frowns than favour from those who are opposed totruth and righteousness. Let Evangelists and such like, BEWARE OF THE FAVOUR OF THE WICKED. 

Do not seek the smiles of those who live by wrong doing. We shall nevercast out the devil while conniving at his crimes. It is not bypopularity that we win our greatest victories. Paul had no converts heprized more than those who formed the Church in the town where he hadbeen in jail. Let those of us who love an easy and painless life thinkof his words--

"IF WE SUFFER WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM. "

XLI. A SERMON ON A TEXT NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE. 

 MR. JUSTICE GROVES. --"_Men go into the Public-house respectable_, _and come out felons_. "

My text, as you see, my dear readers, is not taken from the Bible. Itdoes not, however, contradict the Scriptures, but is in harmony withsome, such as "WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR DRINK. " Habakkukii. 15; "WOE UNTO THEM THAT RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, THAT THEY MAYFOLLOW STRONG DRINK. "--Isaiah v. 11. "TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES LEST ATANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING ANDDRUNKENNESS. "--Luke xxi. 34. "BE NOT AMONG WINEBIBBERS. "--Proverbsxxiii. 20. 

THE STATEMENT OF THE TEXT IS LIKELY TO BE TRUE, as it was spoken by an English Judge, and given as the result of longobservation, and of hearing evidence given upon oath. What is morelikely to be true than a declaration from the Bench? and as such itdeserves the attention of every one of us. Let us then consider

(I. )--IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, THE PUBLIC-HOUSE SHOULD BE AVOIDED. 

We are quite willing to allow that a certain amount of enjoyment can beobtained in these places. Once acquire the taste, and drink givespleasure to the palate, and produces, in a very short time, a kind ofjoy. Men who are in business difficulties can forget their creditors. Those who have lost friends by death can forget the ties of affection. Scolding wives are left at home, and a smiling face receives the moneyspent, for the landlady is real good to those who have the coin. But onthe other hand, are not these drinkers paying too dear for theirgladness? Is it not a kind of delirium that shuts out the facts of thecase? Will not the creditor call for his money? Will you not wake up togreater loneliness than ever? Will you have taken the edge off thewoman's tongue by spending the money she needs for the family? Are younot buying temporary insanity at so much a glass?

Are you not running a fearful risk of becoming a criminal? I know of alittle beershop where murders have been hatched, and that in a quietrural village! Do not men go primed with drink to rob and slay? Do notwife-beaters get their inspiration at the public-house? Is not gamblingfostered in the bar parlour? Do you tell me that you are not likely tobecome a thief, or a murderer? So others have said whom we have known, once as decent and quiet as you. Besides, if you keep out of the handsof the police, you will have to take your trial some day for robbing God, and for soul murder! In the public-house you learn to do all this. 

(II. )--IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, ALL PATRIOTS SHOULD OPPOSE THE PUBLIC-HOUSE. 

How can a man love his country, who supports that which is increasingtaxation and demoralising his countrymen? Should we allow any nationunder the sun to do us the harm one public-house will do? Is it not truethat nearly all the police are needed by those who frequent the Public-house? Is it not this devil's academy that costs the nation so much morethan we spend in education? Would not many of the prisons have to bepulled down if we could stop the drinking habits of our people? Answerme these questions, and tell me how you can call yourself a patriot, andyet help to keep these places going?

(III. )--IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, WE MUST CLOSE THE PUBLIC-HOUSES. 

Can it be tolerated that such places should remain open? Are felons tobe manufactured, and men get rich by the process? We must shut theplaces up, even though we ruin places like Burton-on-Trent, and compelrich brewers to sell their carriages. Nothing is so likely to pay offthe National Debt as to cause publicans and brewers to enlarge the listof bankrupts. They cannot live but by the nation's loss, and sorrow. Abrewer's dray, as it leaves the yard, carries with it increase to thetaxation, and hunger and nakedness for little children!

While we do not lose sight of the importance of legislation, and while wepush the questions of Sunday Closing, Local Option, &c. , to the utmostextent, it will pay us still better to close the public-house throughmaking the frequenter of such places see the sin of it. If there are nocustomers, there will be soon a closing of their doors. We call upon allGrocers, Butchers, Tailors, Cabinet Makers, and all decent tradespeople, to see, that would they have a return of prosperity, they must have thestream of cash which goes into the publican's till turned towards theirdoors. Money spent in manufacturing felons would look well spent onClothes, Provisions, and Furniture. Besides churches and chapels wouldbe crowded as the jails were emptied, and heaven would gain what hellwould lose by the closing of Breweries, Distilleries, and Public-houses. 

XLII. GOOD-WILL TO MEN. 

That is one of the messages brought to us by Christmas time, and this islinked to "glory to God. " You cannot glorify God more than by publishinggood-will to one another. There is a special need for this just now. Political feeling has risen so high that friends, and even families, havebeen estranged. Let not another sun go down upon your wrath. Now is thetime to prove that you are a Christian, by giving Jesus the pleasure ofknowing that His birthday was the burial day of strife. 

Which side shall be the first to move? Doubtless the noblest; the onewho has most of God in him will hurry to say, "Come, now, let us reasontogether. " We need not to say that common-place religion cannot affordto do this. Those who live on old manna cannot rise to such dignity asto be the first to seek the friendship of those who think themselvesaggrieved. On the other hand, "HE THAT HUMBLETH HIMSELF SHALL BEEXALTED. " Heaven has always been the first to seek reconciliation, andthose who are heavenly-minded shew it by making haste to be friendly. 

If you have been the injured one, you have the best chance of succeedingin healing the wound. It is God, sending a message of peace, that winsover His foes. 

HE DOES NOT WAIT FOR US TO MOVE FIRST. 

Who asked Him to offer His Son? If you take the first step, you will betreading in the footprints of Jesus. He has shown us how to love ourenemies, and to do good to them that despitefully use us. It is truethat you would have to make a sacrifice, to be the first to hold out thewhite flag. Yes, and you can afford to do it, if you are the one in theright. It is the man who is in the wrong who is the easiest offended, and the last to yield. 

Whether we are Conservatives or Liberals, we are Englishmen, and cannotafford to be divided. Whether we want the Church to be Disestablished ornot, we are Christians. Let us be friends once more, and try to thinkthe best we can of each other. Whether our side has won or not, we arecertain that Right will prevail in the long run. We can afford to wait, if we are on God's side, for He wins by losing. 

THE LOSS OF HIS SON WAS HIS GREATEST GAIN. 

If you can rise to this, how you will enjoy singing--

 "Hark! the herald angels sing-- Glory to our new-born King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. "

Is there not wondrous common sense, as well as beauty, in the saying ofSt. John--

"BELOVED, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHTALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

One would have thought it would have been--we ought to love Him. Butthen we remember further on, John says, "HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER, WHOM HEHATH SEEN, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOMHE HATH NOT SEEN?"

It is well sometimes to ask ourselves the question, "How will this matterlook in heaven?" "What shall we think of ourselves a hundred years tocome? How small all these matters of offence will seem in the light ofeternity! We should not like to die without being at peace with all men. The way to secure this is to live at peace, and if there is anythingbetween us and our brethren, let us treat one another as we wish God totreat us. 

GOOD-WILL TO MEN!

"A FELLOW-FEELING MAKES US WONDROUS KIND. "A WORD TO THE AGED WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS. 

This is quite true, and we wish there was more of this fellow-feeling. Itis likely this will be read by some aged man or woman who has manycomforts, and is assisted to bear the infirmities peculiar to old age ina way poor men and women cannot enjoy. If you are wealthy, or haveenough for your wants, should you not have a fellow-feeling for those whoare poor and need help?

Sometimes when visiting aged people, who were well off, a nice fireburning all the night through, and perhaps those about them who have notallowed them to be many hours without nourishment, I have said to such anone, "You have been kept alive by the fact that you can afford it. Ifyou had been a poor man, you would be dead now. "

Will you not then, if you have it in your power, give some other old manor woman, who is poor and unable to get the comforts you have in suchplenty, some share of what you have; if you do not, how can you expectGod to shew you mercy in that day? It will be no use to tell Him thatyou loved Him; He does not believe in professions of affection for Him, which are not proved by love to our fellows. 

XLIII. OPPORTUNITY: BEING THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. 

We have heard a story told of a celebrated sculptor who had a statue inhis studio of a beautiful veiled figure with winged feet; when asked whathe called it, he said "Opportunity. " "But why is it veiled? And why hasit wings on its feet?" "Because, " said he, "it is not recognised, andnever stays long. "

How true this is! The New Year, which comes to-morrow, brings with itopportunities for becoming better, and being of greater use than we haveever been. But, alas! how few of us will recognise the good chance tillit has passed for ever. 

Some of us have special opportunities for growing better with age. Welive with those who have always shewn us a good example, and have theprivilege of listening every Sabbath Day to those who explain the Book ofGod, so as to feed our souls with bread Divine. Those of us who are notso fortunate, who, it may be, have our lot cast among the ungodly; yetwe, though at Patmos, may have revelations which some do not enjoy whohave more help from friends and good influences. 

But does not the past admonish those of us who are Preachers andTeachers? How many opportunities are past, to return no more! How muchmore useful we should have been had we made use of them! How we mighthave preached Christ instead of our own selves! How we might haveencouraged and stimulated our hearers, if only we had caught more of thespirit of Jesus! How much power from above there would have been in ouraddresses, if we had spent more time alone; and how many more souls wouldhave been converted, if we had not restrained prayer!

* * * * *

But the past is past. The future dawns, and in its kindling light let usre-consecrate ourselves to the work God has set us to do. We shall haveappointments to preach. Shall we not look on each appointment, howeverdistant the place, or small the congregation, as

A HEAVEN-SENT OPPORTUNITY?

Let us make the most of it. Shall not the new opening for usefulnessfind us prepared to enter in? Must it ever be said again that the pulpitwas open to us, but we were not ready to fill it as it ought to befilled? Could an angel from heaven desire anything better than theopportunity which will come to so many, next Sunday, of preaching, or itmay be, of teaching a class of young people out of the Word of God?

If we need a stimulus, let us ask ourselves the question, --How shall Ifeel, looking at my past chances of usefulness from the observatory ofthe sick room and dying bed? Are we to fill our dying pillows withthorns, as we remember Sabbaths when we gave way to indolence and self-indulgence, instead of crowding them with well-aimed efforts afterusefulness, and diligently employed occasions for study and teaching. 

To the unconverted reader we say, --Beware, lest this New Year be wastedas its predecessors were. Is it to be like all the rest? Is that whichcomes to thee as a friend, wishing to give thee space for repentance andfaith, to become another lash in the scourge which is to punish thy soulfor ever? Is God's ledger still to chronicle thy unforgiven debts;unforgiven, not because there was no mercy, but because thou wast tooindolent to pray. Rouse thyself, sinner, lest these very opportunitiesshould add to thy doom! They fly past thee, but where do they go? Theyare on their way to the bar of God, to witness against thee. What acrowd of them to testify! Wouldst thou silence them? Come, ere thisyear closes, and the new one begins, to the feet of Jesus, where thoushalt find pardon and peace, and where thou mayst receive power to live alife of devotion and holy labour--thus making opportunity thy willing andtrue yoke-fellow. 

PRAYER A VITAL NEED. 

A Poet has said, that Prayer is the Christian's native air. It seems asif some Christians who are doomed to die of soul decline, might live ifthey would go back to their native air. Reader, do you need thisprescription?

XLIV. THE BRITISH BAYONET. 

A great deal has been said in the newspapers lately on the subject ofFaulty Bayonets. It seems that from some cause or other these arms havebeen found out to be faulty and unworthy of trust. Some of them arebrittle, and break, others are soft, and bend, so there are a largenumber of those in use which will have to be discarded on account ofunfitness. Where the blame lies we don't know, but doubtless some onehas been unfaithful to their trust, or the thing could not have beendone. 

It set us a thinking the other day--Here is something that no onedoubted, has proved unreliable; and the thought flashed across our mind:Is there not something like it in the Church of God to-day?

IT IS THE WEAPON OF THE RANK AND FILE THAT IS FAULTY!

It is not the General's brain, or the Officer's weapon that is unworthy, but the private's! Does this apply to us? Is not PRAYER to the Churchwhat the bayonet is to the soldier--that which the private member has touse? Those who cannot preach or write books, or even teach in the SundaySchool, can pray. We ask the question--Are there as many praying-peoplein proportion to our numbers as there used to be? What is the testimonyto those who attend our prayer-meetings? Is not this the weak place inour army to-day?

The bayonet has won the battle many a time over for England, and if weare weak here, we are weak where we used to be strong. In the war withthe Arabs in Egypt, the squares were sometimes broken. Was that thefault of the bayonet? England cannot afford to be weak here; nor canMethodism bear defeat where she has won so many fights. We have many atime

WON THE BATTLE OF THE LORD UPON OUR KNEES, and if we are to be soft there, we may as well retire from the conflictat once. Many a time, when holding Missions, we have felt that if wecould but get the members of society to be often in secret but earnestprayer, we should carry the battle to the gate, and more than once wehave felt the tide turn, as we have noticed the people get more and morein an agony of supplication. 

Now that the authorities at the War Office have found out the failing, weshall soon have the faulty bayonets cast out and perfect ones provided. We don't want weak-kneed Christians cast out of the church, we want themimproved. And this may be done. Let every one of our readers ask thequestion

AM I AS STRONG IN PRAYER AS EVER I WAS?

If not, why not? Or am I one of those who cannot point to direct answersto pleading prayer, because I never did plead? Is there not a cause?Look at what James has said in his epistle, iv. 2-4. Is not this"friendship with the world" the cause of this feebleness in prayer? Wewant all that we can get in pleasure and self-indulgence, and to see ourchurch become a power also. The two things cannot be. This kind goethnot out but by prayer and fasting, and if we wish to see England won toChrist we must become reliable in prayer. 

We shall be glad to know that what we have said leads to

AN INSPECTION OF ARMS. 

Let our Class-leaders ask the question of their members--Do you pray insecret? Do you wrestle with God? How long is it since you had a directanswer to prayer? This is our weak place. May we soon be strong wherewe are now weak, that the prophecy may be fulfilled, "HE THAT IS FEEBLEAMONG YOU AT THAT DAY SHALL BE AS DAVID, AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID SHALL BEAS GOD. "

A TEACHER OF SIN. 

Few men have covered themselves with infamy as did Jeroboam, of whom itis said often he "made Israel to sin. " And yet what a chance he had tohave led the people, over whom God had made him king, in the path ofrighteousness? Instead of teaching evil, he might have led his peopleinto the ways of the Lord. Influence is a talent which brings with itenormous responsibility. Perhaps to none is this more applicable than toparents. Let those of us to whom God has given children, use ourinfluence to

TEACH THEM HOLINESS. 

We teach them every day by example, if not by precept, and example is theteacher whose lessons are followed easiest. What can be worse for achild than to have a parent who teaches his children to sin? Perhaps atthe Day of Judgment, the most terrible sights will be where children willreproach father or mother or both, for shewing them the way to the lefthand of God!

XLV. A SERVICE IN THE OLDEN TIME. NEHEMIAH viii. 

I. --The Congregation. 

All who could understand were present (verses 2-3). None should absentthemselves from public worship and the preaching of God's word, exceptinfants and idiots. 

II. --The Behaviour of the Hearers. 

We are told (verse 3) "All the people were attentive. " There are somewho go to God's house, and make such poor use of their ears, that theywill wish at the Judgment Day they had been born deaf. We read also ofthe reverence of the people. They "stood up" to listen, and joined inthe prayer with a great "Amen!" What a scene we have depicted in verses5-6. 

III. --The Preachers. 

There was a PULPIT, but not the tub-like thing that we see in someplaces--it held more than a dozen. It would be high enough for all thepeople to hear and see. But Ezra had more sense than to have it so highthat he and his helpers were separated from their hearers. Pulpitsshould help, not hinder the preacher. 

THE PREACHER SPOKE PLAINLY, verse 8. They read "distinctly. " We sometimes listen to a man whom wecannot hear, and it is a pain and grief to us to see his lips move, butbecause he drops his voice when he has anything extra good to say, welose the best. Such Preachers forget that "faith comes by hearing. "

THE PREACHERS MADE THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, verse 8. 

This is one of the duties of Preachers, to make their hearers understandthe Bible, so that the man who does not teach as well as preach has notdone all that he has been called to do. That is the best kind ofPreacher, who not only stirs up the people like a poker, but puts fuel onat the same time. 

IV. --The Effects of the Service. 

First, there was sorrow of heart. No one can understand the Bible andnot be moved. The Levites, however, showed their people that God wouldlike them to be happy. Those who weep over the Bible may well becomforted. Let those weep who have not listened to God's word. 

One blessed result of the sacred joy which followed the weeping, was the

HELP RENDERED TO THE POOR, "SEND PORTIONS. "

(verses 10-12). It would be well if, after every good time we had atchapel, we made the poor to rejoice. If God feeds you with the Bread ofLife, send a loaf of bread or a bit of meat to some who are likely to gohungry!

LET THE GODLY BE GLAD. 

XLVI. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING WHILE THE FROST LASTS!

Many railway travellers, besides ourselves, have been often much pleasedwith the provision made at the principal railway stations for supplyingthe engines with water. Water is a necessity of motion to thelocomotive, and there are watering stations all along the line. Everydriver knows where these water-tanks are, and he takes care to stop intime, to get his boiler filled. If he did not look to this, he wouldfind himself stopping between stations, and would have to submit to theindignity of being drawn by another engine!

If such a thing occurred, it would be a sort of picture of some Christianworkers, men and women, who in days that are past, were remarkable fortheir zeal and push, but who, for want of grace, have had to cease towork, and are now content to be drawn along by other Christians. We knowMinisters, Local Preachers, and Class-Leaders, who in their day werenotable soul winners, but alas, now, when there is a revival, they cannottake the lead, but they are helped along by others, perhaps of less powerthan they once possessed! What a spectacle to men and angels!

But this is not what we are writing about just now. During the longfrost, which we hope has now passed away for the season, many of us havebeen pleased with the pains which have been taken to keep the water fromfreezing in the pipe which leads from the tank to the supply-spout forthe engine. Night and day, for weeks, a fire has been kept burning, soas to have the iron column always hot. Orders have been given to keepthe fire burning while the frost lasts, and these orders have beenobeyed, or we should have seen some poor driver obliged to wire to sendanother engine to help on the train which would have been delayed. Topursue the analogy, has not God's business been delayed because the firehas not been kept burning? This is a time of spiritual frost. What withthe political crisis, general election, depression in trade, there hasbeen spiritual ice in all the Churches of our land. The very supplypipes have been frozen, and men of power are at present quiet, becausethey have not received the Water of Life. We know men of God, men whoare earnest, loyal, trustful souls, who are weeping between the porch andthe altar, on account of their want of power. What is to be done? Menof Israel, help! Come to the rescue! Let us get the fires lighted. Toyour knees! To your knees! Bring the promises. Keep fuel always inhand, so as to replenish the blaze, and we shall see the frozen waterleap out to fill again those who so often have drawn the trainheavenward!

THE LARGEST PUBLIC MEETINGWILL BE THE LAST, ANDYOU WILL BE THERE. 

XLVII. THE SOWER. 

One of the Master's most wonderful parables begins, "BEHOLD, A SOWER WENTFORTH TO sow. " There are many lessons in that instructive analogy. 

YOU CANNOT SOW WHEAT ON THE PARLOUR CARPET. You must go forth. If theworld could be converted by self-indulgent theorists, we should have hadthe Millenium here long ago. It is impossible to read any Christian, newspaper without coming across some of these drawing-room farmers--menwho can sit at their fireside, and show you how to do it! Ask them wheretheir barns are, and they will have excuses to make as to why their planshave not succeeded. We have heard these gentlemen hold forth in aQuarterly Meeting, and have had hard work to keep our temper, and havenot always been supposed to have succeeded. We may, however, settle itthat Mr. Plan-others-their-work could put all the harvest he ever had inhis waistcoat pocket!

Would you need a waggon for your gains, you must leave ease and dignitybehind, and trudge over the heavy furrows, seed basket in hand. 

Secondly, as the preachers say, YOU MUST SOW WHERE THE PLOUGH HAS BEEN FIRST. A great deal of seed islost because the ground has not been prepared. Of late years the cry hasbeen "Believe! Believe!" But what must we believe? "Believe on Jesus, "say they. Yes, but have they believed what the Bible says about sin?Those who do not believe in the guiltiness of sin, cannot believe onChrist. Till men see they have been in the wrong, they will notunderstand the "righteousness which is by faith. "

Let the ploughshare of repentance make the land ready for the seed, andthen there will be some hope of lasting success. Some other time we mayhave something to say about the birds, which pick up the seed; but forthe present let it suffice that we insist upon the ploughman doing hiswork before the sower comes to do his. We have a notion that it would bewell if the seed-basket were left at home for a while, and some one wereto take hold of the plough. Before to-day we have found, when we havegone to begin a Mission, that it was of little use to preach Christ as aSaviour. Men and women who are not convinced of the sins of their life, need to be told of the punishment which awaits those who die with theirsins unpardoned. We have been too mealy-mouthed, and have feared tooffend our hearers; and so the seed has fallen on hard ground, and thebirds only have a successful Mission!

THE BIBLE OUGHT TO BE THEKING OF YOUR BOOKS. IF ITIS NOT THEY ARE NOT WORTHHOUSE ROOM. 

XLVIII. EIGHT EASTER LESSONS LEARNED AT EMMAUS. LUKE xxiv. 13-35. 

I. --When friends speak of good things, Jesus draws near. 

"These things" which concern Jesus. Even if men speak sorrowfully, if itis of Jesus they speak, He is nigh. If He were the subject ofconversation more, His friends would have more of His company. If youare shy of Him, He will be shy of you. 

II. --Unbelief manufactures sorrow for the godly. 

Jesus said they looked "sad. " It is a pity to employ unbelief; he doesnot know how to make a smile. When he tries it is a misfit. If thedisciples had believed Jesus, they would have been dancing for joy, forthey would have been round the tomb to see Him rise. We have lost thatpicture, because no one believed the Lord enough to expect His words tobe fulfilled. --Mark viii. 31. 

III. --Never expect infidels to be converted while saints are sceptical. 

Certain women had told them, but they were "slow of heart to believe. " Isnot this tardiness of faith the secret of popular infidelity? IfChristians shewed their faith by works, Bradlaugh, and such like, wouldhave no audiences when they lectured!

IV. --Suffering was the duty of Christ, as the servant of God. 

"Ought not Christ to have suffered?" Before He could have the wages, Hemust do the work. Eternity alone gives space for the payment of what Heearned in Gethsemane and on Calvary. 

V. --The Old Testament was Jesus Christ's Bible. 

Has it the place it ought to have in our hearts? These men had theirhearts warmed while Christ expounded Psalms and Prophecies. He will dothe same to you, if you will ask Him. It is a reflection upon the HolyGhost to make use of so small a portion of the Bible as some do. 

VI. --Hospitality is a remunerative virtue. 

"I was a stranger, and ye took me in. " Christ blesses the cupboard fromwhich wayfarers are fed. They fed Jesus, and He filled their hearts withdeathless joy. 

VII. --Apostates lose the best news. 

Judas had gone out of hearing when the eleven had heard of a risenChrist. 

VIII. --Testifying to grace received brings fresh supplies. 

It was while telling what they had seen that they heard the voice ofJesus speak peace. 

XLIX. WORK FOR BOYS. 1 SAMUEL iii. I. --There is work in God's house for Boys to do. 

"The child Samuel ministered. " When you sing with feeling you do God'swork. When you see some one without a hymn-book and you take one to thestranger, you minister. When you make room for a stranger to sit by you, then you do the work of the Lord. When you pray for the preacher, thenyou are of use. 

II. --Boys' bedrooms are open to God. 

It was while Samuel was asleep that God stood at his bedside; but He isthere before we sleep. He hears when wicked stories are told, and whenbad deeds are planned in the dark. 

III. --God does not wait for you to grow up before He calls. 

Perhaps you have heard Him call and, like Samuel, did not know the voice. When you felt that longing to be good, then He called. When you were atthe grave-side, and felt awed and silenced by the coffin, thinking thatsome day people would look down and read your name, He called. When youwere ill and felt unfit to die, He called. In your class at Sundayschool, and while hearing the gospel preached, you were called. 

IV. --Boys should answer the first call. 

Samuel was not like some lads who have to be called many times beforethey will get up. "He ran unto Eli. " And in doing this he was thepicture of the way we should make haste, and delay not to keep God'scommandments. You will never be of greater value to God than now. Eachday you delay to serve Him, you lessen your value in His sight. 

V. --Boys may be taken into God's confidence. 

The Bible tells us, "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, "and a boy may fear God so as to know His secrets as Samuel did. If youwill listen, as this lad did, you shall hear God speak. 

VI. --Boys who do God's will shall have men do their's. 

See verse 20. The whole nation came to hear the mind of God from the boy-prophet, for we read in the first verse of the next chapter that Samuel'sword came unto all Israel. 

IF DEATH CAN INJURE YOUYOU ARE NOT ENJOYING FULLSALVATION. 

L. THE BROKEN OAR. 

The other day, when the Oxford and Cambridge men were contesting for themastery, the Oxford boat was behind, but the crew were not willing toadmit they were beaten, and were making great efforts to gain the day, when, all at once, the oar of the best man in the boat broke in two, consequently all hope of winning was gone. All the rest of the way therewere only seven oars, and the weight of the eighth man to carry as well. 

In musing over this, it struck us that there were several lessons to belearned--lessons which the eye that used to scan the race-ground wouldhave made use of, if he were writing an epistle in these days. 

Is it not true that the dead weight in the boat hinders the progress ofthe Church of God? Up and down the country we hear of those who hinderthe work--members of society, and sometimes office-bearers, who if theywere in heaven would help more, or, at least, hinder less than they donow. If this book should fall into the hands of any of these men, wewish they would lay to heart the lesson, that if from any cause they arenot working, we have their weight to carry in addition, and that we couldget on better if they were not. As we write we are thinking of one ofthese hinderers--smooth of tongue, and sanctimonious in phraseology, whois helping the enemy of God by hindering his servants. 

This becomes all the more painful when these unfaithful men are personsof power and influence. Some of them were once very useful, and havewielded an influence for good that was of immense use; but, alas! in anevil hour they turned aside, and now retard the progress of what theyonce loved to assist. We appeal to such of our readers as are doing goodservice, that they pray to be kept from backsliding in heart, lest theiroars be broken, and they become a dead weight in the boat. 

Some of those who are with us, and yet not of us, are accumulatingwealth. We appeal to them to bear in mind that their money makes themgreater difficulties than ever, and that the more their balance at thebankers' grows the greater their dead weight in the boat. If we couldonly get rid of these people, how lightly the boat would spring forward!Sometimes we are ready to wish that these men could lose their money, they would then become manageable. 

What is to be done? We cannot but think of Circuit after Circuit wheremen of talent and influence are keeping the Church of God from coming tothe front. What a loss life is to them! How much better if they haddied in their useful days! If they do not repent, what a hell awaitsthem! How could such people enjoy heaven if they were sent there? Forthem to behold the other part of the crew, who did their duty, crownedfor their faithfulness, must, as a matter of course, make them reflectthat their chances were the same, but that they ceased to toil, andhindered those who would have accomplished much for God but for theirbaneful presence. 

There are other lessons we learned from this same boat-race, to which wewill refer at some other time. Suffice it that for the present we pray, LORD, SAVE US FROM DEAD WEIGHTS!

LI. "WHY COULD NOT WE CAST HIM OUT?"

And a very sensible question, too. When men fail there is a reason forit; but we cannot always find out what the reason is. But thesefollowers of Jesus, who had not been able to cast out the deaf and dumbdevil, asked their Master how it was. He had given them to see that itwas not impossible to cast out even that sort, but THEY could not. Andwhy not? It is worth our while to know, for just now the Methodistpeople are not succeeding as they wish to succeed, and we are inclined tothink, for the same reason that caused the disciples to fail. 

Jesus said, "THIS KIND GOETH NOT OUT BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING. " Whatdoes this mean, if not that

MEN WHO LOVE EASE MUST EXPECT THE DEVILS TO LAUGH THEM TO SCORN?

If we are not prepared to fast, it does not matter how well we do otherthings--not only abstain from food, or drink, or tobacco, but from otherthings we like. We know some men who would do well to fast from havingtheir own way, and others who would serve God if they would take a backseat now and then, and let somebody else talk a bit. 

But it is not to these men we address ourselves to-day. It is to thosewho are trying to get as much ease and comfort out of life we wouldspeak. There are some of us who preach and live by it, who might do moreto earn our stipend. We fear the Rev. Mephibosheth Neversweat is too"intellectual" to read "JOYFUL NEWS, " and it is useless saying much tohim, or else we should like to ask him to remember that the time iscoming when he will be too old to work, and it may be then, when his eyeis too dim to read his newspaper, he may be compelled to read the proof-sheets of his own biography--a book that will be published and read whenall the world be there to hear it. We pity him when in old age heremembers mis-used opportunities of becoming a blessing to hisgeneration, or looks forward to the time when he must give account ofhimself to God!

The reverend gentleman we have named has some cousins, who are LocalPreachers; and we should like to have a word with them also. How aboutthose village congregations that were disappointed of a preacher? Howabout those stale and faded sermons? We wish you would be persuaded tomake a sermon on--"SHAKE THYSELF FROM THE DUST, " because there would beat least one penitent, even before the sermon was preached. 

However, what perhaps is needed most of all is that the decrease in ournumbers as Methodists should lead us to repent, and do our first works. We should as a Church humble ourselves before God, and that withoutdelay. He waits to be gracious. We must not lose heart. Let thethousands of faithful workers among us remember that when the discipleswere baffled, Jesus was in the company of Moses and Elijah; but Hedismissed them that He might come to the help of His people. Whatever hemay be doing, we can catch His ear, and bring Him to the rescue. Heneeds only that we should cry to Him for help. We indulge the hope thatwhen Methodism learns that, in spite of all the earnest work done, wehave fewer people meeting in class than we had last year, there will be abowing before the Lord. Already we see signs of blessing. There is awaking up to duty, and a longing for purity, that can have but oneresult. The Master is coming, and shall soon say, "BEING HIM UNTO ME. "

LII. MANNA. EXODUS xvi. 4. 

I. --Manna like salvation, because undeserved. 

The people murmured at the very first difficulty. If they had beengrateful they would have said, "The God who brought us out of Egypt, andthrough the Red Sea, will not allow us to die of hunger. " But instead ofthis they accused Moses of being a murderer. And in answer to this Godsaid, "I will rain bread from heaven. " What an illustration of Romans v. 8. 

II. --Manna like salvation, because it saved the people from perishing. 

Nothing else would have done in its place. The people had jewels, butthey could not eat them! They had instruments of music, but they couldnot live on sound! Nothing else but Jesus can save the soul from famine. Sinner, ask thyself the question of Isaiah li. 2. 

III. --Manna like salvation, because it was plenteous. 

There was enough, and more than enough, for some melted ungathered everyday. 

Some Christians dishonour God by their leanness. "If any man eat of thisbread he shall live for ever. " John vi. 51. 

IV. --Manna like salvation, because it had to be gathered. 

It did not come into their tents. You might starve within only a fewfeet of plenty. Some people are too lazy to be saved. Whoever got ithad to stoop. It did not grow on trees, but on the ground. Some are tooproud to be saved!

V. --Manna like salvation, because fresh every day. 

It was, "Give us this day our daily bread. " There are some who try tolive on past religion, and it is like the manna of verse 20. Is yourreligion fresh?

VI. --Manna like salvation, best gathered early. 

It was in the morning plentiful, but when the sun rose it melted; therewould be a little here and there in shady places. If you would haveplenteous grace, young reader, seek it now!

THE ONLY SORT OF RELIGIONWORTH HAVING IS INFECTIOUS, YOU HAVE NOT GOT IT IF YOUDO NOT GIVE IT TO SOME ONEELSE!

LIII. SMITTEN OF GOD. 

We read that when Peter was in the prison the angel smote him on theside, and raised him up. But He smote Herod, and he was

EATEN OF WORMS, and gave up the ghost. 

Mark the difference between the blows the Lord strikes His own people andHis foes. He smites us, and then lifts us up; He smites his enemies, andthen casts them down for ever. 

WHICH ARE YOU?

Herod was one of those who gave not God the glory: he was for having theglory himself. Those of us who preach had better be aware that when thepeople praise us we may fall into Herod's sin, and take God's glory toourselves. This is a dangerous game to play, and many a man has beeneaten by the worm of envy and shame because he allowed the people to makean idol of him, until they saw another bigger idol than himself. Nor wasthis all. Some preachers have gone where the worm dieth not, becausethey gave not God the glory. 

Better far be in jail for Jesus than sitting on a throne, if we are noton the right side. If you are one of God's friends, fear nothing; but ifyou are one of His foes, you do well to fear everything, for you might, like Herod, have to sink from magnificence to loathsomeness, and knowdeath before you die. 

LIV. THE FAN. MATTHEW iii. 12. 

Do you think John the Baptist knew anything about it? Do you think hewas capable of understanding and appreciating Jesus Christ? Because ifso, Jesus Christ has two sides. There is the barn for the wheat, andthere is a _fire for the chaff_. And Jesus Christ is the great Destroyeras well as the great Saviour. The same voice that says, "Come to Me allye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, " shall saysome day, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. "

Yes, Jesus Christ is the great Destroyer. Now this is the age of thefan. In all times of history there has never been a time like this, whenGod puts things to the test, and proves them; and everything in thisworld to-day is on its trial, and if it is not sixteen ounces to thepound it will go. I do not care whether it is a king's crown, a bishop'smitre, or a parson's white tie, it will have to go if it is not right. "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor. "

Where is Babylon? The greatest heap of dirt in the world is Babylon!Where is Spain--Spain, that used to make Englishmen tremble? It isnothing; it does not count; it is not put as a cypher in the world's sum. What is Napoleon? Eh! what is Napoleon? The last of the Napoleons diedunder the hand of a savage when he was where he had no business to be, burning his lips with other folks' broth. The grandest bit of humannature in this world, a few years ago, was the Emperor who has just goneto heaven. The grandest man I ever saw. I never saw what God Almightycould make of flesh and blood until I saw him. And he has left behindhim a man with one arm; the other arm is a sword-arm. The EmperorFrederick said that he wanted to live for peace. I wish our princes weremore like him. I have been told that I must not say anything about thePrince of Wales. I say "God save the Queen"; she is the best monarchthat ever sat on the throne. God bless her, and may she live longer thanany of them ever have done. And I say, "God save the Prince of Wales, "for racehorses will not save him; gambling will not save him. The manthat is to come to the throne owns racehorses; he has a horse called"Mischief, " and it is well called. Why must I keep silent when I see thefirst man in the realm encouraging that which is ruining our young men, and sometimes sending them to a felon's prison? I believe a limitedmonarchy is the best form of government that can be found for England, but the English crown is on its trial, and if it is not wheat, there aredark days in store for England. I want to see the present style ofgovernment, and I want a man on the throne that _is_ a man, and not onethat is trying as hard as he can to set such an example as will send thecountry to hell. I would like the chance of saying it to his face. Youcan tell people what I have said. Let us thank God that the fan is inthe hand of Jesus Christ. 

You cannot keep Methodism from the action of the fan. It has got to betried, and everything in Methodism that is not wheat will go into thefire, and serve it right. Everything must be sown, and must grow andbear its fruit, and be gathered, and then winnowed; and the chaff must gointo the fire. The Methodist pulpit is not an exception to it. If Icannot interest people I have no right to be paid for it. If I cannotget the people to come and hear me, and if I do not go and look afterthem in their homes, I have no right to draw the money for doing it. Andno preacher has the right to think that people should come and hear himif he cannot preach--he has no right. I am tired out when I think of thethings that put themselves where they have no right. 

The whole Christian Church to-day has got to come under the fan; andthere will be some wonderful changes before all your heads are grey. Thegrandest thing is that Jesus Christ holds the fan. 

The class-meeting is on its trial. 

I do not believe in a class-leader that does not lead, that is not first. I do not believe in a man's right to be counted a leader because his nameis at the top of the book. I know classes, and you know classes, where, if you have a revival, and get twenty new members in the class, they willattend it about once or twice, and after that, if you rub the cypher out, that will stand for the increase. That "leader" is guaranteed to loseeverybody that is in his class, except two or three dear people, and theycan keep the meeting on for an hour; and be as dreary as--well, I willnot say _all_ that is in my mind. You see, some people would say it isno business of mine. But no man has a right to be a leader if he cannotkeep a meeting all alive. If a man can get a class of 150 to 200 peopleto listen to him when he speaks, that is the man to lead. You must notsacrifice the new-born babes. I do not know what the Committee that hasbeen sitting on "the class meeting" thought about it, but depend upon it, it will have to come under the fan. I know places where a man's name iskept on the class-book because he condescends to pay the minister for histicket whenever he calls, and where another man is taken off that cannotafford it. Why, John Bunyan would have called that damnable!

The chaff is no good. You may plant chaff in the best land that everwas, and you will not get anything. That which is of no use must go intothe fire. 

The Sunday-school is on its trial. Yes! even in Lancashire. The biggestSunday-school system is here in this county. What is the result? Whathas it to show, compared with the amount of patient, faithful work thathas been done? Do you not think that in some places the result is allchaff? The Sunday-school is fast becoming the grandest entertainmentagency in existence, and places that were built for the teaching of God'sWord are now places for entertainment, better than any theatre, becausethey cost nothing. I saw in Leeds, the other Sunday, that in a certainSunday-school "there will be a _sacred drama_ rendered. " It was not aMethodist School. But I know schools where they have "niggers, " withblackened faces and banjos. The "nigger troupe of such-and-such aschool!" What do you think John Wesley would say if he came to lifeagain? He would drive them out, as Christ drove out those men from theTemple, "with a whip of"--well! I do not think they would be such "smallcords" either. 

Now the Sunday-school, "the greatest thing of this age, " the grandestthing that the Church has seen in the last hundred years, is on itstrial: and if we do not mind it will go with the chaff into theunquenchable fire. We cannot play into the devil's hands without gettingwhat he will get some day. Now I am talking here to you to-day for thelast time. There will be no services here until after the Conference. There may be some poor, unsaved man here. God can make wheat out ofchaff. He can! He will if you will come to Him. He will change yourlife, and you that are nothing worth, He can make you fit for heavenlythrones. 

Listen to this letter. The man that wrote it was a football player. Hewas in the Bolton Wanderers, in its day a crack club. He was also asinger in the choir. And he came to a chapel where I was conducting amission; and this little word got hold of him. It was not any greatthing that was said; for it is sometimes "on boards and broken pieces ofthe ship that they come to land. " This poor lad heard me say this:--"Yousingers!"--I did not know he was there--"You singers! If you die out ofChrist, when you get into the bottomless pit, some of the wicked spiritswill come to torment you: 'Sing us a solo!'" It got him on his knees. Hebecame penitent, and through giving his heart to God he is an evangelistin that town now. He was only chaff, though a wonderful player in thefield; and he that used to say, "Play up, Jim!" has grown into a man, andthe devil hates him now! He writes:--"I feel drawn out to write to you. Many souls are being saved nearly every day. A man got saved some weeksback; and we went to see how he was going on. He first came to themission, and although convinced of his wicked life, he refused the offerof mercy. Not being able to rest, he again found his way to the mission-hall, and there he found the Saviour. A few weeks passed, and I went tofind him out. When we got there, they asked us in. I did not see apicture on the wall, only a few almanacks; but they had some bonnychildren, and the floor was very clean, and the fireplace bright. Theyhad not many friends coming to see them. The father, having changed hispit clothes, came downstairs. He said, 'My wife used to pray when Imarried her, but I broke her up. ' And then, pointing to the fivechildren, he said, 'Thank God! Instead of being cursed to-night, theywill all kneel down! The eldest girl is thirteen, and next Saturday Ihave got money to buy her a new frock, and on the Sunday she shall go tothe Sunday school for the first time. Sometimes I pick up one of thechildren, and say, 'God bless thee, my child; thou wilt not have to fetchme from the ale-house any more!' After he had told us of his changedlife, we all knelt down and thanked God. Last night his wife went homerejoicing in the Gospel. --Your son in the Gospel, JAMES ATHERTON. "

That poor man was chaff. And you, wherever you are, you may be justabout to be carried away. Cry to God! This is my last word--Poor chaff, cry to God! And He will make thee wheat that shall command a rare price. 

WE CAN WORK ONLY WHILE ITIS DAY, AND NONE KNOW WHO HASTHE SHORTEST DAY!

LV. "THE KING KISSED BARZILLAI. "2 SAM. Xix. 39. 

And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, andso does David's Lord. 

I. --LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS. 

In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a preciousthing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertainedhim (see 2 Sam. Xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land whichbrought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princelyhospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice, and when that is the case it is not to be expected that men who arefleeing for their lives will be received with kind generosity. In thiscase, however, the sight of the needy soldiers made the hearts of thosekingly farmers beat with sympathy, and so the provisions were put therefor the men to help themselves. "Hungry, weary, and thirsty" were they, but their hospitable entertainers made them welcome. Never would thosedust-covered soldiers forget the halt they made in those green fields. 

None felt, though, as David did. He had seen one trusted friend afteranother fall away, and the thought that the chief among the rebels washis own beloved son pierced him to the heart. It was then he composedthe fourth Psalm. And just then to have this welcome feast must havecheered his soul even more than his body. 

Do you live among those who are the enemies of David's greater Son? IsJesus in a minority? Are there those who work with you who delight inmaking assaults upon your faith? Do they insult your God? Stand up forJesus! Be faithful when others are recreant or hostile. A working manthe other day, who has to win his bread among those who hate the name ofGod, and who profane the air with their blasphemies, said to one who wascursing, "Draw it mild there, that's the name of my best friend. " Let usplay the man even though we be alone. What did Barzillai care forAbsalom's popularity? David is my king, and he shall have the best Ihave: Sooner or later the king will have the opportunity of rewarding thefaithful. The king kissed Barzillai when parting from him; he hadpressed his friend to go back with him to Jerusalem, but

II. --WE SEE A BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION OF CONTENTMENT. --They had come downtogether after the great battle, and David said, "Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me at Jerusalem. " It was worthy of them both, and we cannot but feel touched at David's gratitude; he would fain havethe patriarch spend his last days with him. "With me, " said he, "I willsee thou hast everything thou canst want. " "Nay, " said the old man, "Iwill see thee safely over the river, and then I will return to the greenfields I love, and when the time comes for me to die I will be laid bythe side of my father and my mother. "

When will men learn that it is not their surroundings but themselves thatmake a place comfortable or not? Paul could say, "I have learned inwhatsoever state I am, therewith to be content, " and he said this in aletter he wrote to the town where he had sung praises in the jail! Somepeople would have jumped to have had this chance of going to live in apalace, but this farmer said, "Give me my farmhouse and my quiet gravebeside my mother. " Elevation may undo us. A sparrow could only chirpeven though in a golden cage. Barzillai felt, "A rustic, like I am, seems all right among my ploughs and cattle, but I should not fit apalace. " Many a man has made himself a laughing stock because he leftthe place he was fitted for, and so looked like a dandelion in aconservatory. 

III. --We have in Barzillai's words AN OLD MAN'S VIEW OF EARTHLYENJOYMENT. As though he had said, "I have lost hearing, sight, andtaste; what are all these things to me? I am soon to be in my grave, what do I want away from home?" It would be well for most of us to weighthese words, "How long have I to live?" To judge from the way we see mentoil to get houses and land, you would think they were going to live forever. Watch them how they are scraping the money they have; they havenone to spare to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; they have poorrelatives, but they cannot help them. Are they not going to be rich, live in a splendid house, be grand folks some day? Aye, but death cannotbe bribed. I was passing through a splendid estate the other day, andwas told of the gentleman that owns it; he is an old man, but he will notown to it, and he is quite a fraud, with his dyed hair and wrinkled face;he looks quite ghastly, in spite of all that art can do to pad him andmake him up. I wish some of those who are denying themselves the luxuryof giving, because they have determined to have a splendid estate fortheir children, would think "How will my mansion look with the blindsdown, and a hearse at the door with a coffin in it, with my name on asilver plate?" We cannot refuse to help the poor, and hear Jesus say, "Well done. " We cannot save money for selfish purposes and go to heaven. Besides, to leave riches for those who come after us is the way to havedry eyes at our funeral!

IV. --THOSE WHO ARE LOYAL SHALL WIN PROMOTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. --AlthoughBarzillai was not willing to go to live in Jerusalem, he felt that hisson might enjoy it, and so called the king's attention to Chimham. Lethim go over with my lord the king. He is not too old to bend. He canadapt himself. There would be many questions asked by those who had notleft the palace when the king returned, as to who this rustic was who wasin the palace of David, and they would be told, "This is the son ofBarzillai. His father was a faithful friend when friends were few, andhis son is promoted to dwell with the king. "

When David gave his dying charge to Solomon, he said, "Show kindness tothe sons of Barzillai" (1 Kings ii. , 7). Tears had passed since he sawthe provision made for him and his men, but he could never forget it. Onhis deathbed he could see the bed that was placed by the road side, andupon which he had rested his weary limbs when a fugutive, and so he wouldrepay his debt to the children of the aged farmer. How true it is thatwe can make futurity our servant and the servant of our children by atthe present time caring for our King. Does God see that we stand by Hiscause when it is weak? Do we find food and comfort for His faintingsoldiers? Then he shows His appreciation by inviting us to Jerusalem thegolden. We shall not wish to excuse ourselves from going to that blessedspot. Be we young or be we old, we shall not wish to return, but shallgo on to find that the singing men and singing women wish us to jointheir number and to help them in praising the King, immortal, invisible, to whom be glory and honour for ever. 

LVI. "THEN THE FIRE OF THE LORD FELL. "1 KINGS xviii. 38. 

It was fire that came direct from heaven. It was not the first time ithad fallen; we read of it in Leviticus ix. 24 as coming from before theLord, and consuming the sacrifice. It was God's way of showing His powerand his favour, and it was something that could neither be imitated norproduced by anyone else besides Jehovah. 

I. --THIS FIRE CAME AT A TIME OF APOSTACY. The nation, headed by KingAhab, had gone very far away from God. They needed some signal displayof God's power to win them back again. It is interesting to notice thatGod has been in the habit of manifesting Himself in a remarkable way justat the time when his foes seem to be triumphing. The religion of Jehovahwas almost forgotten, the rites of unclean idols were popular both incourt and cottage, and it was then that the word of the Lord came toElijah. When Satan can produce Ahab, God can assert Himself by raisingup the seer who shall put him to shame. Has it not been so many timessince? When the rulers had put Jesus to death, He proved Hisresurrection by sending tongues of fire on those who kept His word byremaining at Jerusalem. When Popery had placed its iron heel upon thehead of Gospel truth, Martin Luther was converted; and later on, when acold rigour was upon Christendom, Wesley and Whitefield felt the fire ofGod in their very bones, and were sent out to tell of the Jesus thatdelivers the vilest of men. 

May we not expect in these days of blasphemy and rebuke that the fireshall fall upon the Church, and that some shall be so filled with theHoly Ghost that the enemies of God shall be delivered to derision andcontempt? Let us not be dismayed by the power and number of those whoare arrayed against us. _Elijah was in a minority of one_. He had theking and queen against him; hundreds of well-fed priests opposed him; thewhole nation had turned its back on God, and were opposed to this single-handed prophet. If the fire did not fall, he would become their victim;but they could not prevent the fire coming from heaven. It is the unseenforces that are to be dreaded by the enemies of God. There was no signof this fire; but there was a needs-be that Jehovah should prove hissupremacy, and He did it unmistakably, for the fire of God fell!

II. --THE FIRE WAS SOMETHING BAAL'S PRIESTS COULD NOT PRODUCE. --TheCreator has a pre-emption on His universe. He has not given the key ofHis treasury to any man or angel. Those heathen priests may havebeen--some of them doubtless were--sincere. They had cried unto Baal forhelp; they had implored his assistance; but neither the deaf idol nor thelistening devil who had invented idolatry could reach the source of theflame which was to come, but not in reply to their desire. 

It is well for us who are sometimes in perplexity because of the power ofevil to look at the helplessness of sin when in extremity. Theseshrieking priests of Baal are a picture of many a one since, who hascried for help and had no reply. Let the cholera come a little nearerour shores. As I write these words I hear it is in Spain; it may be inLondon before this is printed. There may be in the printing-office someinfidel compositor, but though he sneers at religion and those whobelieve the Bible, he cannot keep away from the pestilence as silently itsteals along the street where he sleeps! The cholera would driveinfidelity away from many a scoffer were it but to slay a few hundreds ofEnglishmen. How powerless are God's foes at such a time!

Should there come a universal drought that meant famine if there were notshowers to come copious and lasting, how many would look up to God whonow never think of Him! What could science and skill do for us when rainis needed? A famine would make Bradlaugh very unpopular. "If the God ofthe Christians does not help us by sending rain, what can we do butstarve, " would be the cry. These prophets cutting themselves and howlingtheir own shame supply a picture of the powerlessness of sin whenconfronted with necessity. 

III. --THE FIRE FELL IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. What a scene is depicted inverses 29 and 30! There were neither voice nor any to answer, nor anythat regarded, and Elijah said, "Yes, if we are on the side of God andrighteousness we can afford to wait. " There will be a time when eventhose who have opposed us shall long to see us act. The prophet waitedfor his turn, and it came. How the priests would watch him as herepaired the broken and neglected altar of God? Digging a trench roundthe stones he had piled, and then laying the bullock on the wood, he sentdown to the shore for water, which he continued to pour on the sacrificetill it had filled the trench. Ah! if the fire can consume that, it isno trick. Those who live as near to God as Elijah did, can get fireenough to conquer all His opponents, and need not fear the issue. 

And now he is about to pray. How all would listen as each word smoteupon their ears. He puts God to the proof, and asks Him to show who ismaster, Baal or Jehovah. Do we not need more of this kind of prayer?Would there not be more of it if there was only greater faith? Who isthe God we serve? Have we Elijah's Lord to cry unto? Then how is it weallow the servants of Baal to triumph over us? Prayer is as great apower to-day as it ever was, if only we have faith in Him who tells us, "Knock, and the door shall be opened. " Dare we put Him to the test, andask for that which is sure to bring glory to Him, feeling that if ourprayers are not answered it is God's name that will be dishonoured morethan ours? Whenever Christians come up to this standard they willprevail in prayer, and be able to call down celestial fire. Pentecostwill repeat itself whenever the whole Church will wait on the Lord, asthe early Christians did, with one accord. To believe otherwise is toreckon that God has no care either for His glory or for a perishingworld. 

IV. --THE FIRE CONQUERED ALL OPPOSITION. The physical difficulties wereas nothing, it consumed and licked up all. Flesh, stone, wood, and wateralike were wrapped in flame, and appeared no more. Difficulties are fuelto the heaven-sent fire! Opposition is opportunity to omnipotence. Doesnot the history of the Church teach this over and over again? TheIsraelites crossed the Red Sea "By crystal walls protected. " The threeHebrew children "walked unburned in fire. " Do not let us be afraid ofphysical or spiritual difficulties if there is a promise or command. 

The prophet wished to have his countrymen converted, and prayed thattheir hearts might be turned back, and this miracle convinced them thatJehovah "was alone among the gods, that all their idols were as nothingbefore Him. And what is wanted to bring about moral victories is thefire from above, the same fire that fell at Pentecost, tongues of fire, whether we shall see them or not; the people must feel our words to burnthem if we have the heaven-sent fire. Nothing will save England and theworld but this, and do we not read, "Elias was a man subject to likepassions as we are, and he prayed earnestly? Why should not futurewriters say Jones or Robinson, or whatever your name is, was a man, andhe prayed, and there was a mighty revival?

All opposition will fall before the fire. Neither Sacerdotalism norAtheism can hold its ground before the celestial burnings. What theenemies of Jesus have to fear is for the Church to fall upon its knees. Those who bow before the Lord can stand upright in the presence of Hisenemies. The man who, later on in this chapter, we are told cast himselfdown upon the earth, and put his face between his knees when he prayed, was wont to say, "As the Lord God liveth before whom I stand. " Let usonly be mighty in prayer, and we shall be mighty enough to make wickedmen tremble. HE WHO CAN WIN FAVOUR IN PRAYER CAN WIN VICTORY IN BATTLE. 

THE DEVIL IS A GOOD ANGLER, HIS MOST CRUEL HOOKS ARE INHIS NICEST BAIT. 

LVII. A PICTURE OF CONVERSION. 2 KINGS ii. 19-22. 

Are not the stories of the Old Testament the parables of the Holy Ghost?Jesus taught by parables; and the Holy Ghost, the Divine Teacher, who yetleads into all truth, has stored doctrine in these tales. There is akernel inside the shell, if only we have the teeth to crack it. 

I. --WE HAVE A PICTURE OF AN UNREGENERATE HEART. 

"_The water is naught_, " said the men of the city. Does not thatdescribe many a life? Naughty actions influence for evil; for whereverthese waters flowed they carried desolation. The fields through whichthe river ran were useless to the farmer. Are there not some whom weknow who might be thus described--perhaps someone who reads these linesamong the number? First the schoolboy, then the youth, and now the man, profitless and sour, so that all cultivation has been wasted. Is it so?

And, what makes the disappointment the greater, "the situation ispleasant. " It is just the place where men like to build. Everythinglooks so promising. How true this of many in our midst! Have we notheard some father say, when his boy's beauty has been praised, "_If hewere only as good as he looks_!" Is this so with those who are myaudience? Is there this combination of beauty and bitterness--men whoare courageous but proud, women that are beautiful but vain, workmen thatare industrious but covetous, others who are amiable butintemperate--servant girls who are wonderfully clean and active but havea dreadful temper?

Now, it is well for us to learn that we shall no more cure ourselves thanthe land around Jericho could bring good crops so long as the water wasbad. Education and other appliances are sure to fail. I dare say thepeople had tried one sort of cultivation after another, and had dressedthe land with different appliances; but all had failed; there was no hopeof success. Very likely some of you are disgusted that hitherto therehas been no improvement. There are times when you have really longed tobe better, but there has been nothing in yourself to give you hope. Nowwhat shall be done? Are we to remain as we are? Or shall we, like themen of Jericho, seek help from One who delights to make the barrenfruitful, and to make the wilderness glad? This brings me to consider:--

II. --HOW TO CURE A SINFUL HEART; OR, A PICTURE OF TRUE CONVERSION. 

The beginning of better days was when Elisha came to Jericho. Thefarmers did not lose a chance. They would not allow the prophet to leavethem without having a proof of his skill. They told him their trouble, and this was all he needed. Doubtless he as a farmer's son saw thebarren fields, and sympathised with them. And does not Jesus look at uswith pity? Is he not waiting to save now? But he will not save wheredesire does not turn to prayer. If the men of Jericho had left thematter where it was they would still have had to suffer loss, but theystirred themselves to call on one who was mighty to deliver. Is not thisthe secret? Are not some of us profitless and barren because we are tooindolent to pray?

But let us pause a moment to consider what a lesson there is here to thepulpit. Elisha said, "_Bring me a new cruse_. " The dish did not curethe waters, but it had to be used, and therefore must be clean! God ispleased to use human beings as the instruments of conversion. As theprophet needed something to contain the healing salt, so preachers andteachers convey the saving truth. We have no description of the dish, asto its shape or colour; but being new, it was undefiled. We have thistreasure in earthen vessels, and if we are to be useful, we had better becracked, if clean, than entire, but vile. 

Mark you, preacher, it is not enough that you are a cruse; you must befilled with that which heals. Have we salt? It is not a question as tothe quality or style of pottery; it is salt that is needed. A commonflower-pot filled with salt was better than a vase of classic mould ifempty!

Elisha did not waste time by trying to heal the stream. "He went forthTO THE SPRING. " What expense and trouble are thrown away by vainattempts to heal the water lower down! We shall never succeed in keepingthe tongue from bitter words if the heart is left to itself. It isuseless for men to think blue ribbon will save them from drink if they donot look to God to take the selfishness out of the heart. It is a wiseprayer, "Cleanse Thou the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of ThyHoly Spirit. " Is it not strange that men do not see that an impurefountain cannot be cleansed by either altering the course of the streamor using remedies lower down?

III. --And then we have THE RESULTS OF CONVERSION. "_The waters werehealed_. " Mark you, the prophet took care there should be no mistake asto the cause. It was neither he, nor the cruse, nor the salt: "_Thussaith the Lord_, _I have healed these waters_. " "It shall be to the Lordfor a name. " Let the crown be on the Head. So the waters were healed. What a change in a short time! But the results would not be seen all atonce; it would take time to prove the _realness_ of the change, yet eachseason would only prove the grand conversion that had happened. If wehave received Christ into our hearts, the results will be shown; andthere are no evidences of Christianity better than these trueconversions, which change a man's life, and make it evident that he, likethe fields around Jericho, has passed from death unto life. The otherday, a Lancashire coal-miner was killed in the pit; only a minute beforehe was killed he was overheard praising God. He had been a sad drunkard;his home was wretchedness itself. Money was in his hands only helpful tohellish enjoyment. But the grace of God changed his heart and life. Hishome and family were soon made happy. He became a preacher, went aboutfrom village to village testifying of God's saving grace. In one placehe said: "When I was here last, I won 20 pounds by jumping, but my wifeand children were no better for it; the publican got it all, and I waslocked up into the bargain. " He was buried with every sign of respect;hundreds followed him to the grave, and everyone felt that the world wasthe poorer now that he was gone. These are the evidences we want; theseproofs of the truth of the Bible close the mouth of the infidel andscorner. If you would help on the cause of Christianity, love the truth, and make the fields, once barren, bloom with beauty; so shall the name ofthe Lord be magnified. Shall we not all join in Charles Wesley'sprayer?--

 Jesus, Thy salvation bring, Cast the salt into the spring, In my heart Thy love reveal, Nature's bitter waters heal; Let the principles of grace Bring forth fruits of righteousness: Then the barren curse is o'er, Sin and death are then no more. 

LVIII. THE FIRST LIE. 

 "_Ye shall not surely die_. "--GENESIS iii. 4. 

I. --WHO WAS THE FIRST LIAR?

The old serpent, the devil, called elsewhere "the father of lies. " Buthe had not always been a liar; he had fallen from a position veryeminent, teaching us not to measure our safety by our condition. Thehigher we are elevated, the more dreadful the fall. Some of the mostdegraded vagrants were cradled in comfort, and have wandered from homesof splendour. Perhaps the vilest of the vile once were ministers of theGospel. In a village, the other day, I was told of a man, once a Sunday-school teacher, but now a professional gambler, and, in a coal-pit I knowin the North of England, the foulest-mouthed blasphemer was once aMethodist local preacher. 

Who would have expected that one of God's angels would ever have turnedtempter, and that one who had lived with God would have the bottomlesspit dug for him and his companions? "Let him that thinketh he standethtake heed lest he fall. "

How skilfully this lie was told! It was not to Adam the serpent spoke;he was not cheated (1 Tim. Ii. 14. ) It would have been useless to havespoken to him on the subject; but Eve had not heard the commandment. Itwould be well if, when we are tempted, we said, "Why do you come to me?Is there no one else who understands this question more than I do?" IfEve had only thought, "Why is not my husband spoken to first?" Perhapsshe was glad to accept responsibility she had no right to. Was ambitionpossible to her? We often see that evil succeeds by using that to pavethe way. Lies do not overcome when contentment rules in Eden, butambition is an incipient hell!

Satan has not ceased to lie. He does not improve with old age! He stillseeks whom he may devour. The most popular lie ever told is at presentdeceiving many of those who little think where their ideas were born. Itis said over and over again in many circles that God will not punish sin. What is this but giving the Divine Being the lie? And there are someministers who have taken upon them to contradict the Bible, and try topersuade their hearers, who too often want but little persuasion, that wemay hope when God has said "Despair!" What is this but hatching the oldserpent's eggs in the pulpit?

II. --WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THIS LIE?

1. They are very numerous, and we can only find space to say a few wordson each. There was _guiltiness_. Eve believed the devil instead of God, and took the forbidden fruit, making herself a sinner. Her excuse was, "The serpent beguiled me. " But she coveted that which God kept back. Howmany Edens are lost because we desire that which is forbidden! Is notthis the spring of the so-called social evil? We may say what we likeagainst seduction, and our words cannot be too strong, but the womandesiring when God had said, "Thou shalt not, " is the true reason of manyfalls. 

2. The next step downwards is the tempting of another and a loved one. Sometimes we have found ourselves wishing Eve had died with the fruit inher mouth, instead of living to do the devil's work, and lure her lovedhusband to the same ruin. Let me say here and with all emphasis, _Neverfear so much as when the hand of affection offers you that which Godforbids_. 

3. Now comes Death. The parents of the human race were separated fromGod. Environment is a condition of life. They have learned to do evil, they have to share the lot of those who had not kept their first estate. Heaven was an impossible climate to the apostate angels, and Eden wasonly possible to those who obey. It is easy to see that the garden wasnot now Paradise. Adam and his wife hid themselves among the trees fromthe presence of the Lord! Those trees were not created for that purpose. Alas for sin! it poisons food and taints air. We cannot insist upon thiswith too much force. It was true then as now. "He that believeth notshall not see life. " Adam and Eve were poisoned by the forbidden fruit. Is it not yet true that Innocence, Chastity, Modesty, are dead in somewho are thought to live? We wonder afterwards to see them cast out, butit is, after all, the separation of the dead from the living. 

4. And now comes Suffering. They must hear the curse pronounced, andthen depart into the world which has begun to grow thorns for them. Yes, sufferings after death. What is history but the story of punishment?When men scoff at what is called eternal punishment they forget, or, perhaps, have never given it a thought, that the punishment of the firstcrime is going on at the present moment. Thorns and briars are butparables. They are real, it is true. Man must wrestle with his motherearth for every bit he eats. She does not feed him willingly; sheproduces that which he cannot eat. He must lacerate her bosom with hisspade ere she will yield him bread, and he must sweat with toil beforeshe will give him his crust!

Yet this is but the shadow of something terribly worse. The non-producerwill live, whatever becomes of those who toil. What is war but one ofthe many things which rob man of his bread? The soldier is a consumer, not a producer. I do not say he is not a necessity. He is all that, buthe must be fed. What matters it to him what is the price of meat; hewill have his three-quarters of a pound of meat every day. Aye, and heearns it too! Who would grudge the brave fellows in Egypt the stores wesend out? None of us. Yet we cannot but feel that the sword andbayonet, like the thorn hedge, take up soil which might grow corn, andthe higher it grows the greater the shadow, and therefore the poorer thecrops which are nighest to it. It is a necessity, but it is an expense. 

What are the so called dangerous classes? They live, they do not starve;they live on honest people. Judges, police, and jailers are fed by thosewho never trouble them. Crime is like a leech on the body, it will haveblood. The wrongdoers are not the thorn hedge which we need for ourprotection, but the thistle, which has rare powers of reproduction, anduses the wind as its chariot to ride to other lands. Is it any wonderthat wickedness is so difficult to eradicate? Those of us who have triedto keep our gardens free have sorrowed many a time when we have thoughtthat the rain, so welcome to our newly-born flowers, will call intovigour the enemy that tries to strangle them. And this is but a figureof the terrible truth that prosperity to a nation always means a growthof crime, and that any event, even a public holiday, which should refreshand recuperate, means the resurrection of violence and an increase ofsuffering. 

5. The first lie dug the first grave, and has never ceased to digothers. We have often imagined the scene when Abel was missed--when hismother questioned his murderer as to where he had last seen his brother. How they would listen for his step, until suspense could be no longerborne, and the father would go out, only to find the corpse of hisbeloved child! Can we not hear the mother cry out, as she touches thecold clay--"Would to God I had died the day I believed the lie!" What apicture for a painter like Rembrandt would that first funeral be! Andwhat are churchyards and cemeteries but the proofs that the devil lied?Have you a grave? Does the clay cover the form once dearer than life toyou? Let it plead with you to believe God and his word, rather than totrust to the old serpent. 

Let us be thankful that the seed of the woman is the Saviour of Men. Edenis not all shadow, even after the loss of purity. There is a promise yetto be fulfilled. "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, ' saith the Lord. "The devil is to be cast into the bottomless pit, and even those whom hehas deceived may go to a paradise where the trail of the serpent shall beno more seen. "The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy theworks of the devil, " and the time is coming when war, slavery, ignorance, tyranny, hunger, and sin shall be among the dark clouds that roll away, as the sun which shall never set rises above the horizon to make glad thechildren of men. Then shall the prophecy of the poet become history--

 "In Him the tribes of Adam boast More blessings than their father lost. "

LIX. WHAT WAS LEARNED IN GOD'S HOUSE. ISAIAH vi. 

NOT SEEN BY EVERYONE THERE. --Isaiah had his eyes opened. The same awfulPerson had been present before, but had not been seen, and He is stillthere, but how few of us are conscious of His presence. How differentlythe church and chapel-goers would look next Sunday morning as they comehome, if only they realised what had been going on in the place wherethey had spent the last hour. 

I. A LESSON FROM HISTORY. --"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw theLord. " The King of Judah was dead, but the King of Saints lives forever. Whatever changes go on, whatever crown shifts to another head, GODremains the same. In no battle is our General slain. In no nationaldisgrace is He humbled. Uzziah had died a leper, his brilliant historyended in disgrace. Not so with Him whom we delight to honour. Of Him itis more true than of anyone else, "The path of THE JUST shineth more andmore unto the perfect day. "

II. A LESSON IN WORSHIP. --We see how the angels behave when in God'shouse. "Covered his face. " Contrast this with the way the averagechurch-goer acts. To look at the listless faces, the slovenly way inwhich men and women pray, the want of reverence, often in choirs, andsometimes in pulpits, makes us think there must be either a want ofintellect or a lack of faith. If these people believe there is a God, how limited their power to conceive what He is like! But, knowing manyof them to be shrewd in business or personal matters, we are led to thinkthere is often more infidelity in places of worship than is thought for. The conduct of the Seraphims makes us blush for many services we haveattended. If the thoughts of our hearts were spoken during our prayers, what a revelation there would be! Let us not forget that they are takendown, and are already in print, ready for the day of trial, when thebooks shall be opened!

III. A LESSON IN MORALS. --Words defile us! "I am a man of uncleanlips. " And it is a question if even swearing defiles a man's mouth morethan words of prayer which are not meant. Would not any one of us ratherbe abused than cajoled? Who likes to think that men are lying when theypraise us? Must we not pray for a watch to be set on our lips? If therecould be a physical effect caused, as there is a moral, would not therebe a sad disfigurement? Men and women with lips blacker than coal! Itis a wise prayer, "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord. " Deceit, flattery, formalism in prayer are abominable to God. Itwould be well if, when in church or chapel, we could see it in plainletters, "The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name invain. "

IV. --A LESSON IN GRACE. --Sin may be forgiven and guilt removed, and thisto the certain knowledge of the penitent. One of the devil's lies isthat either you are too wicked to be saved, or, if saved, you cannot hopeto know it in this life; the one drives men to despair, the otherprevents enjoyment of salvation. Isaiah knew that his sins wereforgiven, and we have yet to learn that the cross of Jesus has made itless possible for us. It was from the altar the coal came that touchedthe lips. It is still true that it is sacrifice that takes away guilt. We have an altar, a sacrifice, a benediction such as Isaiah never knewfor himself; we understand his sayings as he could not. "By His stripeswe are healed. " Reader, do you long for pardon, for consciousforgiveness? Wait on the Lord! Think of what He suffered, and why Hesuffered, and you shall sing with joyous lips--

 My pardon I claim, For a sinner I am, A sinner believing in Jesu's name. He purchased the grace, Which now I embrace; O Father, thou knowest He hath died in my place. 

V. --A LESSON IN THEOLOGY. --"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whomshall I send? Who will go for us?' What does this mean? Is it badgrammar or good theology? It sounds like "And God said, Let Us make manin our image?" "And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as oneof Us. " In John xii, 40, 41, we find that the Son of God, Jesus ofNazareth, was the Lord who spoke the words we read in verses 9 and 10. InActs xxviii. 25 we are told it was the Holy Ghost who spake by Isaiah. What does this mean but that the Divine Three in One and One in Three wasthe Lord whom the prophet saw?

VI. --A LESSON TO WORKERS. --When iniquity is purged away there is awillingness to be sent on God's errands. The lips that had been touchedsaid, "Here am I, send me. " If we are not willing to go, it is becausethere is still need of cleansing. Let those of us who find our feet slowto move on God's errands come again to the place of burning. We shall dowell to say with Charles Wesley, in one of his less known poems--

 Ah! woe is me, immerst in sin, A man of lips and life unclean! How shall I with Thy message run, Or preach the pardoning God unknown? Unless my God vouchsafe to cheer His guilty, trembling messenger, My fears disperse, my sins remove, And purge me by the fire of love!

 O wouldst Thou teach my lips once more, The comfort of Thy grace restore; Assure me, Lord, that mine Thou art, And stamp forgiveness on my heart; Then should I, in my Jesu's name, Glad tidings of great joy proclaim: Of grace, which every soul may find, And glory, bought for all mankind. 

CHRISTIAN, YOUR GREATEST DIFFICULTIESWILL COME FROM YOUR OWNSIDE. IT WAS NOT PHAROAH WHOKEPT MOSES OUT OF CANAAN. 

LX. PAUL AT SEA. ACTS xxvii. 22-25. 

"There's no hope, " said the captain, "the ship cannot live in such astorm. " "There's no hope, " said the military officer, "we shall neversee Rome. " "There's no hope, " said the prisoners, "we shall die at seainstead of on the scaffold. " One prisoner, however, had hope, and in thelong run made all his companions to hope. Paul cried out, "BE OF GOOD CHEER, FOR THERE STOOD BY ME THIS NIGHT THE ANGEL OF GOD, WHOSE I AM, AND WHOM I SERVE, SAYING, FEAR NOT, PAUL, THOU MUST BEBROUGHT BEFORE CAESAR, AND LO, GOD HATH GIVEN THEE ALL THEM THAT SAILWITH THEE. "

What a ring there is in the words, "Whose I am, and whom I serve. " HowPaul delighted in the fact that he was the servant of God. Often he usedto say, "Paul, a servant of God, " or rather "Slave of God, " for that iswhat it means. And is it not still true that

SERVICE IS THE BADGE OF SONSHIP?

A man has no right to call himself a child of God who does not work forHim. Was it not so with Christ himself? Did He not, even when a boy, say, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" and thework of God is the delight of the heir of God. We do not join the churchmerely for what we can get, but for what we can do. How is it with you?Do you say, "What can I do?" That's the way Paul began--"Lord, what wiltThou have me to do?" Too many of us think--How can I enjoy myself? Whatcan I do to increase my happiness? If we would prove that we are thelegitimate children of God, we must find out the best way of carrying outthe wishes of God. If we set Christ before us as our example--and afterall He was the best servant His Father ever had, for while He was in thisworld He went about doing good, and we could have tracked His footstepsby the cessation of suffering, and the increase of comfort--let us setabout the same work. It is our business, if we would live godly, to dryup tears, and make smiles take the place of groans. If you are not atthis glorious employment, begin to doubt if after all you are one of theelect. There are numbers of low-spirited Christians who would soon beamong those who dance for joy if only they would look out for the onenearest to them who is sad, and who requires sympathy and help. 

What should you think of a man who wore the Queen's uniform, and yet whofought in the rank of her enemies; or if he did not fight against his owncountrymen, assisted the foe to get provisions and ammunition? But thisis the position of some who call themselves Christians. If they do notoppose Christianity in person, they help on the other side, and by theway they spend their money, and occupy their time, put all theirinfluence in the wrong scale. Depend upon it when wages are paid, weshall find that each Master will claim those who served him. We knowwhere Paul will be that day. Let us be in the same crowd!

While all this is true, we must not forget that

SERVICE BEINGS STORMS. 

If Paul had been the kind of Christian some of us are, he would have hada much easier time of it. However, that was not what he looked for. Hedid not want his heaven in this world, and so he had a rough time. Dependon it we are not going to have too much heaven down here, if we are to becrowned with immortality some day. There were in Paul's day not a fewwho escaped peril by being polite to the devil and all his crew, but thatis something you and I cannot afford to do. John Wesley might havebecome a "College Don, " and have flourished at Oxford, and perhaps if hehad been strong enough of body, become an authority as to the quality ofport wine. Who knows? There was a suit of purple and fine linen forhim, if he would have worn it, instead of the rusty black cassock he wasobliged to wear. But, then, he chose affliction with the people of God, and won by hard work a place among the four-and twenty elders who sitnearest to the Lamb. 

And it holds true yet that if we will only be quiet and give Satan a bitof peace he will let us alone. Why could not Paul have been still, hewould have kept out of that doomed ship; and so with thee my brother, thou mayest have a quiet life if thou wilt only pray less and be contentto allow sin to have its own way. What are you most like? A barge or abrig? For there are some Christians whose course through life is like acanal-boat's path, smooth and level, with nothing more exciting than alock, while others have to put out to sea and run the risk of tempest andwreck. Yet who does not feel that there is a nobility about a sailorwhich a bargeman cannot claim? Besides there's no room for promotionaboard a "flat, " no more than there is the likelihood of a storm. 

As we read this story we feel that Paul was the true master-mariner thatday. His angelic visitor lifted him to command, and this leads us tosay, "STORMS CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM HEAVEN. "

"The angel stood by me. " He made no mistake, he flew to the side of thereal Commander, and it is sweet to know that come what will, nothing cancome between us and the God we serve. 

What a different man Moses was when he stood by the Red Sea, to what hewas when he was before the burning bush. Here are the sheep patientlyand quietly browsing, there is the angry mob crying out "Were there nograves in Egypt?" Here there is the sign of God from whence comes thevoice, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people, " but yonder isthe pillar of cloud shewing the way over the waves of the yet undividedsea. How much more noble is the Moses of the people than the Moses ofthe sheep! It is true that he had to encounter the storm, but then therewas the triumph waiting to succeed the tempest. He who fears the contestshould not covet the crown, but let the man who means to wear theconqueror's diadem know that in the fiercest part of the struggle theLord Himself shall cheer His man! Besides, STORMS CANNOT ALTER THE PROGRAMME. 

God meant Paul to appear before Caesar. He was a notable illustration ofthe saying of Solomon, "Seest thou a man diligent in his business, heshall stand before kings. " Paul, the slave of God, made judges tremble, and his chained hands ruffled the imperial purple. If only we sail withJesus, storms become our slaves. The Lord meant to have Christianityplanted at Malta, and therefore Euroclydon must drive the wreck to thatshore, but still _en route_ to Rome. Take the so-called misfortunes outof the history of religion, and you put it back into commonplace. Persecution has pushed on the cause it has striven to hinder, and heroesare made by hindrances. "Why do the heathen rage? The Lord shall havethem in derision. " This was never so true as it was when the time camefor Jesus to die. It seems as though Satan would have made a goodSocinian. He saw not in the Scripture either the Saviour's Divinity orHis atoning work, and so he hastened to have Him slain, and therebycarried out the programme of God. Have you ever noticed the prayer thatwas offered when the servants of God returned from jail? (See Acts iv. 26 28). The enemy "gathered together to do whatsoever thy hand and thycounsel determined before to be done!" It shall yet be seen that no onehas done so much for the truth as he who was a liar from the beginning!

IT PAYS TO RIDE WITH JESUS CHRIST'S MEN. 

The angel brought the message, and Paul soon gave it out to all abroad:"GOD HATH GIVEN THEE ALL THEM THAT SAIL WITH THEE. " It is yet true thatreligion is a great enemy to waste of life. Give us men who serve Christto be our servants, and we need less police and a smaller fire brigade. Let Christ be King, and hospitals will not be needed as they are now. IfJesus is Lord, the alms-house would take the place of the Union. Thereis less peril where there is piety. Every man aboard the ship was to besaved, because Paul was there. Danger waits on the disobedient, butProvidence yet says to the good, all shall come safe to land who sailwith Paul.